Sunday, January 15, 2006

Representation to the People


It's good news for Whatcom county. Young, progressive candidates who are more interested in representing the people than building a clientele of special interest campaign contributors.
ELECTION
Local lawyer to run for state Senate
Candidate to challenge Brandland

JON GAMBRELL
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD


A lawyer working for Lummi Nation will challenge state Sen. Dale Brandland for his 42nd District seat this fall.

Jesse M. Salomon, 29, filed with the state late last month to run. A former civil prosecutor for the Lummis, Salomon now represents victims of domestic violence in tribal and state courts. He also served as a delegate for Howard Dean at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

"We need younger leadership," said Salomon, a Bellingham resident. "I just feel like the people of my generation have not yet stepped up to the plate."

Salomon believes he'd better represent the county's 42nd District, which includes the northern portion of Bellingham and the entire county west of the Cascades. He wants to provide more push for renewable and clean energy, to protect the environment and end the nation's reliance on foreign oil.

As growth issues continue to dominate concerns around the county, Salomon said he'd do more to empower local governments to make decisions tailored for their communities.

"I don't think it's fair for someone in Olympia to dictate how we grow," he said. "We need to have sovereignty in deciding the way we grow." ...

...Salomon isn't the only young challenger campaigning for the state Legislature in Whatcom County this year. Jasper D. MacSlarrow, a 29-year-old aide to U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, has already filed to run against incumbent Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale. ...
[full article]

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