Two Northwest Capitals--Salem And Olympia

 Both Washington and Oregon's capitals are what could be considered "drive by" cities.  Both are similar distances south of each state's largest and best known city.   Both share names with products that you may find at a supermarket.  Salem is a brand of cigarettes, while Olympia shares its name with a brand of beer.  Neither town is particularly well known outside of the region.

I began to wonder about similarities and differences in the towns several years ago, after touring the capitol in Olympia.  First off, Olympia Beer started in the greater Olympia area, whereas Salem Cigarettes probably gets its name from Winston-Salem, North Carolina which has long been the hometown of its parent company.  Salem is three times as large as Olympia.   

I found this post from a blog that really points out the differences and similarities between Oympia and Salem that you can check out by clicking here.

From what I gathered from the article, Salem has more of a "family" vibe, whereas Olympia is maybe edgier, artsy, and singles oriented. 

Both states are bordered on the East by Idaho, where its capital is probably its best known city and largest city, Boise.

U-Dub Names New Coach

Early this week, the Washington Huskies named Kellen DeBoer as it's new football coach.  DeBoer had been coach at Fresno State for two seasons.

Second year head coach Jimmy Lake was fired during the season, one that the Huskies would love to forget. 

West Coast Governors Form Alliance

The Cascadian Advocate blog  about the governors of Washington, Oregon, and California forming an alliance to fight the Corona Virus and open the economy at the earliest time that will allow a healthy return.
 Governors Jay Inslee of Washington, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Gavin Newsom of California, all three Democrats are calling it the Western States Pact.
You find details here.

Habib Will Leave Lieutenant Governor Position At End Of Term

The Cascadian Advocate reports that Cyrus Habib, Washington's Lieutenant Governor, will not run for a second term and will, instead, join the Jesuit Order of the Catholic Church.
Habib, who became blind at the age of 8, won a seat in the Washington House Of Representatives in 2012.  At the end of his term, he ran to represent his district in the State Senate.  He was able to win that seat.
In 2016, he ran for State Lieutenant Governor, the office who succeeds the governor should he leave office before the end of his term.  The Lieutenant Governor also holds the top executive office while the governor is out of state.  In addition, he is the president of the state senate and can vote in the case of a tie.
In spite of these various duties, it is considered something of a retirement position.
Habib will have held the position for the shortest time since Emmett Anderson, who held it for from 1953 to 1957, Anderson's successor, John Cherberg, held the position from 1957 to 1989, a total of 32 years.

Hat In The Ring

Our governor, Jay Inslee, appeared on MSNBC to speak about a potential run for the White House.

Former Washington Governor John Spellman

Former Republican Governor John Spellman has died.  Spellman, who was elected during a Republican landslide in 1980, served one term.  He was defeated in 1984 during tough economic times in our state.
Spellman was King County's first executive, a position much like a mayor.  He was the face behind building the Kingdome, which brought major league baseball and NFL football to Seattle.
Spellman was the last Republican that this state has elected.

Raymond Washington Statues

The city of Raymond on Highway 101 in southwest Washington has amazing statues along the highway and throughout the town depicting people and wildlife.
We pass through on the way to Seaside and back.  This picture was taken in the park.

50 Years Ago--Dan Evans Elected Governor

On November 3rd, 1964. While the nation gave a landslide victory to Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson, our state elected a Republican Governor.  Dan Evans had an image as a straight arrow.  His popularity was such that he proposed a state income tax, something Liberal Democrats do not do.  He championed conservation, and education, and was behind prison reform.  In fact, when he finally left office, succeeded by Democrat Dixie Lee Ray in 1976, it was a shift to the Right, rather than the left.  He delivered the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in 1968, but also helped create and was later president of The Evergreen State College in Olympia,  a school with a reputation for Liberal ideas.
He would serve 3 terms as governor, defeating sitting two term Governor Al Rossellini in 1964. In 1968, he beat Attorney General John J. O'Connell and finally, in 1972 once again beat Al Rossellini.
Evans was later appointed to the US Senate to succeed the late Henry "Scoop" Jackson. He was elected in his own right in 1983, he would only serve one term.
He did have a couple of black marks on his career, although it can be argued that it was not his fault.  In his last campaign, bumper stickers came out attacking his opponent Al Rossellini's Italian heritage   He also had a young intelligent campaign aide named Theodore Bundy, who unbeknownst to those around him, had a notorious secret life.
Evans wife Nancy is a graduate of Whitman College.

