Steve Kirby is considered one of the funnier members of the Washington Legislature. Low bar, perhaps, but the South Tacoma Democrat usually finds a way to make light of situations, like his re-election campaigns.
“Steve Kirby. You could do worse!” is one of his buttons.
So a solicitation received by some lobbyists recently wasn’t unexpected in tone or subject. Kirby presented a multiple-choice test called the “Lobbyist Acuity Examination” with questions like:
“Steve Kirby hasn’t had an opponent for re-election seven out of the last 10 times he’s run for office because: A. He campaigns hard every time his name is on the ballot. B. He is the most powerful person in the Legislature, and no one would dare oppose him. C. Dumb luck.”
And this: “If we don’t help Steve Kirby on his campaign, A. He will think we don’t understand how this business works. B. He will be disappointed. C. He won’t even notice.”