Video: 34th District Democrats, from caucus preview to candidate forums
(Crossposted from partner site West Seattle Blog, since White Center’s part of the 34th District too)
“If someone [still] doesn’t know the caucuses are happening, we can’t help them at this point,” said 34th District Democrats chair Tim Nuse at Wednesday night’s monthly meeting, mentioning an awareness-raising campaign that he said has included 7,000 door-knocks, thousands of phone calls (including 10,000 robocalls Wednesday with a message from King County Executive Dow Constantine), and paid ads (including one here on WSB).
That would be the Democratic precinct caucuses – happening this Sunday at 1 pm at locations all around the district (if you’re a Democrat, find your location here). Even though the presidential candidate is not up for debate, the 34th DDs say there is much to talk about and many reasons to attend yours. But after that pep talk, Wednesday night’s meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy in West Seattle moved on to many ways of looking ahead to August and November, including a surprise speech by our area’s Congressmmember, and three mini-campaign-forums – we have them all on video, ahead:
U.S. REP. JIM McDERMOTT: He wasn’t on the agenda but he showed up and declared this year’s election to be one of the most important elections in our nation’s history. “The single last piece of safety net in this country is health care,” he said. “And the opportunity to be there and to work on it is what I’m looking forward to.” He says he believes President Obama “has accomplished a tremendous amount in the face of continual opposition.” Here’s our unedited video of everything he said:
EARLY ENDORSEMENT SLATE: Rep. McDermott was part of a slate of Democratic incumbents/candidates that the group gave an early block endorsement to last night: President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep. McDermott, Jay Inslee (governor), Bob Ferguson (attorney general), Peter Goldmark (lands commissioner), State Rep. Eileen Cody, and State Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon. First, they also heard from one candidate’s spouse – Trudi Inslee, for 39 years the wife of governor candidate Jay Inslee.
She declared the 34th “the biggest LD [legislative district] meeting we’ve been to.” She was accompanied by their daughter Samantha; she explained he was at a meeting tonight in Lacey. “We’re excited about this race, we feel good about it, we’re going to have a lot of ups and downs, as you know … but we’re going to win this thing with your help,” she said.
Other endorsements will be considered at the next meeting May 9th.
CANDIDATE FORUMS: The meeting included three candidates’ forums for three statewide offices. We recorded each on video so you can watch, unedited, now or when the August primary is closer. First, secretary of state, with candidates Kathleen Drew, State Sen. Jim Kastama, and former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels:
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Next, State Supreme Court:
State Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens is running unopposed but made a very brief speech toward the start of the meeting – we picked it up after her quip that she’s from Forks and doesn’t have to explain any more where that is.
Finally, the two-candidate forum for state auditor:
As we mentioned, the next 34th DDs meeting is May 9th – 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, or come at 6:30 to mingle – but first, the aforementioned caucuses, 1 pm this Sunday (April 15th), lots of info/resources here.
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