PORT TOWNSEND — Although Jefferson County voters overwhelmingly supported Derek Kilmer’s bid for Congress in November, that resounding preference didn’t let him off the hook with constituents.
Kilmer, who took office in January, made his first Port Townsend public appearance since his election before about 250 people at a town-hall style meeting at Fort Worden State Park on Tuesday night.
There, the 6th District congressman — a Democrat who lives in Gig Harbor and former state senator who succeeded 18-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair — was challenged about his commitment to the environment and chastised for not signing on as a co-sponsor to a bill stating that corporations are not people.
It was his second town meeting on the North Olympic Peninsula and was preceded by an afternoon meeting in Port Angeles the same day.
In November, Kilmer was elected to represent the 6th Congressional District — which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties — by 66.33 percent of Jefferson County voters and by 53.04 percent of Clallam County voters in his bid against Republican Bill Driscoll.
Kilmer, 39 began Tuesday evening with a PowerPoint presentation featuring pictures of his two young daughters, saying, “The purpose of this slide is to show that my kids are really cute” before expressing frustration about his first months in Congress.
“If the members of Congress don’t pass a budget, they shouldn’t be paid,” Kilmer said.
“I have worked in economic development and have never gotten paid for a job that I didn’t do.”
Following the presentation, Kilmer opened the floor for more than an hour.
Dianne Diamond of Port Townsend read a statement concerning the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, which loosened restrictions on corporate campaign donations.
Her statement criticized Kilmer for showing support for a constitutional amendment to nullify the decision yet failing to co-sponsor any of the bills that have been introduced in response to the decision.
Diamond asked audience members to raise their hands to show they favor certain statements: that corporations exert undue influence in the political process, that their spending should be controlled and that money and speech are not equal.
Most of the hands in the room — including Kilmer’s — were raised in assent.
“I don’t think corporations are people, and I don’t think money is free speech, and if the Supreme Court rules otherwise, we need to change the Constitution,” Kilmer said.
“But it’s important to get it right,” he added.
“There are four different bills, and I want to make sure when I co-sponsor one of them it is the right one of those.
“I commend you for your advocacy and hope you can stay organized.”
Kilmer is now reviewing the various bills, said Stephen Carter, Kilmer’s communications director, on Wednesday.
The bills include a proposed resolution that would start the process of a proposed constitutional amendment to nullify the court decision, he said.
Kilmer said in Port Angeles that he favorably viewed the idea of a constitutional amendment.
During his remarks, Kilmer referred to the Republicans who control Congress as “the leadership” and did not mention the party by name.
Mike Regan of Port Townsend objected.
“I’d like to hear you not be so soft on them,” Regan said.
“The Republicans are ruining our economy just for the sake of winning in the next presidential cycle,” Regan said.
“They don’t care what happens to the American people as long as they get their people back in and they can make the Democrats look bad.”
Said Kilmer: “I think we are in trouble if either party defines success as making the other guy look stupid.”
Jefferson County Commissioner Phil Johnson’s request to get the federal government involved in prohibiting fish farming prompted Kilmer to ask Johnson to schedule a meeting with him.
“I want to make sure there is an opportunity to engage on the federal level,” Kilmer said.
The state Department of Ecology has refused to allow Jefferson County to ban fish farming.
Said Kilmer: “This is part of a broader issue about the recovery of native salmon, which is one of the areas in which we have a substantial interest.”
Said Dave Woodruff of Port Townsend: “It makes no sense for the government to spend millions on river recovery and then allow these industries to operate to the detriment of commercial, tribal and recreational fishing.”
After the town hall meeting, Kilmer shared a potluck dinner with Jefferson County Democrats at Quimper Grange.
Kilmer said he lost about 20 pounds since taking office through a combination of eating more vegetables, exercising and “running myself ragged.”
Kilmer also talked about commuting weekly between Gig Harbor and Washington, D.C., and how it has affected his family life.
“I communicate with my daughters over the iPad,” he said. “The 7-year-old talks to me for a few seconds, then puts the iPad on the table and walks away.
“In two minutes, I hear the toilet flush, then the 3-year-old picks up the iPad and carries it around the house, and [the video] looks like something out of ‘The Blair Witch Project.’”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
