| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 1:01 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||||||||
Koster will run against Larsen for 2nd District Congressional seat EVERETT — John Koster is on the stump again, with his eyes on Washington, D.C., barely two months after winning another term on the Snohomish County Council.The Arlington Republican announced Wednesday that he is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District. Larsen defeated Koster for the seat in 2000 and has held the post ever since. This year, many Republicans feel the party has the national momentum to take back Democratic seats. They point to November’s wins of governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia as signs of things to come this fall. Koster supporters think he’s the one to pull it off it here. “John fits the bill: small business owner, and he has a track record in Snohomish County,” said Beth Munson of Camano Island, who introduced Koster at a kickoff rally in front of the county campus. “It’s time to take action.” During the rally, Koster said the race offered two different visions for the future and promised, “Together we can save this country. We can restore your liberties.” In a release, Koster contrasted his “steady conservative political approach to that of the ‘progressive’ socialist agenda of the incumbent.” Koster said his vision is one of limited government and regulation that creates jobs through private enterprise. Larsen, he said, wants to create “regurgitated wealth” by using taxpayer money for programs such as the multibillion-dollar federal stimulus package. He accused Larsen of being a “puppet of the Pelosi-Reid Congress,” in reference to House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. Larsen’s staff responded for him. “Later this year, when it’s time for a campaign, we’ll discuss those issues,” said Brooke Davis, Larsen’s political director. The congressman looked forward to a spirited debate in the months ahead, Davis said. The top two finishers from the Aug. 17 primary go on to the Nov. 2 general election. Koster’s background, before joining the county council in 2001, includes running a dairy farm in northern Snohomish County for 23 years. He joked during the rally that his wife of 39 years, Vicki, thought she married a dairy farmer, but ended up with a politician. They have four children and nine grandchildren. Koster served three terms in the Washington State House of Representatives. A fellow Republican who knows Koster from that time praised his “intellectual honesty” and said he believes Koster is somebody who moderate voters can support. “Reality is a moderating force. Koster has worked with the reality of county government, the reality of state government throughout his career,” said Alex Hays, executive director of Mainstream Republicans of Washington. “I’m a pro-choice, pro-gay-rights Republican and I think he is a great candidate for congress,” Hays said. The erosion of Democratic approval ratings during the first year of President Barack Obama’s administration are a good omen for Congressional races, particularly in the Evergreen State, Hays said. Washington’s Democrats, meanwhile, are confident Larsen will prevail. “John Koster’s looking for his next job, but it’s not going to be Congress,” state Chairman Dwight Pelz said. “Larsen works his district very hard. There may be a Republican breeze out there, but it’s not going to blow Rick Larsen over.” So far, Koster is the only Republican vying for the 2nd District. Snohomish County Republican Party Chairman Jim Kellett strongly endorsed Koster, but said he would welcome other Republicans into the race if they’re interested. “I believe in competition,” Kellett said. “The one who wants it most works the hardest.” Koster, 58, is in his third term on the county council, which ends in 2013. Term limits prevent him from running again for that office. The 2nd Congressional District covers most of Snohomish County, as well as all of Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties. Larsen has represented the district since 2001. When he and Koster faced off 10 years ago, the seat was open because of Republican Jack Metcalf’s retirement. During the Congressional contest 10 years ago, Koster led Larsen in the September primary by 4,000 votes. In the November general election, Larsen won by 12,000 votes. He finished with 50.01 percent of the vote to Koster’s 45.93 percent. Two other candidates, including another Republican, split the remaining votes. By the time it ended, Larsen had spent $1.5 million and Koster $1.1 million. In 2008, Larsen walloped former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart with 62.4 percent of the vote. The Democrat has become a prolific fundraiser. He raised $1.4 million for his last campaign and had $440,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30, 2009. By comparison, Koster raised and spent $175,000 in his recent county council victory. Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report. Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Koster announces candidacy Responding to hundreds of e-mails, phone calls and a “draft Koster for Congress” petition drive, Snohomish County Councilman John Koster announced today that he will launch a campaign for the United States House of Representatives in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District. Elected to a third Council term last November by a wide margin, the Koster run for Congress will offer voters a clear ideological choice between Koster’s steady conservative political approach to that of the “progressive” socialist agenda of the incumbent, Rick Larsen. Larsen, who appears consistently in the upper tier of congressional big spenders, has been heavily criticized in the 2nd Congressional district the past year for supporting the Obama administration’s multi-billion dollar bailouts and economic “stimulus” packages. He is seen as vulnerable by the National Republican Congressional Committee for his “anti-jobs big government agenda”. “Rick Larsen offers Washingtonians a failed socialist ideology that punishes prosperity and produces mediocrity - it has failed millions of people every time it has been tried - government cannot spend us into prosperity”, said Koster. “Larsen continues to promote and fund a bigger and more intrusive government marked by a continuing loss of freedoms and more control as the federal government micro-manages our lives and confiscates our personal wealth”, Koster continued. “A look at his voting record reveals a puppet of the Pelosi-Reid Congress that is spending our hard earned dollars to fund anti-American disasters like ACORN.” “And now, Congress is on a course to destroy the finest health care system in the world. They are asking us to believe that it will be more efficient and cost less. The last survey I saw showed that 63% of Americans are against government run health care. What has the federal government done so well that we want to give them our health care?” “With John Koster as your congressman, you will get smaller, less intrusive government, and more freedom. You will get a government that takes far less from the people, because it recognizes that wealth is created in the private sector, and belongs to you.” |
- A Dick's Drive-In for south Snohomish County?
- Suspect arrested in Everett manhunt after shots fired at officer
- Reardon makes pitch for Dick's Drive-In
- Man claims self-defense in killing
- A stroke of kindness for Everett woman
- Bus driver avoids I-5 tragedy in harrowing south Everett collision
- Boeing won't buy supplier
- Edmonds teen missing since Thursday
- More public housing smoking bans possible
- Charges for alleged robbery at Alderwood mall
- A Dick's Drive-In for south Snohomish County?
(54) - More public housing smoking bans possible (50)
- Mukilteo's red-light camera fight on radar of others (26)
- Income-tax initiative's math adds up (11)
- Report on Granite Falls police chief fills 5 binders (11)
- Suspect arrested in Everett after chase that shut down I-5 (9)
- Judge rules against Trafton supporters (9)
- ACLU opposes student cell phone search (9)
- Man accused of shooting at police had allegedly bought drugs (8)
- Suspect arrested in Everett manhunt after shots fired at officer (7)
- Prep football: Picks of the week
- Sixth Annual Puget Sound Bird Fest
- PTSD: The battle after the war
- Jackson relying on new faces
- Edmonds Center for the Arts announces new season
- Stevens Hospital District taxes to stay
- Mountlake Terrace seeks more success seeking more success
- Hootenanny hosts singer/songwriters
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here