Candidate denies Spanish get-away

On the bright side, it was a wonderful way to get in touch with all his old friends.

Brian Peck, a Republican candidate for the 17th Legislative District seat, was referring to a scam message entitled “Urgent please,” sent far and wide Wednesday, in which someone who claimed to be Peck used his e-mail address to claim he was in Barcelona and had misplaced his wallet on the way to his hotel.

“I want you to assist me with a loan of 2000 Euros to sort-out my hotel bill and to get myself back home,” the faux Peck wrote. “I have spoken to the embassy here but they are not responding to the matter effectively.”

Suddenly, he started hearing from a lot of people he hadn’t been in touch with for a whle.

One tipoff that the message was a fake: The writer referred to his “trip in Spain for a programme.”

Another: People who know him know Peck doesn’t own a wallet and never has.

“Anyone who knows me knows I use a rubber band,” he said.

Peck, who owns a Vancouver gas station, said he’s never been to Spain. In fact, he’s never been further from home than Alaska and Hawaii.

“I have to stay close to the business,” he said. “That is not in my character, to put 18 months of my life into this campaign and then go to Spain.”

Peck is running against Democratic incumbent Tim Probst. They’ll both advance in the top two primary, but the political newcomer is hoping to make a respectable showing.

“Basically I have to prove myself,” Peck said. “A lot of businesses are saying, ‘Let’s see how you do, kid.'”

Kathie Durbin