If Mercer Island Hopefuls Really Ran On Their Records ...

MERCER ISLAND - There's a warrant out for one's arrest. The other has been convicted twice of assaulting his wife and can't even go to most of the island, under a court's order. Both have spent time in jail and could head back there soon.

Are they partners on parole? Contestants on the People's Court?

No. They are candidates for a seat on the City Council in Mercer Island, where the average resident makes more than $60,000 a year and has more involvement with the block watch than the county jail.

Raymond Ternes, who has an outstanding warrant for contempt of court for refusing to pay thousands of dollars in child support, and convicted wife-beater Del Parker are both running against incumbent Linda Jackman.

"Just the luck of the draw," said Jackman. "I'm just trying to go on and run my race, just trying to keep above it all and convince the folks I'm the quality candidate, with no criminal background."

A worker at the League of Women Voters puts it another way. "Yikes," she said.

Ternes says he's running because he believes growth-management laws are violating individual rights, and he opposes plans for multifamily housing.

Parker says he is most interested in the "character of Island youth" and joined the race after learning Jackman had voted for an ordinance that would have levied fines of $500 against residents who left their garbage cans out too long.

Neither Ternes nor Parker has been involved previously in city politics, nor have they raised campaign money.

Parker, 46, is forbidden by court order from venturing south of Southeast 40th Street - most of the island. Ternes, 52, is going to be taken to jail on a bench warrant if he's pulled over for a traffic ticket.

A stamp-and-coin dealer now being divorced for the third time, Parker was charged with a felony assault in 1989, following an incident in which he threatened to knife his seven-months-pregnant wife, according to court papers.

In a plea-bargain arrangement, Parker pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault and violating a protection order. He got credit for having served 30 days in jail, completed anger-management classes, incurred no further violations over the next year, and the charges were dismissed.

In May of last year, Parker was arrested again for assaulting his wife. Claiming to be indigent, he was assigned a public defender. He was found guilty in Mercer Island District Court.

Ternes attended the two-day trial, giving Parker advice on his defense. During pretrial motions, the judge asked Ternes to leave the courtroom because of disruptive behavior.

Parker served several days of a 90-day sentence, then filed an appeal of his conviction and got out on bond.

Ternes has had run-ins with the law himself, but over civil matters. The King County sheriff's office has issued a warrant for his arrest for the $7,855 he owes in child support for his three daughters - but the total has now climbed to $10,000, says his former wife.

Ternes has been found in contempt of court previously for refusing to pay and once spent 10 days in jail because of it. He contends that laws governing child support, custody and property distribution are unconstitutional.

A former computer analyst with The Boeing Co., Ternes has dispersed his assets and chosen to be underemployed as a pick-up carpenter rather than pay child support, the court has found, even while his daughters relied on food stamps.

The state Court of Appeals has twice ruled his appeals meritless, but Ternes is undeterred. He has filed liens on the homes of four Superior Court judges and filed federal-court complaints against his former wife, her attorney and the King County prosecutor.

The Municipal League of King County did not rate Mercer Island candidates this year because the nonpartisan organization was pressed with new races throughout the region. If it had, says Eileen Quigley, league president, the assault convictions and the outstanding warrant would not have entirely discredited Ternes and Parker.

They would have raised questions, however, as candidates were rated for character - along with effectiveness, knowledge and involvement. No candidates in the recent past have presented the league with such issues, Quigley says, including the 160 candidates rated this year.

"These are two different candidates in the same race?" Quigley asked. "That's amazing."