He basically got tired of beating his head on the wall trying to exist as a moderate in the current GOP caucus in the Washington legislature, which has lost almost all its suburban members and is down to a rural wingnut rump party:
"I felt there was a strong tradition in the Republican Party that really couldn't be lost," Jarrett said. "So what I've been doing as long as I've been in the Legislature is trying to articulate that moderate Republican, progressive Republican viewpoint. And what I found is I may have a lot of ego, but I don't think I have enough ego to think anymore that I can do it."
Jarrett was probably the most moderate remaining Republican in the state legislature, and someone who was really well respected on both sides of the aisle. He was also pretty much the last remaining Republican from the affluent Eastside suburbs, which even six years ago had an almost entirely Republican state legislature delegation. (There are still Republicans in the 5th LD, which some would call the Eastside, but that's more rural/exurban east King County.) With this, the bluening of Seattle's suburbs is pretty much complete, and the nutjobs who run the state GOP have pretty much driven out their last sane elected official.
Here's the House Minority Leader, Richard DeBolt, with his thoughts on what happened. Classy and introspective, as is usually the case with the state GOP:
"Right now I'm out helping my constituents put their lives back together after a disastrous flood, which helps me keep perspective on Representative Jarrett's announcement. It is clear Fred put his finger up in the air and didn't like the way the political winds were blowing. He made a decision that he thinks is best for him politically, which runs counter to what he told the voters of the 41st District he stood for when they elected him. Fred has let a lot of his friends, staff and constituents down."
DeBolt has to be feeling a little beleagued these days, what with all the catastrophic successes in his caucus in the last few months:
Former Rep. Richard Curtis quit suddenly after a sex scandal. Rep. Jim Dunn was reprimanded and kicked off all his committees after making an inappropriate sexual remark to a female staffer. Rep. Shirley Hankins agreed to pay a record settlement with the Legislative Ethics Board for violations related to her work promoting her daughter's business. And Rising star Rep. Chris Strow quit last week for a new job with the Puget Sound Regional Council.
(Curtis, if you'll recall was the guy who... well... here's the short version:
Curtis, 48, told Spokane police he was the victim of an extortion attempt by Cody Castagna at the Davenport Tower hotel on Oct. 26, police records said. Castagna, 26, of Medical Lake, Spokane County, told police that Curtis had reneged on a promise to pay him $1,000 for unprotected sex. Curtis denied offering to pay Castagna for sex, but acknowledged giving him $100 for "gas money," police reports said.
Not really relevant to the story of Fred Jarrett, I suppose, but always worth repeating, as a prime example of family values conservatism at work.)
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