Along a tidy row of houses in Felida, Larry Hoff leaned over the bed of his blue Chevy truck to adjust a heap of yard signs for the campaigns of Brandon Vick and Jaime Herrera Beutler, two Republicans running in the November election. On top of the stack was another sign bearing his name.
“I hope you’re not going to put those in my yard,” called out Marlene Zandstra as she stepped outside of her house.
Hoff turned to Zandstra, smiled and told her not to worry.
“I am one of the sensible Republicans running for office,” replied Hoff, a candidate for state representative. The two chatted amicably for a moment before Hoff headed down the street to knock on the doors of voters.
Democrats are bullish that changing demographics from population growth and a party base motivated by an unpopular president will flip the 18th Legislative District. The district has been held by Republicans for over 20 years, and the retirement of state Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, leaves a seat up for grabs.
In the August primary, Kathy Gillespie, a Democrat making her second run for the position, emerged with over a thousand more votes than Hoff. Gillespie, a former two-term board member of Vancouver Public Schools, has raised $195,313 to the $121,753 raised by Hoff, a retired credit union executive.
But Republicans are confident they’ll turn out enough voters to keep the seat in their hands. As the 2018 elections season enters its final weeks, Hoff said he’s confident he can overcome Gillespie’s lead.
At 368 square miles, the 18th Legislative District is largest entirely within Clark County. It curves around most of Vancouver, encompasses large swaths of rural Clark County and includes at least part of every city in the county (except Woodland).
“That means that people you are talking to every day really have some different ways of life, different ways that they see things, different interests,” said Gillespie.
Gillespie
Over a cup of black coffee at a cafe in Battle Ground where at least one patron wore a Donald Trump hat, Gillespie explained her strategy. She said that after she lost to Pike in 2016 by nearly 10,000 votes, her campaign went quiet but it never stopped.
“My expectation is that, given enough time to talk about enough issues … I can earn the support of anyone,” said Gillespie.
She’s given herself time. She recalled how in February 2017 she and a dozen supporters gathered with hand warmers in their pockets on a cold Saturday in Washougal to start knocking on voters’ doors for an election that was almost two years away. Gillespie recalled being surprised and encouraged by the turnout.
Gillespie, a former newspaper editor, said that she has since knocked on thousands of doors. She’s made multiple trips in her hybrid Toyota Camry to Yacolt. She’s gone through multiple inserts for a pair of Teva shoes she wears while canvassing.
Gillespie, 55, said that part of her appeal is that she’s a moderate, interested in results and bipartisanship. She said the Legislature should look at eliminating tax exemptions and loopholes before new revenue. She said she wished the Legislature could have delivered more property tax relief as part of a landmark education funding package.
“It’s a really tough uphill course,” former Camas Mayor Nan Henriksen said of Gillespie. “But when you consider the number of doors she’s knocked on and the number of open meetings she’s had to listen to people, I would hope that might offset the (district’s) history.”
Henriksen said she was won over by Gillespie’s understanding of the issues and her extensive outreach efforts. She also said Gillespie’s eight years on the Vancouver Public Schools board will be an asset as lawmakers take up the issue of school funding.
Rick Wilson, president of the Vancouver Education Association, described Gillespie as a very active board member who would show up early in the morning to pick up litter at schools. He described her as approachable and concerned about student learning as well as district employees.
After taking full control of the Legislature for the first time since 2012, Democrats have used their position to advance pent-up priorities on campaign finance, gun control, voting access, women’s issues and others.
Gillespie said she was supportive of the voting access measures, as well as legislation that would require insurers who cover maternity to also cover abortion. She said she supported net neutrality legislation, as well as a bill intended to address the wage gap between men and women. She described lawmakers’ attempt to exempt themselves for the state’s public record law as “nonsense,” but praised them for finishing on time.
“I would say she leans very left,” said David Gellatly, chair of the Clark County Republican Party. “I don’t think anyone is confused about her positions.”
Hoff
After a voter wished him good luck, Hoff continued to the next house on his list. While walking, Hoff explained that after retiring as CEO of Fibre Federal Credit Union in 2017, he wanted to stay busy helping people. So when the seat opened, he decided to run.
Hoff, 66, describes himself as a conservative Republican. He’s skeptical about gun control and climate change. He’s worried Democrats will pursue new taxes on capital gains or carbon emissions
“What we need to emphasize is the difference between how the Democrats plan on using new tax structures,” he said.
Hoff has broad support from the Republican establishment. He’s been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman and multiple legislators, including nearly every GOP lawmaker from Clark County.
State Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, said she’s known Hoff for 35 years, having worked for him at Columbia Credit Union in the 1980s. She described him as a collaborative, fair and knowledgeable person who loves getting into details. She also mentioned his philanthropic efforts for OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
“He has a real compassion for people. I think that’s why he did so well at the credit union,” said Wilson.
David Nierenberg, a local investor and prominent political donor, described Hoff as a “moderate, business-oriented Republican” who is diplomatic and could work across the aisle.
Hoff does not have the endorsement of Pike, who instead endorsed airline pilot and conservative activist John Ley, who later dropped out. Since announcing her retirement, Pike has openly feuded with Gellatly and state Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, on Facebook.
Hoff said he’s known Pike for years. He said he went out to her farm to chat about his campaign and has “zero problem” not getting her endorsement. Pike didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Pike supported a third bridge connecting Southwest Washington to Portland over efforts to replace the Interstate 5 Bridge. Hoff said that while he’d like a third bridge, he’s supportive of the bipartisan efforts to replace the I-5 Bridge.
Hoff acknowledged that the Democrats are likely to keep control of the Legislature. But he said that being a sensible Republican means listening and working with the other side.
“If we can get over this goofy divisiveness, we’ll be all better off,” he said.
