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Ready to dive down a weird campaign rabbit hole?

Let's go!

Over in the eastside's 5th Legislative District, the race is on to replace outgoing hero state senator Cheryl Pflug, and after a lot of related drama this race is down to two candidates: Republican Brad Toft and Democrat Mark Mullet.

Now. Mark Mullet is a Democrat who does not support a statewide income tax. He's been clear about that for quite some time, but he also recently answered a questionnaire in which he checked a box saying "Yes"—without qualification—to the question: "Do you support the King County Democratic Platform?"

Well. That platform clearly states support for a statewide income tax, i.e.:

Our state must institute a more progressive tax system, eliminating unfair regressive taxes and implementing a fair and equitable tax structure including a capital gains tax, a personal income tax, a reduced sales tax on goods and services, and replacement of the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax with a corporate income tax.

Does that mean Mullet ever uttered the words attributed to him, in quotes, in the Toft campaign mailer above? No, it does not.

However, that appears to be what Republican Toft—who has had some trouble staying on the straight and narrow in the past (here, here, and here, and here)—is arguing. He tells me:

My campaign stand [sic] by my statement that Mr. Mullet continues to support personal and corporate income taxes.

Okay. But, did Mullet ever say the words attributed to him, in quotes, in Toft's mailer?

Toft can't provide proof.

Mullet says:

I have been clear during the entire campaign that I do not support a state income tax. They simply made up this quote that they put next to my name.

All of which calls for a binding, definitive Slog poll: