Candidates look to join SW Washington's state legislative delegation
With the primary campaign season just beginning, only one thing seems certain: whatever the outcome, in at least two key state races, Southwest Washington's legislative delegation in Olympia will get some new blood.
The candidates looking to succeed popular state Reps. Deb Wallace (D-Vancouver) and Jaime Herrera (R-Ridgefield) represent the full range of the region's ideological spectrum, from schoolteacher Monica Stonier's plans to advocate for increased state education funding, to Washougal mayoral pro tem Jon Russell, who told the VBJ last month that he would vote down any legislation in Olympia that uses federal stimulus money.
The race to fill Wallace's seat began shortly after the legislator announced her retirement after eight years representing the 17th Legislative District in Olympia. With the help of House ally, Rep. Tim Probst (D-Vancouver), Wallace recruited Stonier, who for the last nine years has been a teacher at Pacific Middle School in Vancouver.
"I have an understanding about bringing initiatives to the classroom," Stonier said. "And there's a growing need for exactly just that in the Legislature."
Stonier faces fellow Democrat Martin (MD) Hash and Republican Paul Harris in the Aug. 17 primary, though given the endorsement of Wallace and Probst she is virtually assured of proceeding to the general election in November – a fight for which she currently enjoys a slight fundraising advantage over chief GOP rival Harris, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission's website.
Harris did not return multiple calls for an interview as of VBJ's press time.
In the contest to replace Herrera, who is currently making a run for Congress in the Third Congressional District, Republican front runner and small business owner Ann Rivers hopes to make it through a broad field of GOP candidates to face the Democrat, Clark County Skills Center director Dennis Kampe.
"We've been down this road for six months," Rivers said. "It's almost like giving birth."
The owner of a public and government relations company since 1996, Rivers has based her campaign largely on business issues, advocating against what she called "onerous" regulations and taxes – in particular, the state's controversial Business and Occupancy levy on gross receipts.
"I'm fighting this idea that government can squeeze and squeeze businesses until they can't take it anymore," she said.
As in the race to fill Wallace's seat, the 18th Legislative District contest was overshadowed by a yawning state budget deficit and a persistently-high unemployment rate in many communities throughout Southwest Washington.
Kampe, the only Democrat appearing on this year's ballot in the district, told the VBJ last month he first considered running for the seat because of concerns about education. A fiscal conservative, Kampe looks to attract independent voters in this traditionally GOP-friendly district.
"I think Dennis is a pretty conservative guy," Probst said. "He's always described himself as a ‘Republicrat.'"
As of VBJ's press time, Rivers led with over $42,000 raised thus far, followed by Kampe with $16,495, according to PDC figures.
Rounding out the Republican field in the 18th District, Position 1, is Russell, Brandon Vick and Anthony Bittner, as well as independent candidates Jon Haugen and Richard Carson.
With turnout in Clark County expected to hit 35 percent, according to Clark County Elections supervisor Tim Likness, the election may hinge on who gets out more of their supporters to return their ballots, which will be mailed out July 28.
"It really comes down to how much effort the candidates put into it," Likness said.
