San Juan County Democrats Endorse Lapointe over Rick Larsen in CD-2

[eridani]

In the race for Washington State’s 2nd Congressional District seat, the San Juan County Democrats have unanimously voted to endorse Independent Mike Lapointe over incumbent Democrat Rick Larsen for the Aug. 5 primary election. The main factor in this decision is disappointment with the incumbent’s failure to adequately address two of the primary concerns in the San Juan Islands, namely the environmental and economic consequences of building a coal terminal and then shipping massive amounts of coal through the waters of the islands, and the quality-of-life and health-destroying noise of the Navy’s growler jets.

Instead of endorsing our corporate-funded incumbent, we are excited to endorse Mike Lapointe, an independent candidate of the people who accepts no corporate contributions. He has demonstrated a far greater openness and responsiveness to our concerns and has made himself available to discuss these with us. Mike will fight against the coal terminal and the growler jets, and he will also fight for green jobs to replace fossil fuel-related jobs. Mike is actually more true to our Democratic Party platform than the incumbent Democrat Larsen; Mike Lapointe represents our values.

In a unique attempt to include as many Democrats as possible in the endorsement process, the San Juan County Democrats held endorsement meetings on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Islands. Both Mike Lapointe and Rep. Larsen were invited; Mike showed up at each of the three meetings, while Rep. Larsen did not attend nor did any of his surrogates. In each of the three meetings, not one Democrat voted to endorse Rep. Larsen; in fact, no one even wanted to nominate him. Conversely, all 50 Democrats present at the meetings voted to endorse Mike Lapointe.

It is also worth noting that a week ago at the 40th Legislative District gathering of Democrats, endorsements were on the agenda there too. Mike Lapointe had not been added to the slate of candidates to be considered, so there was no opportunity to vote for him, meaning the issue in the 2nd Congressional District race was simply an up-or-down vote on Rep. Larsen. The assembled group voted overwhelmingly not to endorse Congressman Larsen.

It is time for San Juan County and District 2 to be represented by someone who cares about the people and the environment of this wonderful region. The San Juan County Democrats urge a vote in the primary for Mike Lapointe for Congress in the 2nd district.

Submitted by David Turnoy, Vice Chair of the San Juan County Democrats for Orcas Island

[countryjake]

1. Thanks for this, eridani.

So they're going for Lapointe over there, too, huh? I've heard quite a few dems here in Skagit speak very highly of the guy, but I still haven't yet ticked that box for Rep on our ballots...they're still laying on the table, just waiting for me to finish that square. Dilemma.

Read Lapointe's arguments on the various issues facing our district here:


Mike Lapointe's Political Summary

http://votesmart.org/candidate/140219/mike-lapointe

[pscot]

2. +1

[HeiressofBickworth]

3. I'm in Snohomish County - District 2

I'm having doubts about checking the box for Rick Larson. Not so much for the positions he has taken on the few issues the House has taken up, but more due to his lack of presence in the District.

When Jay Inslee was our congressman, there were more town meetings, newsletters, emails, things that kept his constituents in touch with what he was doing on our behalf. It probably contributed to his successful run at the Governorship.

I don't have such confidence in Larson. He is very low-profile in this end of the District. He makes little attempt at keeping in touch with his constituents. Maybe it's because we are at the very tip of the south end of the District and we aren't a big city. Whatever the reason, he remains a stranger to me. Here it is, 4 months to the election and he isn't to be found in this area. Isn't that what happened to Eric Cantor? He didn't pay enough attention to the people in his district.

Lapointe's issue positions are not objectionable to me, as a very left-leaning Dem. I have a few days to see which one does anything to woo my vote.

[eridani]

4. Larsen's conservadem antics might conceivably have been justified in the old CD-2

The post-census CD-2 is far more Democratic leaning.

[eridani]

5. Lapointe's out, but he's starting to campaign for 2016 now

Although progressive candidate Mike Lapointe won't be on the ballot to challenge Rick Larsen this November, Mike is ready to run again. In fact, he would like to get going right away so that he can get his name and his message out constantly during the next two years, and have a real chance in the next election.

Mike ran as an Independent in this last primary. Larry Kalb had considered doing that in 2010 but decided to run as a Democrat for a couple of reasons:

1. To have access to the state Democratic Party's VoteBuilder records and walking/doorbelling lists.

2. Because most people are still more likely to vote for either a Democrat or a Republican. Even if Mike begins now to get known, in 2016 there will still be too many uninformed Democrats who will stick with the party label. Mike will need to "prefer Democrat." Just because he is not a corporate Democrat should not exclude him from using the label; just look at Elizabeth Warren. This would highlight even more the fact that there is a considerable number of Democrats who want to see a change.

3. And, as one astute friend pointed out, “Independent” has no party structure behind it, such as PCOs, ballot access (looking ahead) and money. Mike would be on an even Party footing with Larsen (as much as any challenger), so the automatic Democratic voters would have to make a choice in the primary between two Democrats. Mike needs to meet and be known by every person (vote) in the District, and we can help him with that.

It would be interesting to see if we could take over the machinery of the Democratic Party in the
2nd Congressional District so that we could persuade Mike to run as a Democrat. He is not enamored with the idea of running as a Democrat. Nor was Larry. But my friend David Turnoy, chair of the San Juan County Democrats who brought Mike up here to the San Juans, believes that Mike may be willing to consider it.

Mike is looking to have an organizational meeting soon so that he can be assured of having a group he can count on over the next two years in helping to set up meetings and other support. The idea is to have folks from the other counties present at this meeting. Mike was thinking of having this meeting in Anacortes in a couple of weeks – perhaps the first week of September.

Would you like to be part of this ongoing effort? And if you are willing, to suggest a date to hold this meeting in Anacortes?

If you know of any other people who might be interested, please forward the message to them as well.

See below for some thoughts contributed thus far.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks and best wishes,

Shar
Here are some thoughts contributed thus far:

1. Campaign starts now: recruit a campaign team from all parts of the 2nd CD to meet regularly to plan. Include advice from former campaigns.

2. Immediately start a campaign fund, as large as possible (non-corporate), keeping track of donors, thanking them.

3. Mike is his own best ad: he must personally meet absolutely everyone in the District durin these two years, with many appearances before groups.

It’s been suggested that we meet with Mike and his staff and map out a plan of action for the future. Some items we could discuss are:

Write-ins for this election

Planning now for the 2016 campaign

Improving his web site

Perhaps a “Larsen watch” page on his web site, using Larsen’s own words; e.g., his support for
Israel and its current atrocities, his Growler statements, his support of the Cherry Point terminal, etc. A breakdown of his campaign contributions (as far as can be determined) would be useful

Running as a Democrat

Any other ideas?



--
Sharon Abreu
Former Campaign
Manager, Larry Kalb for Congress 2010
POB 969,
Eastsound, WA 98245(360) 376-5773