This is part five of a series, which will continue until Election Day, documenting all the lies and smears Geoff Simpson is selling the 47th district voters in a desperate attempt not to lose his job. You can read parts one, two, three, and four.

Simpson is back to his old ways of making things up out of thin air. Several days ago, this flyer landed in the mailboxes of 47th district voters:

The mail piece claims:

"[Hargrove's] running a campaign based on negative personal attacks."

But that's simply not true.

Here's the flyer that Hargrove passes around when he knocks on doors.

I'm not sure how phrases like "20 year Covington resident" and "limiting property taxes and out of control spending" are "negative personal attacks." There's nary a mention of Simpson, or even an "opponent" or "incumbent" anywhere in this piece. So, no "negative personal attacks" there.

On Tuesday, I received a mail piece Hargrove. It's actually too big for my scanner, but here are some sample quotes:

"Mark and Sandy Hargrove have been married for 29 years. They are incredibly proud of their two daughters, their two sons-in-law, and their baby granddaughter."

"Mark Hargrove will never support a state income tax and will fight against additional gas, property, and sales taxes. In these uncertain economic times, you shouldn't have to worry about your state representative voting to increase your taxes."

"[Hargrove] will work hard to speed up long-delayed congestion relief projects, especially widening I-405 between Renton and Bellevue and improving SR-167 and extending it to I-5."

"As the husband and father of Auburn School District teachers and a former math teacher himself, Mark Hargrove knows that a child's learning does not increase automatically by spending more money."

In fact, the only reference in the entire 11"x17" piece comes in a quote from Hargrove himself:

"I care deeply about my family, friends, and neighbors in our community, and I believe we deserve the best possible representation in Olympia. My opponent is already attacking me instead of talking about the issues. That's why it's time for a change, and that's why I'm humbly asking you to make me your next state representative."

That's not a nasty personal attack, is it? I'd imagine the attacks from Simpson that Hargrove is referencing would be this one, this one, or this one. Or when he went on Sound Politics and called Hargrove "a real dunderhead," or when he later said "it's going to be fun watching Mark Hargrove lose this election."

What else could Hargrove have done that constituted a "negative personal attack?" A check of his PDC reports shows that besides the aformentioned palm card and mailer, he's spent money on yard signs and large signs (nothing negative and personal about Simpson there, they just say "Mark Hargrove for House of Representatives"), his filing fee, a dessert fundraiser, stakes, envelopes, a band, stickers, stamps, t-shirts, post-its, parade fees, candy, ink, and PayPal fees. I have trouble believing Hargrove was writing nasty personal attacks on stamps, post-its, or candy for parades. The only thing left on the PDC reports are "phone calls."

I've received three automated calls from Hargrove; I'm guessing that's what the phone calls are. Until I figure out a way to get those messages off my answering machine and onto my computer, here's the script:

Call 1:

"Hi this is Mark Hargrove, my home number is 253-630-3064. I'm the guy my opponent says is reported by a sexual predator. I encourage you to google Mark Hargrove and Geoff Simpson, and come to your own conclusions. As a Boeing instructor pilot, I've seen transportation and education systems around the world first-hand. If you think our state needs a fresh new perspective, vote for me, Mark Hargrove, to be your state representative. This call was paid for by my campaign, Hargrove for House. Thanks."

Call 2:

"Hi this is Mark Hargrove, my home number is 253-630-3064. I'm the only candidate in this race who plans to eliminate our $3.2 billion projected state deficit without raising property or sales taxes and still improve our schools and traffic congestion. If my opponent says otherwise, I encourage you to google Mark Hargrove and Geoff Simpson and come to your own conclusions. This call was paid for by my campaign, Hargrove for House."

Call 3:

"Hey, it's Mark Hargrove again. I am as sick of this negative campaign season as you are, especially since my opponent is sliming me daily. So I am sticking to the issues. I am the only candidate in this race who thinks our schools can be better, our traffic congestion improved, and our budget balanced, all without raising taxes. Be sure to google Mark Hargrove and Geoff Simpson and come to your own conclusions. This call was paid for by my campaign, Hargrove for House."

Surprise, surprise, nothing nasty or personal there either.

So when Simpson claims "[Hargrove's] running a campaign based on negative personal attacks," is there ANY evidence to back up that assertion? Of course not. Because that's Simpson's style: say whatever it takes, win at all costs.