Cheryl Pflug Leaving Senate

 Republican Senator Cheryl Pflug from Maple Valley, who has represented the 5th district in the state legislature for almost as long as I have resided here, is moth-balling her campaign signs and leaving her position to take a job on the State Growth Management Board.  Pflug began her legislative career in 1998, when she replaced Phil Dyer in the Washington House Of Representatives.  She may have lost support amongst many in her own party when she became one of only 4 Republican senators to support marriage equality.
Pflug was appointed to her new position by Democratic Governor Cristine Gregoire.  It could open up an opportunity for the 5th to get it's first Democratic Representative since  Senator Kathleen Drew was defeated in 1996.  Issaquah City Council Mark Mullet has launched a strong campaign in what was to be an attempt to defeat incumbent Pflug.  Snoqualmie businessman Brad Toft is the lone Republican running for the Senate in the 5th.

Mullet Will Challenge Pflug For Senate Seat

In 2009, Mark Mullet was elected to the Issaquah City Council without opposition, now Mullet would like to represent the new drawn 5th Legislative District in the State Senate and will have to face a twice elected incumbant.
The Issaquah Press reports that Mullet, a Democrat, has announced that he will challenge two term Senator Cheryl Pflug.   Pflug is a Republican in what is widely considered a conservative leaning rural district.  It will not be the first time that Pflug a Maple Valley resident and an RN, has faced an elected official.  In 2004, Pflug defeated Sammamish Mayor Kathy Huckabay.  Sammamish will no longer be part of the 5th if the state's new redistricting plan is implemented. 
Mullet is the owner of a Zeek's Pizza Franchise in the Issaquah Highlands, he also owns a Ben And Jerry's. He is  a former manging director for the Bank Of America.  His Father, Steve, was formerly the mayor of Tukwila.

5th District Democrats Launch Full Slate Of Candidates

If Senator Cheryl Pflug, Representative Jay Rodne, and Representative Glenn Anderson think that they are going to have an easy time being returned to represent the MapleValley-Issquah-Sammamish-Fall City area in the Washington State Legislature, they could be mistaken. The turnout in Democratic Caucuses throughout the 5th District was even higher than it was in 2004 and three super candidates have come forward to challenge the three Republican incumbants.
Phyllis Huster will challenge Cheryl Pflug for State Senate, having experience in the Telecom Field. David Spring, a North Bend educator, will run for State House Of Representives against veteran incumbant Glenn Anderson for position 2. Jon Viebrock, a Union Construction Foreman, will take on Jay Rodne for position 1 in the House.
Although the 5th has traditionally been a solid Republican district, Democrats have made serious inroads in local elections.
I'll have more on these candidates in the next few weeks.

Mullet Kicks Off Senate Campaign

So either Issaquah Councilman Mark Mullet's campaign for State Senate in the Washington's  5th Legislative District is off to a great start or Issaquah Highlands residents wanted free pizza.  A packed house gathered at Issaquah's Blakely Hall to meet Mullet, who is challenging Republican Cheryl Pflug for the position.  Mullet says that he is a fiscal Conservative and a social Liberal making him a good fit for the 5th  As the owner of two local franchise's, Ben And Jerry's and Zeke's Pizza, he has a good understanding of what it takes to run a small business.
The 5th district has been represented solely by Republicans since Democratic Senator Katherine Drew was defeated in 1996 by Dino Rossi.  Rossi at the time became the rising star in his party.  No doubt, if Mullet can defeat Senator Pflug, he would be a candidate to watch in the Democratic Party.

Mark Mullet For State Senate

Mark Mullet is the right choice for State Senator from Washington's 5th Legislative District.  Mark is a small business owner and an Issaquah City Councilman who bill himself as a fiscal Conservative and a social Liberal, those qualities define the make up of the 5th District.  Mark has an across the board apeal that can potentially bring together all sides.  Mark's opponent Brad Toft comes across as an ideologue with no experience of bringing sides together.  He was flung into the process when incumbent Cheryl Pflug left the Senate after taking a job with the State Growth Management Board,  anger by district Republicans at Pflug's sudden departure from the race hardly cannot be seen as confidence in Toft's ability to serve in that position.

