Van De Wege & Tharinger Q&A: Day 2

Rep. Van De Wege fishing with his son off Sekiu.

Keep the questions coming!
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SeasideJackP: The Peninsula Daily News mentions that the blog was named after a rehabilitated bald eagle. So, what are the candidates' ideas on ways government can help preserve and protect local wildlife from big business, over-development, and careless people?



Commissioner Steve Tharinger:

I think the combined efforts of the state and local conservation groups to restore ecosystems, wildlife corridors and protect endangered species are working. The key to maintaining the progress we have made over the past few decades is twofold. First, we must to continue to support local efforts to increase awareness and educated the populace about the importance of protecting and not abusing wildlife and the biodiversity we all depend on. Secondly, the populace must continue to support ecologically sensitive and informed public servants who take seriously their responsibility to protect the environmental splendor of the Pacific Northwest.


Representative Kevin Van De Wege:


From listening to my constituents, I know that a lot of folks live on the Olympic Peninsula to enjoy the incredible natural beauty we have here. As their representative, I have made it my job to protect the health of our local ecology while still making the compromises necessary to protect our natural resource-based local economy from collapse. We need to continue to make balanced, informed, and smart decisions about development to save open space, farmlands, and our wildlife, while still creating a progressive future for our local economy. Even if you're not a fan of the outdoors, I don't think most 24th District residents want a future where we lose control of our local environment to out-of-district Big Business interests who are not accountable to any of us. 

News Update for September 28, 2010

Organized Labor in Action

The local branches of 1.4 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters is coming out in force to support Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger in the upcoming 24th District's state representative races. On Thursday, September 30, Teamsters Joint Council 28 and Teamsters 117 Clallam County Legislative are joining together in Forks to host a phone banking effort from 10am - 1pm  at the Forks Transit Center. Breakfast will be offered by the Teamsters.

Please contact heather.weiner@jc28.org or lily.wilson-codego@teamsters177.org with questions.

The Van De Wege and Tharinger campaigns send out their thanks to the Teamsters for their incredible support.

Sam Gibboney (center left) and the one and only Larry Clark (center right)

Speaking of phonebanking, Van De Wege campaign manager, the legendary Larry Clark, and the lovely Sam Gibboney, campaign manager of Steve Tharinger, have sent word that they are looking for local volunteers to participate in virtual phonebanking efforts from the comfort of their homes. The always quotable Larry assures us that it is the campaigns' plan to reach out to thousands of local residents through virtual phonebanking, so they'll need help.

Please contact Sam and Larry directly if you're willing to volunteer.

Lynn Kessler (Far left) and Senator Maria Cantwell (second from right) with Clallam County Democrats

 

The Clallam County Democratic Party threw its annual Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner this past weekend, which featured all the local limelights including a visit from Senator Maria Cantwell. Possibly the biggest star of the event was retiring state House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, whose long history of sacrifice on behalf of the 24th District was honored by all attendees. Rep. Kessler promised that she would continue to play an active role in the 24th District affairs and trusted that her chosen successor, Steve Tharinger, would do a wonderful job replacing her in Olympia.

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Keep the questions for the online Q&A coming in. We have another round tonight. Don't forget to send any interesting local news stories to me, either.

We'll also have an announcement from the Dicks campaign tomorrow.

Van De Wege & Tharinger Q&A: Day 1

Steve Tharinger with Lynn Kessler & Senator Maria Cantwell

We'll have Tuesday's news update tomorrow, but first, let's get to our first question submitted to the blog for the Democratic state representative candidates of the 24th District:

 From TomPAFisher:

"Do you think the extreme right-wing rhetoric of the Tea Party base of the Republican party will affect Republican legislators ability to make compromises and actually govern?"

Steve Tharinger: Governing requires compromise, and extreme rhetoric on either side affects the ability of the legislative process to find workable solutions. Although there is legitimate frustration and anxiety among the populace, the angry and ideologically extreme Tea Partiers seem to be drowning out the much-needed voices of civility that Lynn Kessler has said are so important to finding solutions in our legislative process. Lynn embodied civility, moderation, and civic cooperation in Olympia --  not divisiveness and ideological intolerance --and I plan to live up to Lynn's legacy as her successor in Olympia.

Kevin Van De Wege: I agree with Steve that this sort of extreme, immature rhetoric can damage the legislative process in Olympia, but only if a large number of extremist Tea Party candidates are actually elected. Though this movement has made a lot of noise, it has not actually won any major two-party elections in Washington state. We'll see in November if Washington's populace feels that if any of the more intemperate members of the Tea Party reflect their views on how public servants should conduct themselves.

If it is the will of the electorate, then I will look forward to working with Tea Party candidates in the same way I look forward to working with mainstream Republicans and Democrats. I sought public office so I would have the opportunity to craft effective legislation that meets the needs of our struggling local communities -- not to fight pointless partisan political battles. I hope that whoever is elected in November views their job as an opportunity to work with their fellow legislators, regardless of party, to achieve a brighter future for Washington.


