A few days ago I took a look to see how Joe Pakootas was doing in the race against McMorris Rodgers here in eastern Washington and read this article regarding their first debate. I haven't watched the video but it seems clear that he was direct in his criticisms of her- something previous candidates haven't been.
Late last night I saw I had a message regarding another article and I had recently received an email from a very politically active friend who confirmed the incredible support Joe Pakootas has received from volunteers here.
Back at the end of January I wrote this. As burnt out as I was (and frankly still am) and distracted by pressing family issues (currently very pressing), I noticed something different. Joe Pakootas is very different. And even though it is late in the game it's definitely time pay attention to this candidate.
Before a private audience at a Latah Creek fundraiser on Sunday, Pakootas is at ease talking about cuts to the food stamps program, the Paul Ryan budget, and tax breaks for big corporations, and his support for the Affordable Care Act. "We've got a lot work ahead of us regardless of whether I get elected or not," he says. The guests nod their heads in unison.
Part of his pitch is his own story. Pakootas, 57, is the longest-serving CEO of the Colville Tribal Federal Corporation, credited with turning the corporation into a profitable enterprise and mounting a landmark lawsuit against Teck Cominco, a Canadian mining company, for polluting the Columbia River. He grew up in poverty on the Indian reservation in Inchelium and spent time in the foster care system as a child. In a district where one in six people live in poverty — one of the litany of statistics he commonly cites — Pakootas says people can relate to his background.
The Inlander article's title "David and Goliath" says it all. But the time has finally come for the battle. The candidate for WA-05 has arrived and the Democratic party needs to recognize it.
When I arrived in E Washington 20 years ago I ignorantly, naively, stupidly thought Speaker Foley will be reelected. The district must be proud to have him represent them- a man of such quality I thought. But no, vulnerable in the district and targeted by Republican party heavyweights...with money, out he went. And a well-connected empty suit won in what was then considered a "David and Goliath" contest. After finally calling it quits a couple of terms passed his self-imposed "term limits" (oh so popular in those days)so he could run against Patty Murray, he told "Cathy"(McMorris) -now McMorris Rodgers that the job was hers if she wanted it. It would now be a permanently Republican seat. The district has suffered ever since. Our Democratic Senators Murray and Cantwell and state legislators and our Democratic Governors have been the ones looking out for us. Cathy just writes letters and "fights" for us...yeah.
As the years have passed, we've had a couple of candidates that looked somewhat promising, but mostly it's been someone to fill in the otherwise blank space on the ballot. But it turns out that this year it's a very different story.
from the Inlander:
Between now and Nov. 4, Pakootas says he has "almost every hour of every day" scheduled with some kind of campaign event...
He's preparing for his debate in Walla Walla — his first ever — against McMorris Rodgers with a debate coach at Gonzaga University. (By comparison, McMorris Rodgers didn't participate in any of the five candidate forums ahead of the 5th district congressional primary this summer. She did hold one town hall at Lincoln Center in August, drawing a crowd of 200 people, supporters and critics included.)...
Instead of making the four-hour, round-trip drive to and from Inchelium every day, he's renting a short-term apartment in North Spokane.
"I'm ready," he says, and the room erupts in applause.
This is the first time Jennifer Compau, an artist and art teacher at Barker High School, has hosted a fundraiser for a political candidate in her home. "He's approachable. He communicates back. He demonstrates he cares," she says. One of his 200 volunteers, she spends her free time getting the word out about his campaign
With the non-stop dire begging for funds emails I get from the Dems, I would like to see this district targeted the way it was in 1994. It was important enough then. McMorris Rodgers is a dishonest Republican prop. She is fine with being exploited because she is a woman- wife and mother, more than happy to read her 3 x 5 cards with the talking points and be a "leader" in the party. Fine for her but not for us...none of us.
Yes the odds are against him certainly. No he can't come anywhere near her in funds. But we need a candidate like him. We need to encourage him to continue the fight and for him to encourage the rest of us.
below is the link to give him encouragement-
Pakootas for Congress link