CHIMACUM — Jefferson County’s first “tea party” protest drew about 125 people from across the North Olympic Peninsula on Saturday.
The Jefferson County Republican Party held the political demonstration at the Chimacum Grange.
Many protesters came with signs criticizing national, state and local policies seen as infringements on property rights and overly burdensome for taxpayers.
“Give me liberty, not debt,” read one sign.
“No new taxes,” said another.
Speakers, including residents from Jefferson and Clallam counties and two Republican Party candidates, also touched on a range of issues from a conservative standpoint, with a particular focus on land use regulations.
Best stewards
“The best stewards of the land are the people who live on it,” Dennis Schultz of the Olympic Stewardship Foundation told the crowd.
Larry Carter, Jefferson County Citizens Alliance for Property Rights president, criticized the state-mandated shoreline master program.
“It will cost you a fortune to build on your own darn property,” he said, referring to environmental setbacks.
“It’s not fair,” he added to applause.
The demonstration was the first organized in Jefferson County, while several similar rallies were conducted in Sequim and Port Angeles last year.
Sequim resident Evangeline Rivera-Levine told the crowd Saturday to remember that change comes through the ballot box and encouraged them to support conservative Republican candidates.
“We can’t lose interest,” she said. “Tell your people to vote.”
Rivera-Levine is a member of Concerned Citizens of Clallam County, which she described as pro-property rights organization.
The two political candidates to speak were Jim Boyer, who has announced candidacy for the seat now held by Jefferson County Commissioner John Austin, a Democrat, and Doug Cloud, who aims for the seat now held by Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, of the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula.
The primary race is in August, before the general election in November.
Boyer, 63, of Port Ludlow, encouraged those in attendance to keep engaged in politics for the sake of future generations.
‘Concerned about country’
“I’m genuinely concerned over the kind of country our kids are going to grow up in,” he said.
Cloud, who announced Tuesday that he is challenging long-term Congressman Dicks for the fourth time, said while speaking to concerns over property rights that he is frustrated by “leftist” policies at all levels of government.
The Gig Harbor resident told the Peninsula Daily News that he expects that such conservative political demonstrations criticizing government spending and regulations, known generally as Tea Parties, will maintain momentum through the November elections.
“It’s been building for years,” he said.
“But the flash point is the economy.”
There were a few signs and comments made at President Barack Obama’s expense, but a three-foot tall Obama “weeble wobble” was left unjabbed.
National debt
A Port Ludlow resident, Paul Moseley, criticized the federal government for increasing the nation’s debt but didn’t direct blame to anyone in particular.
“I don’t think we can keep this up,” he said. “The government is spending money like it’s going out of style.
“And it is.”
Jefferson County Republican Party Chairman Ron Gregory told the PDN at the beginning of the demonstration that there were no plans for future Tea Parties at the time.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
