Jiles loses another endorsement
Damion Jiles, a Democratic candidate for state Legislature, has lost a key endorsement.
On Thursday of last week, the Washington Education Association, the state’s largest and most politically influential teacher’s union, rescinded their endorsement of Jiles, who is challenging Republican state Rep. Paul Harris.
Rich Wood, spokesman for the union, said that the board overseeing the union’s political committee voted to rescind the endorsement. He offered few details but Wood said the decision was made on information not shared at the original candidate interview with Jiles “that had to do with history.”
Earlier this month, Jiles lost the endorsement of Clark County Democratic Women in response to revelations by The Columbian of his past court record that included restraining orders and convictions for DUI and assault.
Harris, who is seeking his fifth term, said that he reached out to the WEA, which has previously endorsed Harris, to criticize their endorsement.
“In this particular climate, I would never endorse someone who has a misdemeanor assault, who had two restraining orders against them and a DUI,” said Harris, who added that the bulk of the union’s membership is female.
Harris said their endorsement was particularly troublesome in the wake of the contentious confirmation process of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual misconduct.
“They did the honorable thing and that is refreshing,” Harris said in a follow-up email.
