Schrier Wins As Rossi Concedes

KING 5 has declared Democrat Dr Kim Schrier the winner in Washington's 8th Congressional District.  The last congressional district in Washington to elect a Democrat for the first time.
At one time, the 8th was a safe Republican seat, however, demographics changed over time and the Democrats gained strength in Eastside suburbs. Democratic Challengers began nipping at Representative Dave Reichert and it appeared likely to change hands until a redistricting in 2010 changed the district landscape, taking out Bellevue, and spreading the district into Conservative Eastern Washington.

Gloria Hatcher-Mays Gets Slog Attention

Gloria Hatcher-Mays, 5th Legislative District Democratic State Committeeman, has gotten recognition in the Slog, the blog for The Stranger, an independent newspaper in the Seattle area.
The article points out that Hatcher-Mays has had comments made on Dino Rossi's Facebook
page have been deleted by Rossi or his staff.   Rossi is campaigning to replace fellow Republican Dave Reichert for Washington's 8th district seat in Congress.
I have worked with Gloria in the 5th LD on endorsements.   In addition to being active in Democratic politics, she also serves in the non-partisan position of Fire Commissioner. 

Dr Kim To Face Dino For US House

Dr Kim Schrier, an Issaquah pediatrician, will attempt to become the first ever Democrat to represent Washington's 8th Congressional District.  Shrier, who  conducted a relatively low key campaign edged out former King County prosecutor Jason Rittereiser, who touted his Ellensburg small town roots.
Schrier had volunteers door bell across the district and made phone calls.  I was impressed by the volunteer who stopped by our house not long before I filled out my ballot.  I was called earlier in the year by Schrier herself.
Schrier will face Dino Rossi, who represented the 5LD in the State Senate, but has failed 3 times to be elected to hire office.
Washington's 8th CD is the only one of 10 in this state that has never been represented by a Democrat.

Tola Marts Exits Congressional Race

In an email to supporters, Issaquah city councilman Tola Marts announced he was withdrawing from the race for the Democratic nomination to succeed Republican Dave Reichert for the 8th congressional seat in Washington.  Marts said that in a crowded field of Democrats, he was unable to secure the funding to allow his campaign to continue.If Marts would have been able to continue, he would have been the first Democrat in years to run for the seat while holding a public office.

Ventrella Withdraws

With his name on the ballot and the primary around the corner, area sportscaster Tony Ventrella has apparently withdrawn from the 8th Congressional District House race.  In a long statement on his facebook page, Ventrella said that in his quest to get big money out of politics, he was unable to raise the needed amount to stage a race.  The Eastside Democrat had flirted with running for the position for years.

Ventrella Seeks Reichert's House Seat

Tony Ventrella, long time Seattle area TV sportscaster, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. House Of Representatives.  The 8th Congressional District, which covers Maple Valley and Issaquah, now extends east into Chelan and Kittitas Counties.  It is the only district in the state that has never elected a Democrat.
Ventrella, who describes himself as a moderate Democrat, has long been considered a potential candidate for Congress.  He has vowed not to take contributions from political action committees or big checks from wealthy donors.  His strengths are name familiarity from decades on the evening news and his likability.   He most likely would be thought of as a consensus builder who would reach across the aisle. 
Dave Reichert, the former King County sheriff, has held the seat since 2004.

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.

Washington's 8th CD Caucus

Delegates to Washington's 8th Congressional District Democratic Caucus met last weekend at Issaquah High School.  Upon parking our cars, a constant POP POP could be heard, oddly enough the Issaquah Sportsmen's Club ( a rifle range) is around the corner from the high school.
Delegates to the National Convention is Charlotte  were picked although my entry (above) fell short.  It was a great experience though and I will try again in the future.  Democratic candidate for Secretary Of State Kathleen Drew stopped by from Olympia (center), Drew represented the 5 in the state senate in the mid 90s.  Karen Porterfield, making her first run for office, spoke to us (bottom) and was nominated unanimously to challenge Republican Dave Reichert to represent the 8th district in the House Of Representatives.  Thanks go to Konrad Roeder for the top and bottom pictures.

Barers Of Maple Valley Going For The Big Dance

That's right, "it's go big or go home" this weekend as I conclude my quest to be a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.  Delegates from across Washington's 8th Congressional District will convene at Issaquah High School at 1:00 Sunday and pick delegates to the National.  The delegates to the Congressional Caucus were picked at legislative caucuses, which were made up of delegates picked at the precinct caucus's.  Are you following me?  In a nutshell, the selected delegates will travel to Charlotte to nominate Barak Obama for president and Joe Biden for Vice President.  It will be quite an adventure if I can just get enough votes. By the way, your welcome to "like" my "Mike Barer For National Delegate" facebook page, just click here.

