Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, announced May 19 an initial list of local elected officials and civic leaders who will serve as members of his campaign kick-off host committee.
This list adds to the more than 20 leaders from Whatcom County who publicly offered their backing to the Larsen campaign last week. Committee members from Island, San Juan and Skagit counties include:
— Nancy Conard, mayor, Coupeville
— Howie Rosenfeld, San Juan County Council
— Lovel Pratt, San Juan County Council
— Boyd Pratt, San Juan Island School Board member
— Jamie Stephens, chairman, San Juan County Democrats
— Ruth Fleming, San Juan County Democrats
— Georgia Bacia, San Juan County Democrats
— Dave Mattens, Island County assessor
— Helen Price Johnson, Island County commissioner
— John Dean, Island County commissioner
— Greg Banks, Island County prosecutor
— Paul Samuelson, mayor, Langley
— Nancy Scott, Skagit County clerk
— Rich Weyrich, Skagit County prosecutor
— Ken Dahlstadt, Skagit County commissioner
— Sharon Dillon, Skagit County commissioner
— Dean Maxwell, mayor, Anacortes
— Nick Petrish, City Council, Anacortes
— Glenn Bordner former chairman, Skagit County Democrats
— Mike Youngquist, Skagit County farmer
— Alec McDougal, retired Skagit County teacher
— Scott McMullen, City Council, Mount Vernon
— Mary Margaret Haugen, 10th District state senator
— Kevin Ranker, 40th District state senator
Larsen has represented Washington’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Budget Committee.
The primary election is Aug. 17; the general election is Nov. 2. Other candidates are Larry Kalb, Democrat, president of Health Care for All and former chairman of the Washington State Progressive Caucus; John Koster, Republican, Snohomish County Council member; and Diana McGinness, Democrat, a retired insurance fraud investigator.
“Rick Larsen is a champion for our community,” Anacortes Mayor Dean Maxwell said in the press release. “He listens to what we’re saying and he works hard to gets things done. Rick Larsen is the right choice for Skagit County in these tough times.”
Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard added, “Rick is always ready to go to bat for folks in Island County. His work to protect our Ebey’s Reserve is critical to our efforts to maintain this vital resource for farming and to maintain its cultural history.”
Skagit County Commissioner Ken Dahlstadt said, “I hear people complain about how out of touch D.C. is, but nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to Rick Larsen. Rick is a local guy who knows what’s going on in Skagit County. I am constantly impressed by how responsive Rick is to the needs of our community.”
Larsen said his priorities continue to be focused on creating jobs, holding Wall Street accountable and helping seniors with Medicare prescription drug costs.
“Small businesses in our community are struggling to stay afloat. I’ve visited numerous small businesses and manufacturers in Skagit, Island and San Juan counties who are fighting their way out of the recession. I want to help them. I want to see the ‘Made in America’ label again. I will do all I can to spur economic growth and help our businesses create jobs in our area.”
