Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
24th District Eagle Blog
Starting today, the 24th District Eagle will act as the new blog home for news from Washington's 24th Legislative District. This will focus not just on the 24th Legislative District's state representatives and state senator in Olympia, but also any local political developments that might interest our leadership. The blog will not be a daily news updates during the political off-season, but it will try to bring some occasional exclusive stories to our readership.
Please feel free to send photos, news updates, or anything else you might think is of interest to us at 24thDistrictEagle@Gmail.com.
 |
| Jefferson Co. State Committeeman Bill Miller, Clallam Co. Vice Chairperson Jack Slowriver, Governor Christine Gregoire, Clallam Co. Communications Chair Melissa Randazzo, Clallam Co. Chairman & 24th LD State Committeeman Matthew Randazzo |
Please feel free to send photos, news updates, or anything else you might think is of interest to us at 24thDistrictEagle@Gmail.com.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Official Van De Wege & Tharinger Campaign Victory Statements
These are the sort of victories that the Democratic Party so desperately needs. This was a truly inspiring and rewarding campaign, and it's great to see the rights candidates win. Below you will find both Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger's victory statements.
----------------------------
"My opponent in the race for the 24th District's second State Representative seat, Jim McEntire, has conceded. I commend him for a well-run, vigorous campaign. It is with great pleasure and humility that I thank the voters of the 24th District for entrusting me with the great responsibility of being their new representative in Olympia. I could not be more honored to be the successor of the great Lynn Kessler, whose distinguished service on behalf of our local communities will always guide and inspire my own conduct in Washington's House of Representatives.
I am very proud of the sort of campaign we ran and the message we spread across the 24th District, so I would like to thank everyone who made it possible. First and foremost, I must once again thank the voters of the 24th District for their belief in me. Next, I must thank my wonderful campaign staff, from my campaign manager Sam Gibboney on down to all of the campaign's tireless staff members and volunteers. This victory would not be possible without the support, friendship, and counsel of Lynn Kessler and Kevin Van De Wege. Last but not least, I must thank my wonderfully supportive wife Yvonne and the rest of my friends and family for standing by me through this long campaign."
-------------------
"I am extremely honored and humbled by the news that I have been reelected for a third term as state representative of Washington's 24th District. It means so much to me that our local communities have placed their faith in me to continue to fight for a better future for Washington. I would like to thank my family, all of my supporters, and especially the campaign staff, donors, and volunteers who made this victory possible. Special thanks goes out to my campaign manager, Larry Clark, who selflessly committed himself over the past few months to sharing our campaign's message with every single undecided voter in the entire District.
I will return to Olympia in January incredibly inspired by the time I've spent with the wonderful people of the 24th District over the past few months on the campaign trail. It is with all of them in mind that I will continue to work tirelessly to alleviate the hardships of the average hard-working Washington family by creating family-wage jobs, improving both the quality and efficiency of government services, and acting as the voice of the common people against the special interests and lobbyists in Olympia."
----------------------------
 |
| State Representative-Elect Steve Tharinger |
"My opponent in the race for the 24th District's second State Representative seat, Jim McEntire, has conceded. I commend him for a well-run, vigorous campaign. It is with great pleasure and humility that I thank the voters of the 24th District for entrusting me with the great responsibility of being their new representative in Olympia. I could not be more honored to be the successor of the great Lynn Kessler, whose distinguished service on behalf of our local communities will always guide and inspire my own conduct in Washington's House of Representatives.
I am very proud of the sort of campaign we ran and the message we spread across the 24th District, so I would like to thank everyone who made it possible. First and foremost, I must once again thank the voters of the 24th District for their belief in me. Next, I must thank my wonderful campaign staff, from my campaign manager Sam Gibboney on down to all of the campaign's tireless staff members and volunteers. This victory would not be possible without the support, friendship, and counsel of Lynn Kessler and Kevin Van De Wege. Last but not least, I must thank my wonderfully supportive wife Yvonne and the rest of my friends and family for standing by me through this long campaign."
