Reichert draws multiple challengers in race for 8th District

July 26--The field of challengers for U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert's congressional seat got thinner even before the ballots went out.

Former sportscaster Tony Ventrella, at first seen as an intriguing Democratic contender, left the 8th District race in late June. He'd declared an intent to refuse big-money donations, but lack of interest from small donors helped short-circuit his campaign. He raised less than $20,000 in his two-month candidacy.

Ventrella's late withdrawal means his name remains on ballots, which were mailed out in mid-July, but in an email he encouraged supporters to mark the box for either Santiago Ramos of Kirkland or Alida Skold of Seattle -- the other two Democrats in the running. Also in contention are independent candidates Margaret M. Walsh of Ellensburg and Keith Arnold of Auburn.

Reichert, an Auburn resident, has represented the district since 2005, when it lay entirely west of the Cascades. It was redrawn in 2012 based on new census figures, and now stretches east to encompass Kittitas and Chelan counties, plus East Wenatchee.

The district is viewed as a safe Republican seat. Since its redrawing, Reichert has shrugged off two Democratic challengers, Karen Porterfield in 2012 and Jason Ritchie in 2014, by the largest electoral margins of his career.

The Wenatchee World asked all candidates to respond to a questionnaire on current issues; all but Arnold responded. The top two vote-getters in the Aug. 2 nonpartisan primary advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

The Wenatchee World: Last year, 85 percent of Americans favored making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks. (Pew Research Center) After the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando (the 196th such shooting this year), that figure grew to 90 percent. (CNN) Yet legislation in the Senate failed and House members staged a sit-in over the inaction in that chamber. What legislation would you propose to help keep Americans safe from gun violence?

Dave Reichert: While I was sheriff of King County we developed the King County Violent Firearms Crime Coalition. It was so successful we were selected to take part in and serve as an example to a national program called the Safe Cities initiative which evolved into Project Safe Neighborhoods. The 82 target cities under Project Safe Neighborhoods saw a 13 percent decrease in violent crimes while non-participating cities experienced a 7.8 percent increase over the same period -- a difference of over 20 percent. Since 2009 the Department of Justice has chosen not to support the program. I have and will continue to fight for the reimplementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods. It is a proven national solution that I used in King County to successfully reduce gun crime and bring communities together.

Santiago Ramos: I believe that we can have sensible gun legislation, nationwide, like we have here in Washington State. Initiative 594 passed with 59 percent of the vote, and I think we can use it as an example for what can work. The measure required background checks on both private and public gun sales. It has the necessary exemptions for immediate family transfers and antique guns. It took a citizen initiative to pass this reasonable legislation in Washington State; Congress must pass similar legislation. We have elected representatives that must do their jobs in Congress. We need to come to an agreements and compromise, we cannot keep having this "do nothing" Congress for another two years.

Margaret Walsh: The NRA sent me an "agree or disagree" questionnaire. The questions were a bit twisted and I could not reply to their complex questions "yes or no". The NRA is the dominant gun lobby in DC. They have protected the gun makers, sellers and owners from liability by creating gaps in the current regulatory system. I support the Centers for Disease Control tracking of gun injuries and deaths. I support mandatory liability insurance for gun owners. I suggest the gun makers provide proper use training before the gun ownership is transferred.

Alida Skold: I support the right to own guns for hunting and self-defense. However, the amount of gun violence in our country shows just how important it is that we have universal background checks and screening, and not allow assault weapons in our communities. The Republican congress has consistently blocked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from studying the effects of firearms on public health. With the escalating violence toward innocent people in our country, we must understand the situation and bring it under control. To keep America safe from gun violence, I will work to eliminate loopholes and make gun laws as consistent as possible throughout the United States. Tragedies like the Pulse shooting in Orlando are symptoms of societal problems, but the common denominator in every shooting is the use of firearms. In addition to legislating for universal background checks and screening, I support allowing and funding the CDC to do a thorough study on the impact of guns on public health.

The Wenatchee World: In 2012 and 2014, President Obama acted executively to defer deportation action against undocumented immigrants who would have met conditions of the DREAM Act. A recent 4-4 Supreme Court split strikes down that policy, which has benefited an estimated 800,000 people brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Victor Nieblas Pradis, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said this consigns hopeful residents to "a dysfunctional immigration system that is broken and apparently unfixable by our elected leaders." How would you address this issue of immigration, documentation and deportation in Congress?

Dave Reichert: Many areas in our region depend on a functioning immigration system. Whether it is agriculture workers in central Washington or the high-tech industry on the west side of the Cascades, an improved guest worker program must be a priority. We have families who have come to Washington to give their children a better life and a shot at the American Dream. Our unsecured border is a threat to our safety and piecemeal executive orders and court rulings are leaving families to wonder whether or not they'll be able to stay together. We need to secure our border and put in place a system that allows families to work through a process that includes paying fines, back taxes, background checks and full compliance of our laws. These are real people with real lives. They deserve to be treated compassionately and humanely.

