A few days before candidate filing week, endorsements abound
During the days leading up to candidate filing week, several Southwest Washington candidates are playing up recent endorsements. Filing week is May 14-18.
The Washington State Labor Council made several endorsements to Southwest Washington Democrats, including:
- Monica Stonier, state House candidate in the 17th District, position 1
- Jim Gizzi, state House candidate in the 17th District, position 2
- Tim Probst, state Senate candidate in the 17th District
- Annette Cleveland, state Senate candidate in the 49th District
The group also said it opposes state Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield. So far, no opponent has made the official announcement of running against Zarelli.
Democrat Jon Haugen, who is running against U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, was left off of the council’s endorsement list. Instead, the council simply stated that they oppose Herrera Beutler.
On May 8, the Washington State Nurses Association endorsed Republican Liz Pike, who is running to fill the seat being vacated by state Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.
“We appreciate Liz’s strong support of nursing and patient safety and look forward to working with her to ensure quality patient care for health consumers in Washington,” the association’s board chairwoman Kathleen Lange said in a news release sent out by Pike.
On Thursday, Stonier’s campaign announced on her Facebook page: “National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington has just endorsed Monica! They said, ‘Monica understand the issues women face and has been a tireless advocate for women in her career and community.’”
Probst let it be known on Friday that he had been endorsed by a Southwest Washington group of business leaders, including:
- Tim Schauer (MacKay & Sposito)
- Eric Fuller (Eric Fuller & Associates Inc.)
- Kim Capeloto (Riverview Bank)
- Don Russo (Schwabe, Williamson and Wyatt legal firm)
- Ed Lynch (formerly of Kiewit Pacific Co.)
- Jamie Howsley (Building Industry Association, land use attorney)
- Arch Miller (Bank of Clark County, International Air and Hospitality Academy)
- Dellan Redjou (Smokey’s Pizza)
- Kris Greene (Evergeen School District Foundation, insurance agent)
- Victoria Bradfore (Evergreen School Board)
- Bob Schaefer (attorney for SEH America)
- Steve Horenstein (Horenstein Law Group PLLC)
- John White (JD White Co.)
- John McKibbin (former president of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and a former three-term Clark County commissioner)
- Rick Keniston (Washington State Department of Transportation)
- Scott Horenstein (Scott Horenstein Law Firm)
- Dave Bennet (Rebound Orthopedics and Neurosurgery)
Meanwhile Probst’s competition, incumbent state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, touted a 75 percent rating given to him by the National Federation of Independent Business, a small-business lobbying group that tends to support Republicans.
“You can count on Senator Benton to vote to protect and promote small business, not just when it’s convenient, but when it really matters most,” the group’s Washington State Director Patrick Connor said in a news release sent out by Benton.
The group gave Probst a 20 percent rating. It also gave state Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, a 90 percent rating when it came to voting in line with policies the group determined to be pro small business.