J-Rod Comments Spark Outrage

In the early days of 5th LD Rep Jay Rodne's service, he was never much of a target.  Democrats would always focus efforts toward defeating then Rep Glenn Anderson and Senator Cheryl Pflug.  Rodne was considered a moderate Republican, who would straddle the middle on most issues.
That has changed and in a big way.  A few years ago, Rodne spoke out against marriage equality.  He has taken to walking up to the Democratic booth at festivals and debating issues, in it's self, not a bad thing to do. 
His latest foray has been statements criticizing the President and Governor Inslee on their stance on Syrian immigration.  After the Paris attacks, Rodne called Muslims barbarians and posted on facebook that Obama want to bring a million and a half Muslims into the country.  The Seattle Times called the statements false, using it's truth needle. 
The issue of bringing in Syrian refugees is indeed a sensitive issue, but before choosing sides, Rodne should get his facts straight and after that, articulate an opinion. 
Jay's district encompasses  North Bend, Issaquah, Carnation, and Maple Valley.

So Long To 2012

It's time to look back on 2012, as reported in this blog.

January  Seattle area is hit with a huge snowstorm, making driving to work and back a real chore.  I also learn that my old co-worker from KYYX, Randi Thomas had died a while back.  New York Giants beat New England in the Super Bowl, perhaps signaling the end of Boston professional sports dominance.

February  We get a break from winter, taking a trip with in-laws and nephews to Annaheim, we visit Knotts Berry Farm and Disney California Adventure. We also took a trip to Hollywood and watched the set up for the Academy Awards which would take place soon after we left.  On a sad note, February saw the death of two pop music legends, Whitney Houston and Davy Jones. In addition, word was received that a Seattle native who became a successful financier, was working with the Mayor on a plan to build an arena in the hopes of bringing the NBA back to Seattle.

March  Marshawn Lynch signed a contract for 4 years 31 million dollars with the Seahawks.  The Seahawks also managed to sign Green Bay Packers back up quarterback Matt Flynn.  It seemed at the time that the Matt Flynn era was starting in Seattle, we would soon learn otherwise.  Also, My nephew Ethan turned 13, officially becomming a Teenager.  My friend, Rick and I managed to get up to Snoqualmie pass to do some skiing, the first times that I had hit the slopes in over 10 years.

April  Former WSU quarterback Ryan Leaf caught breaking into houses more than once. American Bandstand Host Dick Clark passes away.  The Space Needle turns 50 and a bear is seen in Maple Valley, prompting a helicopter search.

May Democrat Mark Mullet kicked off his campaign to represent the 5th District in the State Legislature.  KIRO710 announces it will carry Cougar sports. Senator Cheryl Pflug announces she is leaving her state senate position for a spot of the Growth Management Commission, she would later endorse Mullet for Senate.  Fred Meyer opens it's store in Maple Valley.  This blog celebrates it's 7th birthday.

To be continued!

Seattle Times Endorses Mullet For Senate

Washington's 5th Legislative District, one of the last of the totally red districts in King County, could be electing a Democrat for the first time in almost 20 years.  Incumbent Cheryl Pflug, a Republican, has left the race and endorsed what would have been her Democratic Opponent Mark Mullet, an Issaquah city councilman.  Mullet was also endorsed by the usually right-leaning Seattle Times.
Mullet own's a Zeek's Pizza franchise, along with a Ben And Jerry's Ice Cream franchise in the Issaquah Highlands.

Dino Rossi May Run For Congress

Speculations seem to indicate that GOP Washington State Senator Dino Rossi may be gearing up for a run for congress.   Rossi would run in Washington's 8th district, the only Congressional District in the state that has been in Republican hands since it's inception. If elected, he would succeed retiring 5th district congressman Dave Reichert.
  Rossi is a veteran politician who served 2 terms in Washington's 5th legislative district until his nearly successful race for governor.  In 2004, Rossi was defeated by Attorney General Christine Gregoire in the closest Governor's race in US history.  Rossi would later make another unsuccessful attempt for governor against Gregoire.
Rossi would later run for US Senate against incumbent Patty Murray. 
Rossi was appointed to return to the state senate, succeeding Cheryl Pflug who resigned to take an appointment from Christine Gregoire.  Rossi left the position after Democrat Mark Mullet was elected to the Senate.
After the death of Senator Andy Hill in the 45th district, Rossi was appointed to again serve in the state senate on an interim basis.  Rossi is in Real Estate and has had other business interests in the Seattle area.