SEQUIM — Only three of seven candidates for the congressional seat being vacated by veteran Rep. Norm Dicks attended a League of Women Voters forum Sunday.
The two best-funded candidates, Democrat Derek Kilmer and Republican Bill Driscoll — who have raised or self-funded more than $1 million between them — were among the four absent.
Republican candidate Stephan Brodhead and independent Eric Arentz also were no-shows.
Attending were Republicans Doug Cloud, Jesse Young and Ike Eichner.
All seven are on the Aug. 7 primary ballot, which will be distributed in the all-mail election in mid-July.
Cloud and Young, who vied for the congressional seat in 2010, and Eichner used Sunday’s forum at Macleay Hall northwest of Sequim to focus on the economy.
Young, a technology consultant, said the nation should focus on creating “21st century” jobs in the real estate, technology and energy sectors.
“This district can and should be the preeminent leader for job growth in the nation,” he said.
Young said the district’s deepwater ports — the 6th stretches from Tacoma to Port Angeles — “sets us apart” and noted that “we are abundant in natural resources” — not just in timber, he said, but in natural gas, metals and minerals.
“There’s a way that we can leverage those resources and still honor our land,” he said, giving a nod to environmental concerns.
Eichner, a software company owner, said he was concerned about debt.
“We have years to deal with this issue, not decades, so we need statesmen,” Eichner said.
Eichner said he would use his military and business experience to help the district use technology to solve problems.
“Technology gave us the ability to make businesses work better, so that’s what I focused on.”
Private businesses have been forced to remove middle managers to become more efficient, he said, but “our government has never done that.”
Cloud, a lawyer, said he wanted a “new America” with more prosperity and optimism.
“Why do we seem to have a country where people run in quicksand?” he asked.
“Our government has been bought, paid for and compromised by those who have so much influence, so much control, that they don’t even care about us.
“What I want to do is restore the new American prosperity, the new American happiness and optimism.”
Cloud said he did not support going to war in Iraq because it was an unconstitutional “undeclared war” paid for by “credit card.”
During the question-and-answer period, the candidates were asked their opinion on the Citizens United case and the influence of money in elections.
Eichner answered first, saying, “You are never going to be able to get big money out of campaigns as long as you have the First Amendment.”
Young said the answer was to “just force more transparency” so that citizens would know where the campaign money was coming from.
“Let everybody in here know where I’m getting my money from,” Young said.
Cloud agreed with Eichner regarding the First Amendment and added that “campaign finance laws are designed exclusively to protect incumbents,” thus creating a low-turnover environment in Congress.
When asked for his thoughts on illegal immigration, Cloud said, “We either have rule of law in this country or we don’t.”
Cloud said illegal immigrants are rewarded “with all kind of benefits, including subsidized tuition, welfare and everything else that the rest of us have to work for.”
Young said the laws of the land should be enforced and that a fence should be built on the border.
“It’s a national security issue at this point.”
“Anyone who comes back says we can’t build a fence has never seen us put a man on the moon. All you need to do is go over to Israel and watch what they do with their security.”
Eichner equated the issue to standing in line at movie theater.
“You don’t like it if somebody comes right up to the front of the line, shoves his way in and gets his ticket and goes in,” he said.
Eichner said the law should be enforced, but he did not think a border fence should be built.
“Building fences around our borders scares me. East Germany had a wonderful fence,” he said.
Reporter Chris Tucker can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at chris.tucker@peninsuladailynews.com.
