LD25

Washington State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser weighed in on state legislative district politics yesterday, telling PolitickerWA.com which seats he thought were ripe for the picking.

In the state Senate, Esser said Republicans had very strong chances for pickups in the 2nd and 25th Legislative Districts. The 2nd District, which covers portions of rural Pierce and Thurston Counties, has Republican Randi Becker (R-Graham) taking on Democratic Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen (D-Eatonville), and in the 25th, which also covers eastern Pierce County, Michele Smith (R-Puyallup) is challenging Sen. Jim Kastama (D-Puyallup).

For the state House, Esser singled out Rep. Don Barlow's (D-Spokane) seat in the 6th Legislative District, retiring Rep. Patricia Lantz' (D-Port Orchard) seat in the 26th, retiring Rep. Fred Jarrett (D-Mercer Island) in LD41, Rep. Liz Loomis (D-Snohomish) in the 44th, Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) in the 45th District, and 47th District Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington).

Pierce County Councilmember Calvin Goings (D-Puyallup) added yet another endorsement to his list of backers. The campaign announced today that the 25th Legislative District Democrats, from Puyallup, Fife, Milton and Edgewood, issued a sole endorsement to Goings at their monthly meeting last week.

"The 25th Democrats are proud to give our sole endorsement to Calvin Goings. His leadership in the private sector and his hands on experience dealing with the key issues facing Pierce County are critical to our future," said Lauren Adler, Chair of the 25th District Democrats.

Yesterday while most of the political news in the state was focused on John McCain's visit, two new candidates for state Representative emerged. Mulick's Olympia Dispatch has the word on a couple of entries in Western Washington.

In Seattle's 36th, where Democrats Reuven Carlyle and John Burbank are engaged in a high profile battle for retiring Rep. Helen Sommers' seat, Republican Leslie Bloss has joined the fray. She is a former Boeing employee and a real estate agent, not to mention one of the very few Republicans in the 36th LD.

Then in Pierce County's 25th LD Fife City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Robert Cerqui, a Democrat, has filed to run for the seat of retiring Rep. Joyce McDonald (R-Puyallup). He joins Republican Bruce Dammeier and Progressive Laurence Pratt, both of Puyallup.

Puyallup's Larry Platt has entered the race for State Rep. in the 25th District as a member of the Progressive Party. As TCH's Chris Mulick notes, he is also one of the founding members of the party here in Washington dating back to 2003.

The seat is open due to Rep. Joyce McDonald's retirement, and is also being sought by Puyallup Republican Bruce Dammeier.

This spring has seen the candidacies emerge from two notable GOP State Rep. challengers. Not for their fundraising prowess or some lingering scandal, but they do have something that many politicians deep down wish they had, youth.

21st District Republican Andrew Funk is challenging incumbent Rep. Marko Liias (D-Mukilteo). He is also 18 years old and a student at Edmonds Community College.Andrew Funk (R-Mountlake Terrace)

"I am going at this to win. I wanted the opportunity to run for new leadership and somebody with conservative views," Funk told the Everett Herald.

About an hour south of there in the 25th, 22 year old Caleb Heimlich (R-Puyallup) is challenging Rep. Dawn Morrell (D-Puyallup).

"I am running because I want to improve the quality of life in our state and district," Heimlich said in a press release. "I believe we can achieve that by focusing on results in the core functions of government and maintaining fiscal responsibility by returning government to its proper limits."