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Look forward to Day 2 of the online Q&A tomorrow evening. We're still taking questions in the comments of the blog, on Facebook, and via e-mail, so please send some more in!

The 24th District Eagle

24th District Eagle To Host Exclusive Q&A with Van De Wege & Tharinger All Next Week!

Steve Tharinger & Kevin Van De Wege

It looks like The 24th District Eagle is going to have a busy week next week! Questions can be asked in the comments section of this post or at our Facebook page.

Press release below:
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Rep. Van De Wege & Commissioner Tharinger

Announce Online Q&A Open To Public

Sequim – State Representative Kevin Van De Wege and Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger are proud to announce that their campaigns have partnered with a newly formed local political blog, The 24^th District Eagle (http://www.The24thDistrictEagle.blogspot.com), to host an online Q&A open to the public over the next week. Both Representative Van De Wege and Commissioner Tharinger, his fellow 24^th District Democratic candidate for state representative, have endorsed The 24^th District Eagle as their official campaign blog.

“I work daily to ensure that I am the most accessible, responsive, and in-touch representative in Olympia,” says Rep. Van De Wege. “I think hosting an online Q&A where the public can submit questions is a fantastic chance to let my constituents know that I care about hearing and addressing their concerns in these extremely tough times for the 24^th District.”

“I'm very excited to directly interact with my constituents online as I've been doing face-to-face during my extensive travels across the 24th District over the past few months,” says Commissioner Tharinger. “Partnering with the 24th District Eagle for online outreach and public Q&As is my way of signaling my commitment to staying directly in-touch with the needs and concerns of our community."

Rep. Van De Wege and Commissioner Tharinger will answer a question a day over a week beginning on Monday, September 27, 2010. The public can submit questions to the Q&A through posting questions to the 24^th District Eagle’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/24thdistricteagle) or the comments section on its site (http://www.The24thDistrictEagle.blogspot.com).

The News for September 23, 2010

Kevin Van De Wege at the The Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center with a Rescued  Bald Eagle

Welcome to another day of local political news on Washington's greater Olympic Peninsula. As you can see, I lead off today with maybe the most  patriotic photo of the 2010 election season, in which firefighter/paramedic State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege visits The Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center to witness the release of a rescued juvenile bald eagle. Considering Kevin's considerable record as a life-saving firefighter and defender of local environmental causes, you couldn't find a more symbolic photo for his re-election campaign.

How about we name that eagle, now residing in the wild in the Sequim/Dungeness area, the official mascot of this blog? After all, he is literally a 24th District eagle.

Things Are Going Great for Steve Tharinger

24th DISTRICT EAGLE EXCLUSIVE!
JACK DWYER ENDORSES STEVE THARINGER

The 24th District Eagle is proud to be the first place to publish that the Tharinger campaign has officially announced that they have been endorsed by Jack Dwyer, the Montesano School Board Member who came third in the primary for the state house seat vacated by Lynn Kessler. "I ask for the support of all Democrats throughout this District for Steve Tharinger,” says Dwyer in a prepared release. “He needs your help in order to achieve our goals.”

“As Democrats, we have always had a history of fighting hard because we care deeply about our principles and purposes,” continues Dwyer. “Now it is time to come together as Democrats. We must win this seat and continue the long tradition of representation of the 24th District. The cause is just and the hope lives on.”

Following Lynn Kessler's endorsement earlier this week, this is yet another sign that the 24th District's Democratic leaders are uniformly uniting in support of Steve in this incredibly important election. 

ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE: The Tharinger campaign has more endorsements to announce in the coming days. The feeling among campaign staff is that momentum is building.

NFL Legend Jim Brown, VDW Campaign Manager Larry Clark's Only Competition in the Ground Game Department

VAN DE WEGE CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING AND GROUND GAME REPORT

I've received an update from Van De Wege campaign manager, the legendary Larry Clark, on the progress of the campaign's doorbelling operation in Grays Harbor. According to Larry, a hardworking Washington native who went back to school and remade himself as a political guru after being laid off at his job, the campaign is breaking its own records for the numbers of doors knocked on and conservative Republican voters converted to the Van De Wege team down in Grays Harbor.

Also, directly from Kevin, we hear that the campaign has raised over $10,000 over the past week, money the campaign needs to ensure a decisive victory -- one hopefully with some coattails across the district -- in November. Kevin also is looking forward to attending the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 25, in Port Angeles at the Red Lion to honor the departing Lynn Kessler. Word is there's also a field trip with his daughter on Friday which is being kept hush-hush.


