Let’s see now, Rick Bart must have said to himself: As Snohomish County Sheriff, I’ve got a decent record, the crime rate is dropping, and I made points when I turned down that big raise. Who’s my likely opposition, Mike the Mover, for chrissakes? I mean, if I run again, it’s a walk. What could possibly go wrong—my brother gets arrested for coke dealing or something?

Cough. Brother Ron Bart’s trial is set for December 10. Sheriff Rick Bart’s is November 2, general election day. It should still be a walk. The brother faces a judge and jury while the sheriff faces Mike the Mover and voters likely to sympathize with his sins-of-the-brother dilemma. After all, Ron, 45, an alleged cocaine trafficker, was arrested by undercover cops who in part worked for the sheriff Rick, 51. Also, Ron stands accused, not convicted. The sibling, who has a theft record, has pled not guilty to accusations.

It’s “an example of how illegal drugs

affect all of us,” said Sheriff Bart. “Nobody is immune from their devastation.”

A criminal justice grad from Seattle University and lawman for three decades, Bart rose from a street beat to sheriff four years ago (replacing Patrick Murphy, who had been accused of misusing prescription drugs; charges were later dropped). He fought for an additional 35 new officers by turning down an $8,000 raise last year, giving the money to his department and a youth organization.

But if there’s a dominant reason Sheriff Bart will remain the county’s $86,000-a-year top lawman, it’s called Mike the Mover, n饠Michael Shanks. The perennial candidate, who legally changed his name to promote his Seattle-area moving company, is in his 12th political race and on course for his 12th straight butt-kicking. The onetime gubernatorial candidate ran for US Senate last year and Seattle mayor the year before (his budget message was “Stop spending now, let Paul Allen pay.” He got 670 votes).

Mover, who lives in Lynnwood, is in it for the laughs again, as his official campaign

r鳵m頳hows: Under professional

qualifications, he lists “Director of the FBI (1988-1992) and Director of the Washington State Furniture Police (1994-1999).”

Pointing out that the sheriff “takes the same oath of office as any other elected

official” and “promises to uphold the Washington State constitution and the constitution of the United States of America,” Mover indignantly promises, “Well, Mr. Bart, I can do that!”

OK—but can his brother do stupid human tricks?