The three Democrats who represent the 49th Legislative District in Olympia, Sen. Craig Pridemore and Reps. Jim Moeller and Sharon M.Wylie, discussed the hopes and difficulties facing the 2012 Legislature at a Town Hall for all constituents on Jan. 7.
Wylie joined the delegation by appointment last April and won election in November, beating a Republican challenger by more than 10 percentage points thanks to a lot of hard work by Sharon and enthusiastic volunteers. The campaign was managed by Nick Ande, who also serves as vice chair of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee.
Wylie is a former two-term Oregon legislator who has lately worked as a lobbyist, mostly for public agencies and non-profit organizations. She is 61 and married to Vancouver City Attorney Ted Gathe. They reside in a restored Victorian cottage on Kauffman Avenue in downtown Vancouver's Precinct 110, also known as the Hough Neighborhood.
To hold the seat, Wylie has to run again in 2012 along with all the rest of the House members and half of the state senators.
That round of legislative contests will not include Pridemore, who has announced his candidacy for state auditor. So the 49th is on the lookout for candidates who can succeed Pridemore. Veteran Democratic state Rep. Jim Moeller has indicated he will seek re-election rather than consider a Senate race.
The Fighting Blue Forty-ninth is the Democratic redoubt that anchors the southwest corner of Washington. We are bounded on the south and west by the Columbia River, on the east by Interstate 205 and on the north by a ragged line from the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge to 99th Street then back north to the confluence of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205. The shape of the district will not change much in response to the new maps drawn by the state Redistricting Commission and submitted to the Legislature. To add the 3,000 voters needed to balance the size of the other districts in the county, the 49th picks up all or parts of four precincts north of 99th Street and west of Hazel Dell Avenue including the neighorhood around Columbia River High School. The county may also make minor adjustments to the boundaries of up to 12 precincts so that none has more than 1,500 registered voters.
The district of Clark County governed by the Board of Clark County Commissioners generally coterminous with the 49th is represented by Democrat Steve Stuart, also re-elected on Nov. 2 in part owing to a hefty margin in the 49th.
We also are part of the 3rd Congressional District that sent U.S. Brian Baird to Congress for six successive terms. Unfortunately, the 49th did not vote for Denny Heck by a big enough margin to save his campaign from Republican majorities through the rest of the 3rd District on Nov. 2.
Clark County has lately shown inclinations to move toward the right. We in the 49th need to push back. In particular we are looking for solid Democrats to represent their neighborhoods as Precinct Committee Officers. To find out which precincts are available, call the legislative district chair at 360-771-0124 or attend a meeting of the 49th Legislative District Democratic Central Committee.
The committee meets on the second Saturday of each month starting at 10 a.m. The regular meeting place is the Teamsters and Labor Union Hall on Andresen Road. The regular March meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on March 10 in the sixth-floor training room at the county building at 1300 Franklin St. The meeting will be just before a legislative session report by our three legislators.
The central committee comprises elected Democratic officials and precinct committee officers and voters who have paid $10 annual dues to the committee. Anyone interested in Democratic ideals is welcome to attend and participate but not to vote on resolutions or other actions.
The 49th is presently divided into 59 precincts, of which 28 have Democratic committee officers who were elected in the August primary and officially took office on Dec. 1. Another 29 have been appointed by the county central committee to serve the precincts where they reside. Three others are serving precincts where they do not reside.
Officers:
Chair: David Michael Heywood
Vice Chair: Catherine Rich
Secretary: Sandra Hoyt
Treasurer: Marian Joyce Bryce
State Committeewoman: Donna Quesnell
State Committeeman: Nicholas J. Ferderer
For additional information, please contact: David Michael Heywood by email at mikewrit@hotmail.com, by phone at 360-693-8809 or cell 360-771-0124