Business leader and community activist Mark Pelletier, an announced candidate for the open seat in the 17th Legislative District, was among the no-shows last week when the filing deadline for the Aug. 17 primary election passed on Friday.
Pelletier, a Republican with a background as a career social worker, told The Columbian’s editorial board in a May 25 interview that while he holds conservative values, he would be “unwilling to sever support for the genuinely needy” if elected to the Legislature.
In the end, he said Monday, “I didn’t get enough money or enough help. It become evident the money wasn’t there. So when it came time for filing, I’d pretty much spent everything we brought in. I had no confidence that I’d be able to put together the work team to really run a good race.”
Pelletier said he had mixed feelings about dropping out.
“I’m disappointed at not having an opportunity to serve my community and make some changes in Olympia,” he said. “On the other hand, it’s nice to get my private life back. I did feel I brought good qualifications to the race and I hope I get the chance to run again someday.”
He said he would support fellow Republican Paul Harris in the contest for the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Deb Wallace. Democrats Monica Stonier and Martin Hash are the other candidates remaining in the race.
In the 18th District, seven candidates — but only one Democrat — filed for the open seat currently held by Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera, who is running for Congress. That means the Republican Party won’t have to pressure any of its four candidates to withdraw from the race. The party had worried that if two Democrats filed for the seat, and Republicans split the GOP vote four ways, no Republican might place in the top two in the August primary. Under the state’s primary system, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party.
Independents unite
Richard Carson, an independent running in the 18th, put out a press release Monday noting that a record five independent, nonaffiliated candidates have filed for the Legislature. They include both liberals and conservatives running in urban and rural districts.
“We have a message of independent rather than special interests that resonates with voters,” Carson said. “And with the top two vote getters in the primary election moving on to the general election, independent candidates have their best chance ever of winning seats in the state Legislature.”
The five candidates issued a joint “Declaration of Independents” proclaiming “that we are united in our belief that the political parties serve special interest money and do not represent the voters.”
Another candidate, Jon T. Haugen of Vancouver, filed for the 18th District seat at the last minute. He identified himself as “Prefers Neither Party.” In 2008, Haugen ran against state Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, as a Democrat.
In the 49th District, Democratic Rep. Jim Jacks got a Republican opponent when Bill Cismar, a data network administrator, filed last week. But Jennifer Conkey, a Democrat who self-financed a campaign focused on opposing tolls on a new Interstate 5 bridge, failed to file by Friday’s deadline.
Conkey said in a phone message that she was giving her full support to Jacks.
State Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, will face Republican Craig Riley in the other 49th District race.
3rd Congressional
Six candidates remain standing in the 3rd Congressional District race for the seat from which U.S. Rep. Brian Baird is retiring.
Republican Chris Boyd, a disabled Army veteran who entered the contest late, decided at the last minute not to make the race.
“I feel that with the timing of my entry and time spent away from my campaign for family concerns, I will not be able to sustain the momentum I would need to reach the ears of the voters in Southwest Washington ,” he said in a statement.
Boyd endorsed Olympia Republican David Castillo, saying, “He stays true to his values and exemplifies the meaning of integrity.”
Norma Jean Stevens of Ocean Park was a surprise filer for the seat. She stated her party preference as “Prefers Independent Party.”
Besides Castillo, the other candidates are Republicans Herrera and David Hedrick and Democrats Denny Heck and Cheryl Crist.
