Changes

Spellman first ran for governor in 1976 and was the top Republican in the state's blanket primary, but he lost the general election to Democrat [[Dixy Lee Ray]] even thoug [[Gerald Ford]] carried Washington State in his campaign against [[Jimmy Carter]]. In 1980, Spellman defeated state Representative Duane Lyman Berentson (1928-2013) in the gubernatorial primary. Berentson campaigned for Spellman in the general election against Dixy Lee Ray. [[Ronald Reagan]] won the presidential election and is the last Republican presidential nominee to have carried Washington State.<ref>Richard W. Larsen and Lee Moriwaki, "From rivals to  friends: Berentson stumps for Spellman," ''The Seattle Times, September 18, 1980.</ref>  

Spellman first ran for governor in 1976 and was the top Republican in the state's blanket primary, but he lost the general election to Democrat [[Dixy Lee Ray]] even thoug [[Gerald Ford]] carried Washington State in his campaign against [[Jimmy Carter]]. In 1980, Spellman defeated state Representative Duane Lyman Berentson (1928-2013) in the gubernatorial primary. Berentson campaigned for Spellman in the general election against Dixy Lee Ray. [[Ronald Reagan]] won the presidential election and is the last Republican presidential nominee to have carried Washington State.<ref>Richard W. Larsen and Lee Moriwaki, "From rivals to  friends: Berentson stumps for Spellman," ''The Seattle Times, September 18, 1980.</ref>  

During Spellman's four-year term, Washington's economy endured a major [[recession]] marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenues.<ref name="Tribune"/> The state legislature was deeply divided over how to address the revenue shortfall but voted to increase the state [[sales tax]] rate from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.<ref name="Tribune"/> Despite campaign promises that he was opposed to higher taxes, Spellman raised $2.5 billion in new taxes to address the shortfalls.<ref>Bill Dietrich, "Will the real John Spellman please stand up?," ''The Seattle Times,'' January 9, 1983.</ref>

During Spellman's four-year term, Washington's economy endured a major [[recession]] marked by rising unemployment and disappointing tax revenues.<ref name="Tribune"/> The state legislature was deeply divided over how to address the revenue shortfall but voted to increase the state [[sales tax]] rate from 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent.<ref name="Tribune"/> Despite campaign promises that he was opposed to higher taxes, Spellman raised $2.5 billion in new taxes to address the shortfalls.<ref>Bill Dietrich, "Will the real John Spellman please stand up?," ''The Seattle Times,'' January 9, 1983.</ref>

Spellman was strongly committed to environmental protection. He vetoed a bill that would have permitted a development project in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County, but the state Senate overrode him.<ref>"Senate votes to override oil-rig veto," ''The Seattle Times,'' April 9, 1982.</ref> He successfully blocked a proposed oil pipeline sought by the Norther Tier Pipeline Company which would have dredged under the [[Puget Sound]]. Spellman maintained that the pipeline could cause potential damage to the ecology of the waterway and persisted in his stance despite much popular opposition.<ref>Eric Pryne, "Spellman refuses to read 7,500 letters on Northern Tier," ''The Seattle Times,'' March 28, 1982.</ref>

Spellman was strongly committed to environmental protection. He vetoed a bill that would have permitted a development project in a sensitive shoreline area of Whatcom County, but the state Senate overrode him.<ref>"Senate votes to override oil-rig veto," ''The Seattle Times,'' April 9, 1982.</ref> He successfully blocked a proposed oil pipeline sought by the Norther Tier Pipeline Company which would have dredged under the [[Puget Sound]]. Spellman maintained that the pipeline could cause potential damage to the ecology of the waterway and persisted in his stance despite much popular opposition.<ref>Eric Pryne, "Spellman refuses to read 7,500 letters on Northern Tier," ''The Seattle Times,'' March 28, 1982.</ref>