PORT TOWNSEND — This year’s election is crucial for the nation, said the region’s longtime congressman who is calling it quits after more than a quarter-century in office.
“The Democratic Party is alive and well in Jefferson County,” said U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, addressing the Jefferson County Democratic Party’s annual fish fry fundraiser.
“You have a lot of great local electeds here, and we need to work hard to make sure they are re-elected.”
Dicks, who is retiring after 36 years as a congressman, appeared with state Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, who seeks to replace him in the House of Representatives in the 6th District, which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties.
Also appearing at the Sunday party was former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee of Bainbridge Island who is running for governor.
About 500 people attended the event at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, raising more than $12,000, according to county party chair Teri Nomura.
In his remarks, Dicks criticized the current Congress, noting that in the 1970s, several environmental improvements were implemented with bipartisan support.
“There was a time we had 67 Democratic senators, and the Republicans were decent because they had the choice to be decent or irrelevant,” Dicks said.
“Those were the days that Democrats and Republicans worked together to do what’s best for the country, and that’s what’s missing today in Washington, D.C.”
The speeches reflected a mutual admiration society, with the speakers providing accolades for others as much as touting their own accomplishments.
Inslee and Kilmer paid tribute to Dicks while the praise was passed around.
Kilmer said the state needs Inslee’s environmental expertise while Inslee said that if Kilmer is elected “the average IQ in the House of Representatives will go up 10 points.”
Kilmer is the only candidate listing Democratic preference in the current primary balloting that ends Aug. 7.
He is opposed by five who prefer Republicans and one identified as independent.
The top two vote-getters regardless of party preference will move on to the November general election.
There also was interaction between Dicks and fish fry party-goers, with Dicks being thanked for his service and the congressman thanking the public for their support.
Dicks said he especially was gratified by his support in Jefferson County — 72 percent in the last election — noting that it wasn’t the same in Clallam County.
“I did not lose a single county [in the last election] except for Clallam County, and it really hurt,” he said.
“Derek was born and raised in Clallam County, and his parents were teachers there. I was told they were easy graders.”
Humor peppered the political patter.
Inslee said, “Now that Norm Dicks has retired, we need a governor who makes sure that he doesn’t catch every salmon in Puget Sound.”
Kilmer told a story about his first legislative campaign when he was going door to door in Bremerton and gave his campaign pitch to a woman who turned out to be Dicks’ mother.
“The most common question I get is, ‘How big are your feet?’ because I have big shoes to fill, and I am very conscious of that,” Kilmer said.
“The second most frequent question I get is, ‘Why would you want to run for Congress because you have a family and Congress is a mess?’
“My answer is because I have a family and Congress is a mess.”
The most important issue is the environment.
“There is a lot at stake,” Kilmer said. “Our kids are the future, and they are only as safe as the air they breathe, the water they drink and the Earth we pass on to them.”
Inslee, who faces a primary slate that includes eight other gubernatorial candidates, including another Democrat, said he hopes to leverage the state’s technological resources and improve the educational system.
“When I am governor of the state of Washington, we are going to emphasize science, technology and math, and every kid will have a shot at a high-tech jobs,” Inslee said.
Inslee is expected to face Republican Attorney Gen. Rob McKenna for governor in the November election, according to all advance polling.
Inslee said he had one of the most incredible experiences of his life over the weekend, paddling canoes on the tribal journey.
“It ended in Olympia, and I said, ‘That’s a nice metaphor,’” he said.
“This is a great state, and I’m glad I have a chance to help it be what it can be.”
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
