Why I’m Running for the
State Legislature

Moving to the Northwest nearly two decades ago, a long way from the heat of Washington DC and the attitudes of New York, our family found a better way of life. In the process I helped build a new radio station, saved a dying downtown business, renovated parts of downtown Shelton and Olympia, and helped start a new bank. I have taken an active role in the community serving on school, hospital, youth and civic boards.

It was not all clear sailing. We almost didn't get the radio station completed in time. We struggled for several years to pay the bills at our retail store before we became profitable. Paying the costs of health care for our employees, which we were committed to doing, as well as the B&O tax, almost did us in. But we survived and prospered.

I grew up in an era when government leaders inspired us to do good things from addressing historic racial injustices to putting a man on the moon. But we have gone from the challenge of "Ask not what your country can do for you…'' to "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!"

Whether the issue is an awful environmental policy, a disastrous foreign policy, or hurtful domestic cuts, this is the worst administration in my lifetime and perhaps ever. It is an administration that substitutes arrogance for reasoned discussion, and incompetence for noble governmental service, all in the name of "Government is not the solution it is the problem." I want to be a part of a change in that philosophy.

As one who spent 16 years in the other Washington I am not naïve about how difficult it is to accomplish change. But my personal history is to be part of the solution.
My political involvement goes back to working for a civil rights group in the late sixties. I was a fund-raiser for Al Gore during his 1988 presidential race.

I worked for the FCC and later appeared before committees of both the US House and Senate in Washington DC testifying for the rights of people living in rural areas so that they could have equal access to telecommunications. I am immediate past vice-chair of the 35th LD Democrats and current PCO.

It is now time to bring to bear the experience I have gained in government, nonprofit, military and business, for the benefit of all the citizens of the 35th District. I hope to ensure for the next generation the educational and health care opportunities I have had, to safeguard the precious environment that brought us here and to promote a business climate that provides family wage jobs so that all our children and grandchildren may enjoy this wonderful place.

For Further information contact: 360-866-2000