No Loss for Words

I picked up the Herald on Sunday and learned that Dave Somers may be moving on to a job with the EPA. Any surprises there?

Amongst all the other stuff in the article, the (Herald Reporter) HR wondered whether Steve Dana was the best the Republicans could muster for a candidate. (Do I sound like I have an edge on my words?) I can’t tell whether I should be PO’d or not. I happen to think Steve would be a great County Council member. Am I biased?

The HR obviously doesn’t view my candidacy as being too formidable and that almost anyone would be better suited to the job. I guess that since I hadn’t raised a lot of money or stirred the Republican Party faithful in the past month I must be a dud.

He thought that Mike Hope could be recruited to run for the seat. Since Mike was between House elections, he could make the run without risk to his current position. The HR must think Mike is the fair haired boy for our district. If a Republican can win one election, he must be the go-to guy for all the others. I’m not aware that Mike is looking for another gig. This HR’s thinking is indicative of the tunnel vision characteristic in many political writers.

I would be curious to hear whether HR thinks candidates need to have some experience or qualifications for elective office or is it all purely political?

It appears that to HR that election to one position makes a person a natural fit for any other position that comes up. Would that be one size fits all? That seems to be the pattern with these career politicians. Check out the election history of most of our local Democrats.

Aaron Reardon has been climbing the political ladder his whole working life; two different positions in the legislature and now Snohomish County Executive. With no logical place to move up to on the horizon, Reardon has to be frustrated. Maybe there is a place in the Obama machine for him too.

Mike Cooper (career government employee) and Brian Sullivan (not a career politician yet) both move to the legislature for short stays before coming back to the county in council positions. John Koster (almost a career politician) has also been to Olympia as a Rep in the 39th. It appears that a stretch in Olympia is the necessary training to hold office in the county. What are the residents of our county to think about these professional partisan politicians?

Dave Gossett has been a local government guy since we were both city council members and mayors. Of all the county council members, I appreciate Dave’s commitment to our county. He has done a great job in spite of the fact that he has been on the government payroll most of his career and has a D behind his name (career politician).

HR indicated that a bunch of Democrats would vie for the appointment to the council if Somers were to resign. He named Hans Dunshee (career politician). Hans said it was a shorter drive and more pay so he was interested. Now there is a recommendation for a candidate. Dunshee also indicated that land-use was something he knew about. You know, he was on the county planning commission for a while many years ago before he went to Olympia so there is no doubt Hans is the best suited for the appointment.

And, if Hans gets enough years in the Public Employee Retirement system capped by a term or two on the County payroll, his pension will get him a much higher paycheck. That will be the primary enticement for Hans. Gary Nelson (another career politician) did it and it worked great.

HR named Steve Hobbs (wannabe career politician) who lost to Somers in 2005 and he named Fred Walser (career government employee) who lost to Val Stevens (career politician) as other possible Democrats that might be interested in the appointment. Shoot, Mark Hintz might be up for it too. He’s a good Democrat.

It appears that these guys don’t care what the job is; only that it is at the public trough. There is something about that idea that just rubs me the wrong way. I would feel better if some of these candidates had spent a career in the private sector so they could have some feeling for the rest of us. (Check the résumés of all the names above, see how many have non-government employment experience.)

Bureaucrats and Career Politicians have been what got us into most of our problems. I hope the voters are hungry for a refreshing change.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I was excited about running against Somers, but he has a record to defend. That makes my job a little easier. With these other phantom politicians and political writers, I’ll have to develop a completely different strategy. So much for planning.