Rodney Tom Will Run For Congress

Believe it or not, before 1994, Washington's 4th and 5th Congressional District of Yakima and Spokane, respectively, sent Democratic representatives to Congress, not so for our 8th Congressional District. Since it's creation in 1990, this moderate Suburban Seattle district has only been represented by Republicans. Somehow, Rod Chandler, Jennifer Dunn, and now Sheriff Dave Reichert have shown at least the appearance of being bi-partisan. By that token, Rodney Tom is jumping into the race. Tom was a moderate Republican in the State House of Representatives, who jumped across the aisle and ran for State Senate as a Democrat, beating more strident Republican Luke Esser. Tom will now challenge Darcy Burner for the Democratic nomination. Burner last year, narrowly lost to Reichert. Tom thinks he can bring some of his supporters from campaigns past along with Democrats who think that Burner did not adequitely answer Republican charges of being too inexperienced in the public sector or who may be uncomfortable with some of her more Liberal views. I believe that the 8th Congressional District is the only one to have one party represent it thought it's entire existence (Seattle's 7th had Republican Jack Cunningham elected in a special election to replace Brock Adams in 1977), hopefully that little quirk will be changed in the next election cycle.