5th Legislative Candidates Meet In Maple Valley

As you would expect, transportation took center stage as candidates for state legislature of both parties met at Rock Creek Elementary School in Maple Valley, one of Seattle's most remote suburbs.  Candidates attending were Senator Mark Mullet (above left), house member and challenger Chad Magendanz (above right), Representative Jay Rodne (bottom left) and Challenger Jason Ritchie (above right).  Mullet was the first Democrat in 20 years to be elected from the 5th.   Democrat Ritchie is challenging incumbent Republican Jay Rodne.
Republican Paul Graves, who is running for Chad's open seat in the house, attended the forum, however, Darcy Burner was home with the flue.  Burner had her manager make a statement on her behalf. 
Topics were proposed Sound Transit expansion, education, taxes, and gun regulation.  They also tackled the subject of "predictive scheduling".  Local attorney Grifan Cayce, moderated the debate.  The three Republican candidates are attorneys.  Democrats Mullet, Ritchie, and Burner each own small businesses.  The event was sponsored by the Maple Valley Chamber Of Commerce.

Candidates For Legislature Will Debate Thursday

While the Clinton-Trump debates have been taking up the most attention, Maple Valley will get to see local candidates for 5th District Legislature.  The Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber Of Commerce will hold a candidate forum this Thursday, October 20th at 6:45pm at the Rock Creek Elementary School gym. 
Candidates for senate, Democratic Mark Mullet (top) will face off against Republican Chad Magendanz (bottom) who currently serves in the house.
Also Democrat Jason Ritchie will challenge long time Republican house member Jay Rodne.
Democrat Darcy Burner will face Republican Paul Graves for the house seat that is being vacated by  Magendanz.
This is a chance to support your candidate or for undecided voters to learn about these candidate's who potentially hold the future of our region in their hands.

Local Politics--"Who Is Jason Ritchie"

Jason Ritchie tells why he wants to represent us in Olympia.

Democrats Pack The House At Mount Si High School

It was a beautiful day, but Democratic delegate for Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton packed Mt Si High School in Snoqualmie for the 5th Legislative District Caucus.  The LD Caucus is the 2nd tier of the process of picking delegates to the Democratic National Convention in July.  Supporters of both Clinton and Sanders made passionate speeches, while a committee worked behind the scenes to credential the delegates.  The delegates then broke into the three Congressional districts that make up the 5th LD.  From each sub caucus, delegates for each presidential candidate picked delegate for the Congressional caucus and state convention, in proportion to the votes each candidate received in the precinct caucuses last month.  Simple enough?
Top picture is the 2 long lines to get into the caucus.  Middle picture is inside the caucus.  In the bottom picture,Democratic candidate for 5th district State House, Jason Ritchie addresses the delegates.  Ritchie is running against incumbent Jay Rodne.
Also speaking were 5th LD Senator Mark Mullet and 5th LD candidate for State House Darcy Burner.  Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, who is also running for State House was also present.

5th LD Democrats Endorse Senator Mark Mullet, Along With Ritchie

A full house, which included some long missed faces, attended the 5th District Democratic Meeting in Issaquah and unanimously endorsed incumbent Senator Mark Mullet and hard charging Issaquah businessman Jason Ritchie for the Washington State House Of Representatives.  Mullet broke a 10 year hold of Republican representation from the 5th when he was elected Senator in 2012.  Ritchie challenged Dave Reichert in 2014 to Represent the 8th CD and had planned to run again for the seat, when the opportunity of an open seat in the state house presented itself.  Republican Chad Magendanz, who now holds the seat the Ritchie is seeking, is planning to challenge Mullet for his senate seat.  Both Mullet and Ritchie spoke at the meeting.

Jason Ritchie To Run For State House Rather Than Congress

In a surprising move, 5th LD Democratic sources have reported that Jason Ritchie will run for the state house of representatives.  Ritchie, who challenged Dave Reichert for Congress, had been preparing for another race for that position upon the idea that Republican Reichert would challenge Governor Jay Inslee.  However, Reichert at this time, has indicated his desire to stay in congress. 
Ritchie plans to run for the seat to be vacated by Republican Chad Magendanz, who is expected to challenge incumbent Senator Mark Mullet for that position.

Martin Chaney Chosen Chair At 5th Dem Reorganization Meeting.

Martin Chaney (above) is the new chair of the 5th Democrats.  The body, which helped elect it's first Democratic legislator in almost 20 years in 2012 when Mark Mullet won a state senate seat, chose Chaney over sitting chair Jim Baum.  Chaney was chair of  the 45th until  he was redistricted. Former 8th district congressional candidate, Darcy Burner, also a member of the 5th by redistricting was voted secretary.  I kept my position of  state committeeman , although by a one vote margin. Jennifer Sutton, who had stepped down from her position as state committeewoman a couple years ago, was elected to return to that positon.
Konrad Roeder was reelected as treasurer. In addition, Essie Hicks was chosen as first vice chair, Barb Olson as 2nd vice chair. Colin Alexander and Ava Frisinger were chosen to represent the 5th at King County. Thank you to 8th CD candidate Jason Ritchie placing my name in nomination.

WA 8th CD Democrats Nominate Ritchie

A caucus of Democratic Party leaders of the 8th Congressional district have nominated Jason Ritchie  to challenge sitting Republican congressman Dave Reichert.  Ritchie is an Issaquah based small business owner. 
Democrats from throughout the state met this last weekend at the Silver Reef Casino (above) in Ferndale for the fall State Committee meeting.