-------------------
 |
| State Representative Kevin Van De Wege |
"I am extremely honored and humbled by the news that I have been reelected for a third term as state representative of Washington's 24th District. It means so much to me that our local communities have placed their faith in me to continue to fight for a better future for Washington. I would like to thank my family, all of my supporters, and especially the campaign staff, donors, and volunteers who made this victory possible. Special thanks goes out to my campaign manager, Larry Clark, who selflessly committed himself over the past few months to sharing our campaign's message with every single undecided voter in the entire District.
I will return to Olympia in January incredibly inspired by the time I've spent with the wonderful people of the 24th District over the past few months on the campaign trail. It is with all of them in mind that I will continue to work tirelessly to alleviate the hardships of the average hard-working Washington family by creating family-wage jobs, improving both the quality and efficiency of government services, and acting as the voice of the common people against the special interests and lobbyists in Olympia."
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Election Day Results
Quick update before bedtime here at the 24th District Eagle. If the news nationally was very harsh for Democrats, it turns out to have been uncommonly bright for the 24th District Democrats.
As expected, the great Kevin Van De Wege won a landslide 55-44% victory against Dan Gase. Kevin ran a fantastic, tireless campaign, and he earned every point of this devastating margin. Kevin has claimed victory, although his apparently math-challenged opponent is waiting for Friday for a miraculous intervention.
In the open-seat race, things are a bit closer: Steve Tharinger currently leads Jim McEntire 51.85% - 48.15%, a margin of roughly 1500 votes with about 20,000 left to count (20,401 - 18,948). The way these outstanding votes are distributed between Clallam, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor County require McEntire to win in the neighborhood of 58%-60% of the vote remaining in Clallam to even have a chance at winning. He's currently running at 53% in Clallam.
In other words, Tharinger is looking very good, but we won't know for sure until Friday. We'll keep everyone updated!
As expected, the great Kevin Van De Wege won a landslide 55-44% victory against Dan Gase. Kevin ran a fantastic, tireless campaign, and he earned every point of this devastating margin. Kevin has claimed victory, although his apparently math-challenged opponent is waiting for Friday for a miraculous intervention.
In the open-seat race, things are a bit closer: Steve Tharinger currently leads Jim McEntire 51.85% - 48.15%, a margin of roughly 1500 votes with about 20,000 left to count (20,401 - 18,948). The way these outstanding votes are distributed between Clallam, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor County require McEntire to win in the neighborhood of 58%-60% of the vote remaining in Clallam to even have a chance at winning. He's currently running at 53% in Clallam.
In other words, Tharinger is looking very good, but we won't know for sure until Friday. We'll keep everyone updated!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
ELECTION DAY
 | |
| Campaign Manager Larry Clark with His Candidate, Kevin Van De Wege |
So, it's finally election day, and all we can say is: whew!
Oh yes, there is one other thing we can say: get in those ballots today! Do not forget! A lot of the local races are going to be very, very, very uncomfortably close, and none of us want to regret letting down great candidates like Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger (or Norm Dicks or Patty Murray) because of a few voters' forgetfulness. Make sure those ballots get in today.
 |
| Lynn Kessler, Steve Tharinger, Maria Cantwel |
It's important today -- of all days -- to remind ourselves why it is so important to support Washington Democrats: they are fighting to help improve the quality of life of the average working people of Washington. The following news was actually sent to us by one of the most accomplished, venerable, and admired Democrats in the state of Washington, Lynn Kessler.
NewWood Manufacturing, Inc. (NewWood), a manufacturer of sustainable wood-plastic composite building materials today announced the opening of a 275,000 square foot facility in the Satsop Development Park in Elma. The company plans to employ 150 individuals in a region facing an unemployment rate of 12.0%. And who does NewWood President and CEO John Bowser credit for this incredible economic breakthrough that will help so many hard-pressed Washington families?
According to the press release put out today:
Bowser credits the assistance of local, state and national elected representatives and organizations in making it possible to re-open the plant which has been idle since 2006. “The leadership of Senator Murray and Governor Gregoire was critical in putting together our financing package, including our USDA rural business loan guarantee,” said Bowser. “This is a tremendous community asset that we are working in partnership with the Grays Harbor Public Development Authority and suppliers like Glacier Recycle and Smurfit Stone to finally put into full production.” Congressman Norm Dicks and State Representative and House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler were strong advocates for the plant’s re-opening over the year and a half that NewWood has been working to assemble financing and acquire the technology.
