March 13, 2008

Rossi energizes local Republicans

Journal photo by Stephen McFadden

UPLIFTING. Dino Rossi, Republican candidate for governor, makes a point during his keynote speech given Saturday during the Adams County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner.

By Stephen McFadden

Publisher

Republicans from across the county gathered in the C.J. Newland American Legion Hall Saturday and share their energy and enthusiasm with several leading Republicans who will appear on the November general election ballot.

Traditionally a conservative, Republican dominant county, Adams County has traditionally supported Republican candidates, which was evidence Saturday by the near-capacity crowd in the Legion hall and the campaign contribution envelopes passing between local supporters and their favorite candidates.

While the majority of the county's voting population typically supports Republican candidates and issues, the local contingent doesn't always find itself at the forefront during statewide campaigns.

Luke Esser, chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, said this is a different election year.

"The state Republican party, we will not take you for granted," he said. "There's been an attitude that Adams County 'they're good, we need to just focus on the West side,' when the truth is we're going to have to focus on every corner and every county and every part of this state if we're going to turn this race around."

Esser said 2008 will be a great year in Washington for Republicans, "from the top of the ticket to the bottom of the ticket."

He used his enthusiasm to introduce the evening's keynote speaker and Republican candidate for Governor, Dino Rossi.

Rossi ran against Governor Christine Gregoire in 2004, losing after a protracted ballot counting debacle by 129 votes.

"Are you ready to finish what we started?" Rossi opened his speech. "We are going to finish what we started."

Rossi told the audience that the energy has been high since announcing October of 2007 that he would seek the office of governor this year in his second bid for the state's top elected position. He said the response to his decision to seek the governor's role has been well supported already.

After launching his campaign Web site, Rossi said he had 1,000 volunteers within the first week. In four months his campaign, he said, has received 22,000 contributions, compared to just 30,000 during the entire campaign in 2004.

In 2004, he said he raised $1.2 million for his campaign. To date, the new effort has a war chest of $3 million, according to Rossi.

Rossi said his supporters learned something as a result of the narrow defeat in 2004.

He said voters have told him that " 'The last time I voted for you. I wanted you to win, but a Republican hasn't won since 1980 in this state so I didn't think you could win and I didn't do anything. After three million votes were cast it came down to 129 votes and I've been kicking myself ever since.'"

Saturday, Rossi said "There's enough people in this room to win this election. Everybody in this room knows 129 people."

State Republicans will focus on a number of issues in 2008, comparing and contrasting Gregoire's actions since taking office with Republican platforms. Rossi said the biggest issue from now until November will be "fiscal sanity or insanity if the shoe fits."

Rossi said Gregoire has increased the size of the state budget by 33, almost 34 percent since taking office.

"That's equivalent to $5.7 million a day in new spending," he said. "We're spending at a growth rate 2.5 times the revenue growth rate. How long do you think you could do that in your own business or your own house?"

According to Rossi, Gregoire and the Democrats have dried up a $2.7 billion surplus and turned it into a $2.4 billion deficit forecast by January of 2009.

"The bottom line folks, she outspent Mike Lowery," Rossi said.

Washington Senator Mark Schoesler of Ritzville greeted the audience, acknowledging his family for their support of his work and tipping his hat to Mayor Linda Kadlec and the Ritzville City Council.

Schoesler noted that the city's leadership had been in Olympia on pressing business, meeting with state leaders.

"One thing I can tell you, Linda and her team did a very good job for you in every office they visited," Schoesler said.

Schoesler was referring to the city's efforts to obtain state support for emergency repairs to the sewer treatment facility.

Concerned about the state's fiscal picture, Schoesler noted that Democrats appear to be ignoring the notion the state is spending outside of its means. He said the Democrats appear to be focusing on the November election, not critical budget issues.

He referred to a state proposal for a tax rebate to residents for the purpose of stimulating the economy. He said the state is willing to "spend several million setting it up, but we're not going to fund it because we don't have the money and we won't have it next year."

Schoesler said Senate Republicans are sticking to their base, core values during what appears to be difficult times financially for the state.

Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers shared a similar Republican focus from Washington, D.C.

"We're going to our basics as representatives in Congress and it starts with fiscal responsibility. We started this year by challenging Democrats to a one year moratorium on earmarks until we reform that process, which is unfortunately being abused," she said.

McMorris-Rodgers noted that two major issues need to be addressed nationally — energy and healthcare.

"We live in this great country of innovation. We can meet America's energy needs with American energy," she said of the growing concern of the need for foreign oil.

On the issue of healthcare, she said, "We don't want a government run, one-size-fits-all healthcare system," She said healthcare should be centered around a relationship between the patient and the doctor of their choice.