Former Governor Booth Gardner Dies

Booth Gardner, a Washington State Democrat who defeated a sitting Republican governor in the year that President Ronald Reagan won his second term by a landslide has died.  Gardner, who's stepfather was a Weyerhauser executive defeated John Spellman in 1984 and began a streak of Democratic Governors in Washington that continues today.  Gardner had been suffering from Parkinson's Disease for many years and lead the effort for Washington to become the second state in the union to legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

Former Washington Governor Dies At 101

The man whom I credit my love of politics, former Washington  Governor Al Rosssellini has passed away at 101.  My parents, who were active in the Democratic party, took me to a rally for him in Walla Walla's Pioneer Park in 1964 where I would meet him.  At the time,Rossellini was staging what would be an unsuccessful attempt for a third term in the state house.  Rossellini lost that year to a young Republican state legislator named Dan Evans.  Evans would himself serve 3 terms beating Rossellini in a rematch in 1972   Rossellini was the first Italian-American and first Roman Catholic west of the Mississippi to be elected governor and the oldest living former governor at the time of his death. 
He had the distinction of being governor during the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.

Please Support Governor Gregoire

I believe we need Governor Gregoire's steady hand to guide us through this financial crisis. This is not the time for a transition in Olympia. We really don't know what we would get with Senator Rossi and this is not the time for uncertainty. Vote for Governor Gregoire.

Washington State Primary Tommorrow

Just a reminder to mail in your ballots or go down to the polls as Washington's first "Top Two Primary" or Cajun' Primary (Louisiana has chosen this way for years) takes place tomorrow (August 19th). According to the Daily Olympian, Secretary Reed has predicted a turnout of 46 percent.

Maple Valley Democratic Precinct Caucus--Time And Location Set

The Washington State Democratic Precinct Caucus, the first step in this area to nominating the Democratic candidate for president, will take place on Saturday February 9. If you live in the Maple Valley area, the Caucus will take place at Rock Creek Elementary School, 25700 Maple Valley-Black Diamond Rd beginning at 1:00. You can click on the link for driving directions. This is the only chance to Democrats to have any chance to have a say in the nominating process. A state primary will be held later in the month, and although Democrats can vote in the primary, the results will be meaningless. Black Diamond residents living in precincts 0239, 2407, and 2413 will also caucus at Rock Creek. The Caucus at Rock Creek, which will be held in the Gym will be for the following voting precincts:

B-D 05-0239
B-D 05-2407
B-D 05-2413
Bitterroot
Dorre Don
KEN 05-3462
M -V 05-0697
M -V 05-3242
M -V 05-3245
M -V 05-3272
M -V 05-3373
M -V 05-3482
M-V 05-0528
M-V 05-1218
M-V 05-2614
M-V 05-2748
M-V 05-2841
M-V 05-2857
M-V 05-3322
M-V 05-3366
M-V 05-3367
M-V 05-3368
M-V 05-3369
M-V 05-3510
M-V 05-3536
Phoebe
Tahoma
You can click on this link, if you have any questions

Walla Walla Sweet Is Now State Vegetable

Walla Walla, home to three college, the state pen, dozens of wineries has something new to hang it's hat on, Washington Governor Gregoire has signed a bill making the Walla Walla Sweet Onion the state vegetable. The idea was conceived in a Kirkland Jr. High classroom across the state from Walla Walla a couple years ago. The idea snowballed into it reached Olympia and met resistance from the state potato lobby. This year, the bill was revived by Walla Walla Republican Maureen Walsh of Walla Walla. With bi-partisan support, it passed the house unanimously and the senate by a 45-3 vote. In my opinion, it shows that there is now a reason that people from Walla Walla to vote for a Democrat. Walla Walla is considered a very Conservative town. Both houses of the legislature have a Democratic majority.

Here is a recipe using the Walla Walla Onion