Just some food for thought from Rep. Kessler. Hopefully, today the voters of the 24th District give her a successor that will uphold her legacy.
Let's Finish Strong,
The 24th District Eagle
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Democrats Says No To Offshore Oil Drilling in the 24th District
October 19, 2010
Contact: Press@KevinVanDeWege
Kessler, Van De Wege, Tharinger
Blast Republican Plans to Lift Offshore Oil Drilling Moratorium In Washington’s Coastal Waters
Sequim – State representatives Lynn Kessler and Kevin Van De Wege have joined with Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger — who is running to succeed Kessler — to denounce Republican plans to lift the moratorium on offshore oil drilling off Washington’s coasts. All three 24th District Democrats have come out strongly against proposals that they believe would jeopardize the ecological and economic health of the entire Olympic Peninsula.
“To be honest, I am pretty stunned to see Republican after Republican in Washington come out in favor of selling out the Strait of Juan De Fuca and Pacific coastline to the same multinational oil companies that have destroyed the Gulf of Mexico and all of the wildlife species and industries that rely on it,” says Representative Van De Wege.
Republican congressional candidate Doug Cloud was quoted in the Peninsula Daily News’ primary voters’ guide as saying, “Yes, the moratorium on off-shore oil drilling should be lifted.” Republican senatorial candidate Dino Rossi has signed the Republican “Contract with America” that endorses an “All-of-the-Above Energy Policy” that includes “exploration of proven energy reserves.” And Van De Wege’s opponent, Port Angeles businessman Dan Gase, was quoted by Grays Harbor County’s The Daily World newspaper as saying “With proper safeguards in place it is not unrealistic to participate in oil and gas drilling” on October 3 and “We have tremendous dependence on foreign sources of energy and I think this [offshore oil drilling] has to be looked at,” on October 12.
“I can’t believe how out of touch the Republicans’ ‘deregulate everything’ ideology is with the voters of the 24th District on this issue,” says Van De Wege. “As long as I’m in office there is never any scenario, any scenario at all, whatsoever, that I would support oil drilling in the Strait of Juan De Fuca or off the Pacific coastline. All of the safeguards were in place in the Gulf of Mexico, and they had a catastrophic disaster there. I could not live with myself if I knowingly risked our coastal ecosystems and all of the industries that depend on them.”
Van De Wege’s stand against offshore oil drilling is supported by his fellow 24th District Democratic state representative, the retiring House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, and Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, who is running to succeed her.
“During eighteen years of service, I worked hard to protect our coastline for the environment and shellfish, crabbing, and salmon industries that rely on it,” says Representative Kessler. “The Olympic Peninsula contains some of the most pristine, stunning, and undisturbed coasts in the entire United States. I have worked hard to secure rescue tugboats, ensure shipping lanes are not overcrowded, and guarantee that ballast water coming here from the rest of the world is safe.
“To know that there are candidates running in this district that would put all of the protections I have worked hard to accomplish in jeopardy by allowing oil drilling off our coast is disappointing,” continues Kessler. “We cannot allow this to happen. Our district stands to lose too much. I don’t support offshore oil drilling, and I know the people of the Olympic Peninsula don’t either. This election, it is more important than ever to choose candidates that will represent us and stand up for our values. Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege will do that for us in Olympia.”
“I stand with Representatives Kessler and Van De Wege against offshore oil drilling anywhere along Washington’s fragile, economically pivotal coastline,” says Tharinger. “It simply is against all common sense given what we’ve seen over the past few years from the oil industry. I take my job as an ecological steward of the 24th District too seriously to wager countless lives and jobs on the business practices of companies like British Petroleum.”
“Judging by the outraged feedback I’ve been receiving from my constituents,” says Van De Wege, “the very first question any voters or journalist should be asking candidates for office in the 24th District is if they would even entertain the idea placing offshore drilling platforms along our precious coastline. That will tell voters all they need to know about that candidates’ judgment and seriousness as a public servant.”
]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)