Lastly, one more note from Larry: the campaign is looking for volunteers as phone bankers and virtual phone bankers (calling from the comfort of your home) to help reach out to voters over the next few weeks. According to Larry, it is an extremely important part of the campaign's strategy to be diligent about reaching every single available voter before ballots go out. You can contact Larry if you'd like to volunteer at LarryClark@KevinVanDeWege.com


That's it for today. Please remember to join our Facebook and follow us on Blogspot.

The News for September 22, 2010

Steve Tharinger & Lynn Kessler

STATE HOUSE MAJORY LEADER LYNN KESSLER ENDORSES STEVE THARINGER
Retiring House Majority Leader, Lynn Kessler (D), has officially endorsed Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger as her successor as 24th District state representative. Representative Kessler is one of the most powerful, respected, and distinguished public servants in the history of the 24th District, and her retirement considerably lessens the influence of the 24th District statewide if she is not replaced by a strong leader -- such as Commissioner Tharinger.

On her presumed successor, Rep. Kessler said, "“Steve is extremely well qualified to serve our large and diverse district. We need his experience and leadership in the Legislature. I am urging my supporters, regardless of which side of the aisle they are on, to vote for Steve Tharinger."

On August 26, the Republican candidate for Kessler's seat issued an odd press release in which he announced that "Lynn Kessler leaves big shoes to fill, but fill them I can." Apparently, the esteemed Rep. Kessler disagrees.

Read the rest of Rep. Kessler's endorsement at The Port Townsend Leader.

7PM Tonight at 111 South Wooding Street in Aberdeen

REP. VAN DE WEGE IN ABERDEEN TONIGHT FOR FUNDRAISER
The very busy lieutenant firefighter/parademic/father/husband/two-term state representative, Kevin Van De Wege, will be appearing at 7PM tonight at 111 South Wooding Street in Aberdeen for a fundraiser with Representatives Brian Blake and Dean Takko.

JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS DANGEROUSLY QUOTABLE
Thanks to the incredible investigative journalism of The Port Townsend Leader, we now know that Republican candidate for Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Boyer is, well, an extremely colorful and opinionated character ... who hates Port Townsend residents and apparently supports the armed overthrow of the United States government. A few selections from his online manifestos (my favorites in bold):

"Port Townsend is populated by those types who are migrating there from all over. Most of the town is welfare or trustafarians."


“Ugly old gay hippies in floppy hats would never consider loading a backpack and heading into the wilderness for a week or two with fishing pole instead of a Sierra Club Discovery Card.”

"There are NO well meaning democrats, but that’s a topic for another day."
 
“Liberalism is a mental disease.”

“For years I have believed that NORPLANT birth control should be mandatory for women (white or whatever) on welfare and government drug dependency programs.”

"Our congress is being taken over by liberals and we are sliding down the slippery slope to socialist destruction of the greatest nation the world has ever known ... What are the alternatives?... Armed revolution – march on the Capitol and demand that congress stand down and go home alive."


CONCLUSION
We'll start posting some organizing/volunteering opportunities a little later this week, along with some exclusive interviews and news. In the meantime, please spread the word and join the official 24th District Eagle Facebook.



THE 24TH DISTRICT EAGLE

Welcome to The 24th District Eagle

Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege

Join our Facebook Page!

Welcome to the 24th District Eagle, the daily news and opinion source for the Democrats, progressives, and moderate independents of Washington's 24th District and the Olympic Peninsula at large. We are also honored to be the official campaign blog of State Representative Kevin Van De Wege and Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger, who is running to join Rep. Van De Wege in Olympia as the 24th District's second state representative.

Disclaimer: Though this blog is the official blog of the campaigns Rep. Van De Wege and Commissioner Tharinger and will be featuring exclusive content from their campaigns, the opinions expressed here still belong only to us, the staff at The 24th District Eagle. We are our own independent voice and, unless directly quoting them, do not speak for either Kevin or Steve.

The key to success in modern politics is a persistent, organized, and passionate electorate. Our goal for this blog is to give the citizens of Washington's 24th District everything they'll need to make a difference for the better in local politics. We aim to provide  members of Washington's 24th District -- which covers Clallam, Jefferson, and Grays Harbor counties -- with a daily digest of local political news, events, organizing opportunities, and volunteer/fundraising drives.

Hopefully, the 24th District Eagle can become the central hub of local progressive and moderate organizing efforts to ensure that our wonderful area is governed by inspiring public servants who appreciate and wish to preserve the 24th District's incredible natural surroundings, who fight for the welfare of the hardworking common people and local small businesses of our district, and who prize the freedom and prosperity of their constituents more than the support of Big Business, lobbyists, and outside special interests.


Every day, the 24th District Eagle will attempt to give its readership the inside story on local Democratic and progressive politics, along with exclusive interviews, news updates, and volunteering/fundraising/action drives. In short, we hope to make a difference, both on a local level and on a statewide level.

We're always looking for opinions, sugggestions, and help, so please reach out to us through e-mail and friending us on Facebook.

The 24th District Eagle