Democrats Meet In Harmony

The Washington State Democrats met in Shelton at the Little Creek Casino last weekend and did something you seldom hear Democrats doing, they agreed to agree.   There was very little or no debate as the meeting streamed along.  All four representatives to the Democratic Central Committee were reelected by acclamation after being nominated (in one case from a former opponent) and seconded from the floor. One time Congressional candidate, George Fearing, spoke on how the state's Democrats were the finest in the nation.  An impassioned Roger Erskine,  spoke of  Washington AG and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Rob McKenna attending a meeting of ALEC, a right wing PAC.  No doubt reelecting the President was at the top of everyone's agenda.
Aziem "The Dream" Underwood defeated Jennifer Sutton for 8th Congressional District e-board rep.  The newly realigned 8th district now stretches across the Cascades into the more conservative Eastern Washington, making it a real challenge to defeat sitting Congressman Dave Reichert.

Democrats Reorganize At State Level

Dwight Pelz (above-6th from left) was chosen to serve his third term as head of the Washington State Democrats. The State Central Committee met in Olympia as it traditionally does to start out an odd year. Pelz was challenged by Natalie McClendon of Bellingham. Dwight's victory was a landslide, but an election for 8th Congressional District E-Board position was tied and had to be decided by a coin toss.

Not to be outdone, during "good of the order" State Committeeman Azziem (The Dream)Underwood (having just turned 50) entertained the crowd with a song about personal health.

The meeting was held at Oympia's Red Lion.

Del Bene To Spend Warchest In The Stretch

Democratic Activists Arlene and Reuben (pictured above) Powell graciously hosted a get together for Maple Valley area voters to get to know Suzan Del Bene. Del Bene, a former Microsoft executive and founder of drugstore.com, is challenging Republican incumbent Dave Reichert to represent the 8th district in the US House of Representatives. Del Bene says she was motivated to seek the office after watching friends and neighbors struggle through hard times and by what she sees as a passive performance by Congressman Reichert. She said that Reichert has not shown up for various candidate forums, including the Tacoma News Tribune endorsement interview. She pointed out a propensity for Reichert to "flip-flop" in issues that the 8th District is passionate about.

Del Bene said that her performance in the primary was much better than expected. She says that she held her spending down so that she would could use her war chest in the stretch days of the campaign.

Del Bene Will Apear In Maple Valley

Democratic 8th District Congressional Candidate Suzan Del Bene will appear in the Maple Valley area this Tuesday September 14 at the home of Reuben and Arlene Powell. The meet and greet will start at 6:00pm 21656 284th Avenue SW. There may also be some judicial and state House of Representative candidates. Refreshments will be served and there will be a TV in an adjacent room for children.

Suzan Del Bene Announces Candidacy For 8th District

Local Businesswoman Suzan Del Bene has announced her intentions to oppose incumbent Dave Reichert to represent Washington's 8th District in the US House Of Representatives. The 8th, which comprises Seattle's eastern and southern suburbs was once a safe Republican seat, however, Reichert's last two victories came by slim margins over Democrat Darcy Burner. The 8th is the only congressional district in the state to have been represented by only one party since it's inception.

Dave Reichert Declared Winner In 8th District.

In another Democratic year, Republican Dave Reichert once again pulled a rabbit out of his hat and won another squeaker in Washington's 8th Congressional District. In a previous post from election day, I listed Darcy Burner with the winners, after she was ahead toward the end of the race. Well in my opinion, Darcy Burner really is a winner.

Darcy Burner Appears At Overlake Rotary

I am not a member of Rotary, but my Father-In-Law, Bob is president of the Overlake Chapter and was kind enough to allow me to be his guest as 8th district Darcy Burner was the featured speaker. Darcy grew up in the area in a military family, fascinated by computers. She attended Harvard on Technology and Economic scholarships. She say she wants to be in congress because she wants to fix things. Her speciality, and what she said she did at Microsoft, was analyzing problems. She talked of bringing bi-partisan groups together to solve the economic crisis and figure out an honorable way out of the Iraqi War.

Washington 8th Congressional District PCOs To Meet

Democratic Precinct Committee officers from throughout Washington's 8th Congressional District will meet the this Saturday, May 17th at Tahoma High School at
18200 SE 240th St, Covington, WA with the purpose of nominating a candidate to oppose incumbant Republican Congressman Dave Reichert. Because of a recent Supreme Court decision taking partisanship out of the State Primaries, this is the only way that Darcy Burner or anyone opposing her can get the nomination of the Democratic Party. Sign in will begin at 8:00am with the Caucus beginning at 9:00am.