Santiago Ramos: America needs a comprehensive immigration system. Congressman Reichert has not supported attempts to deal with immigration. He voted against the DREAM Act in 2010, even though it was passed in the House. With regards to his negative vote, Reichert said, "... I cannot support this bill. The American people are counting on Congress to work together to get this right; I believe it should be considered only after a methodical gathering of all of the facts, viewpoints and robust congressional consideration of this issue in the appropriate context of the larger immigration reform debate." He further stated that "a broken legislative process that has prematurely forced this proposal to the House floor for a vote" was continued justification for his negative vote. Congress needs to start somewhere, and an opportunity was missed. We need a system that keeps families together. This is an American value, as well as making sense economically. We need to allow for worker permits, so that growers in Eastern Washington can expect a steady and reliable workforce. Voters need to understand that problems with immigration are not just a Latino matter. We have undocumented people in the United States from all over the world.

Margaret Walsh: Immigration reform has been delayed. I suggest those who support the delay of immigration reform also support the Trans Pacific Partnership. I suggest that it is the multi-national corporations that thrive on unregulated migration of low wage workers. The TPP is a treaty, written by world traders, to defend corporation rights in tribunals that shred the trade sovereignty of the United States. Wars of resources ravish self-sufficient countries and increase world-wide migration. Global warming has left some places uninhabitable. Big agriculture subsidies have allowed massive dumping of low cost foods into under developed countries competing and winning the markets away from local producers. I suggest those who support the delay of immigration reform also support the private prison industry. Migration is human nature. Until we can pinpoint the cause, I support amnesty.

Alida Skold: Current approaches to immigration are ineffective. Our policy does not have consistent guidelines or enforcement. Confusion and inefficiency are the result. The 1996 IRA/IRA (Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act) legislation compounded the problem by removing several options for legalization. When there's no incentive to self-report, no reward for coming forward, unlawful immigration is difficult to overcome. I favor relaxing quotas, decreasing wait times, and restoring paths to legalization and citizenship. We must incentivize compliance, not simply focus on deportation and removal. Immigration plays a large role in our economy and lies at the core of who we are as a nation. Public safety is of paramount importance. Each applicant must pass a background check and their application must pass applied criteria. I don't favor blanket legalization. I favor providing incentives for immigrants to come into compliance with the law combined with effective screening.

The Wenatchee World: Eighty percent of Americans surveyed by Gallup have an unfavorable view of Congress. What steps can legislators take in the next term to turn that public image around?

Dave Reichert: Too often public officials put politics in front of their constituents. The fear of upsetting their party prevents them from taking a stand for the people they represent. I have called the 8th District home for over 50 years. I dedicated 33 years of my life to protecting our neighborhoods as a deputy, detective and sheriff. Each vote I take and decision I make is based solely on what I believe is best for our country and the people I've sworn to serve. No amount of political pressure or outside influence will ever change that.

Santiago Ramos: Congress needs to do its job. It needs to work together, and pass legislation that will keep our country moving forward. Partisan bickering needs to stop. Self-interests need to be put aside. We keep sending the same people back to Congress expecting different results. So far, this has not produced different results. We need to hold our Representatives accountable. I have traveled up and down the district listening to constituents, and if elected, I will continue listening and representing the interests of the 8th Congressional District. The House of Representatives is the voice of the people, and our voice is not being heard or represented by the current Congressman.

Margaret Walsh: "We R Independent" is my campaign moniker. The Schmeisers, the canola farmers whose crop was contaminated by adjacent Monsanto's GMO fields have proved that Monsanto submitted all the data that our lawmakers have used to allow the chemical industry to legislate no liability for the results of their practices. It is the revolving door that feeds corporations access to lawmakers and our regulators, before and after they are employed by the industry that they are charged with regulating. Bolt the door, support fair and free informed elections and making voting a birthright. We will not be fooled again.

Alida Skold: The American people don't feel Congress is working for them and confidence won't be restored until elected officials show real concern for working families and those in need. The current view of Congress is strongly impacted by Citizens United, which must be repealed. Special interests of the few who can spend the most money are influencing Congress, and decisions are being made based on electoral or financial factors rather than their impact on everyday people. If Congress is to change that perception, it must put people first again. People who work hard and play by the rules need every opportunity to succeed. If elected, I will pursue legislation that creates trade that is good for America; expands economic development and job creation; builds 21st -century infrastructure; improves and protects workers and the right to collectively bargain; and puts people before profits. Congress was established to do the people's business, not to serve corporate interests.

Reach Jefferson Robbins at 509-664-7123 or robbins@wenatcheeworld.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRobbinsWW.

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