Local Democrats cheered by Reichert challenger for 8th

April 27--WENATCHEE -- Local Democrats say their party is abuzz about the bid of personable, well-known Seattle-area sportscaster Tony Ventrella to unseat six-term Republican Dave Reichert in the 8th Congressional District.

Ventrella announced his candidacy Sunday in a Seattle Times article.

"Democrats on the west side are very excited about him," Clark Hansen, chair of Chelan County Democrats, said Tuesday. The 8th Congressional District is the only district to bridge the Cascade Mountains. It includes Chelan County, East Wenatchee in Douglas County, Kittitas County and parts of King and Pierce counties.

"When we got wind he was considering running, the county was having a democratic social event," Hansen said. "The 60 people there knew who he was and were very excited. The crowd was euphoric."

Karen Kelemen, chair of Douglas County Democrats, also welcomed Ventrella into the arena.

"We welcome the entry of Tony Ventrella into the race to represent all residents of the 8th Congressional District," she said in a prepared statement. "Mr. Ventrella joins two other Democrats in the race, Santiago Ramos and Alida Skold, all of whom have solid and diverse professional and public service backgrounds. We look forward to helping the people of North Central Washington become acquainted with each candidate in the months ahead."

Ramos is a Kirkland business owner who previously ran for the state Legislature. Skold is president of a business-consulting firm.

Ventrella, 71, has worked as a sportscaster or sports director at all of Seattle's major networks over his 40-years in the business. For the last several years he was digital media host for the Seattle Seahawks, a job he left to prepare for his run for office.

He lives in Newcastle, south of Bellingham, and describes himself as a moderate Democrat who caucused for Hillary Clinton.

He said by phone Tuesday that he views a bid for Congress as an extension of a lifetime of community service and service to his country that began with six years in the Vietnam-era U.S. Army.

"I noticed several books, several video features on what's wrong in Congress, especially the amount of money being spent ... to influence the vote," he said. "What can I do in my little, small part to change it? I could actually run. I can try to prove it to myself that you can run and win at that level without being beholden to the big-money sources."

Not accepting donations from monied special interests and preserving the country's fledgling start into subsidized health insurance are both big issues for Ventrella.

"The Affordable Care Act is the first halfway-decent healthcare-reform bill we've had in this country," he said, blasting Republicans' efforts to dismantle it.

"Dave Reichert is pretty much party line, most of the time," he said, adding that his fame as a sportscaster gives him an edge.

Reichert, a former King County Sheriff, was first elected in 2004. He welcomed Ventrella to the race in a prepared statement for The Seattle Times.

"It is our democratic process that makes our country a model for the rest of the world," he said. "I look forward to discussing the issues important to the 8th District -- national security, tax reform, increased trade in the global market, growing small businesses, providing assistance to our veterans and protecting our most vulnerable, seniors and children."

"If I wasn't running, he'd be up against people who have very little chance of beating him," Ventrella said. "These are well-qualified people coming from a position of wanting to help, as I do, but starting from square one, fighting against big money. You can talk about big issues all day long, but nothing will be resolved until we resolve this issue (campaign financing)."

He hopes to spend some time on this side of the mountains, getting to know local Democrats and issues during the campaign.

Chelan County Democrat Hansen says Republicans' inter-party turmoil over Donald Trump as a potential presidential nominee makes this a great time for Democrats to seek office.

"This is probably the best election in a long time for a good Democratic candidate to run because of who's going to be at the top of the Republican ticket," Hansen said. "If you put a picture of Reichert and Donald Trump on a lawn sign in certain neighborhoods ... you're going to turn people off, completely."

Reach Christine Pratt at 509-665-1173 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @CPrattWW.

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