Candidates kick off campaigns with big-name guests
What do U.S. Rep. John Boehner, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and outgoing state Sen. Lisa Brown have in common?
No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke. They are some of the better known politicians who’ve visited or plan to visit Clark County this month to provide Southwest Washington candidates with more star appeal during campaign kickoff events.
As I’ve written before, House Speaker Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, will attend the campaign kickoff event for U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas. Event participants can pay $1,000 to Herrera Beutler’s campaign to attend a photo reception with Boehner at 11:30 a.m., and $50 to attend a noon luncheon.
Murray and Brown were in attendance at the campaign kickoff event for Annette Cleveland, a Democrat who is running to replace outgoing State. Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver. Pridemore has said he will leave his 49th Legislative District gig to run for state auditor.
Below is a photo from Cleveland’s Facebook page of Cleveland with Democrats Murray (left) and Brown (right). It came as a surprise to some when Brown, the state Senate Majority Leader from Spokane, said she would not seek re-election.
Retired state senator Al Bauer and retired state representative Val Ogden also attended Cleveland’s event.
Republican Liz Pike, who has filed to run for state representative in the 18th District, hosted a campaign kickoff on May 10 and raised $7,200. State Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, gave the keynote address.
According to a news release sent out by Pike: “In Harris’ humorous speech, he not only entertained the room filled to near capacity, but also stressed the importance for Republicans to seize control of the Washington Senate, House and Governor’s mansion in 2012.”
Pike’s event drew about 150 supporters, she said. She is running to replace state Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, who now lives in the 20th Legislative District thanks to 2010 Census redistricting.
State Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, also had a kickoff event this month. He officially began his campaign for re-election on May 8 at Kiggins Theater and raised more than $8,900.
