Jefferson County Democrats love Congressman Norm Dicks, and Norm Dicks loves Jefferson County.
That was clear on Sunday when more than 340 people turned out to what Jefferson County Democrat Teri Nomura called a "Thank you, Norm Dicks, for all you've done throughout your 36 years as our legislator to help Jefferson County" party. It also was a fundraising event for Democrats.
Although a Jefferson County Public Health food inspector held up salmon from being served at the event for about 20 minutes, delaying the start of the speeches at the annual event at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, there were heaping helpings of praise for retiring Dicks, who, in turn, dished out enthusiasm for heir apparent candidate Derek Kilmer, the only candidate in a field of seven to indicate a preference for the Democratic Party. Dicks has endorsed Kilmer for his District 6 position.
Connie Gallant introduced Dicks as "the champion of the Olympic Peninsula," noting his support for the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Scenic Rivers Act.
"The Democratic Party is alive and well in Jefferson County," Dicks said upon taking the podium, urging the crowd to reelect local Democrats, thanking friend Jim Whittaker for his support over the years and introducing fellow former U.S. Congressman Jay Inslee "as the next governor" of the state of Washington.
Dicks dropped the names of almost everyone who is anyone in the Democratic Party and said, "I'm going to miss this all, but this year I've been to Alaska fishing twice."
"In 18 elections, I didn't lose a single county except Clallam County," Dicks said, adding that Kilmer was born and raised in Clallam County, so he might be able to break that streak.
Dicks talked about federal spending and argued that the unemployment rate would be higher if there hadn't been stimulus spending.
"I like earmarks," Dicks said, "if they're done right and they are open and transparent, and they do something positive for the American people."
Democrats, in turn, noted that Dicks had used his power to lead the effort to fund the removal of dams on the Elwha River, an effort Dicks said was opposed by those attending the very first town hall meeting he attended on the peninsula.
Dicks also found funds and worked to protect and restore Puget Sound and Hood Canal, and supported the Northwest Maritime Center and helped with funding for the Jefferson County Courthouse Clock Tower. Dicks also found money for Jefferson Transit and the development of the Olympic Discovery Trail, and funding for the Hood Canal Bridge, Port Hadlock wastewater treatment system and the schooner Adventuress.
"My number-one thing is to say thanks," Dicks said. "I got 72 percent in Jefferson County. That's pretty dang good for a kid from Bremerton. I'm very proud of that."
Elect Kilmer, Dicks says
"There's nothing more important to me – Jay's important, too – but I want to be sure we have a Democrat replace me in the House of Representatives and that Democrat is Derek Kilmer."
Kilmer noted that there was about 101 days from last Sunday to the November general election. He said he wants to wake up the day after the election to read that that Barack Obama has been reelected, Inslee has been elected and other Democrats are elected.
Kilmer got a round of applause when he talked about the environment and why he was running for office – because he has children and cares about the future.
"I'd much rather our government, at the state level and federal level, invest in educating our kids, than pay for it in unemployment or prisons down the road," Kilmer said to applause.
Environmental activist John Fabian was given the task of introducing gubernatorial candidate Inslee.
"Jay Inslee is about the environment. Jay Inslee is about our educational system, marriage equality, health care and innovative energy solutions," Fabian said.
Inslee said he was fresh from an amazing experience paddling from Puget Sound to Olympia with some of the region's Native American tribes.
"We finished in Olympia, and that's kind of a nice metaphor," he said, moving on to talk about what he said was the secret to Washington state.
"We have a secret to our state. We invent. We create. We build. We grow economic prosperity at the same time as we preserve the world's most beautiful place on the planet," Inslee said of wanting to focus on advancing environmental businesses, such as solar panels, clean energy, advanced aerospace and agriculture.
To do that, Inslee said, the state needs to emphasize science, technology and math, so that "every kid will have a shot at a high-tech job."
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