PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Republicans sat down to their annual Lincoln Day luncheon Saturday afternoon and met their likely candidate for governor this fall.
“Jobs — that’s the whole message,” said former state Sen. Dino Rossi of Sammammish, who keynoted Saturday’s event.
Rossi was joined by Rep. George Nethercutt Jr., R-Spokane, and state Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, at the head table at Fort Worden State Park Commons.
Nethercutt took the opportunity to plug his Senate campaign against incumbent Patty Murray, D-Shoreline.
Both Rossi and Nethercutt said their campaigns will focus on growing the state’s economy and job numbers.
Washington has the third highest unemployment in the nation, Rossi said, underscoring his jobs theme.
Rossi will be challenging one of three Democrats in the fall election in hopes of claiming the governor’s mansion for the GOP for the first time in 20 years.
Democratic challengers are state Attorney General Christine Gregoire, former state Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge and King County Executive Ron Sims.
