EVERETT — The most sought-after statewide office in this year’s election is lieutenant governor and on Thursday three Republicans who want the job made their case to party loyalists in Everett.
Phillip Yin, of Bellevue; Javier Figueroa, of University Place; and Marty McClendon, of Gig Harbor, each pledged to use the office to actively engage in developing legislation, promoting economic development and giving voice to concerns from communities.
But as the three men addressed the Snohomish County Republican Women’s Club the differences in their personal styles became clear.
“You need to show leadership. You need someone less polite, a little louder and a little clearer to tell politicians when something’s not right,” said Yin, a former television reporter and anchor “I will not be polite I assure you. The way they are doing business right now is not right.”
Figueroa, the mayor of University Place, said his political experience will help him effectively flex the office’s political muscle to advance good bills and derail bad ones.
This job “requires someone who understands how to build relationships with people of all different areas on the political spectrum,” he said.
McClendon, who hosts a daily radio show, said the lieutenant governor can frame the debate in the Senate through its position as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee.
If there is a bill threatening religious liberty or property rights, he said, “it won’t see the light of day.”
The GOP trio are among the nine people seeking to succeed Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a moderate Democrat from Shelton who is retiring after 20 years in the seat. Owen is the longest serving lieutenant governor in the nation.
State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, on Wednesday became the latest entrant when he formally announced his candidacy at the Lake Stevens Chamber of Commerce lunch. He is one of four Democratic lawmakers campaigning for a job that is unique because of its role in the legislative and executive branches of state government.
The lieutenant governor is first in line in succession to the governor. And whenever the governor is out of state or unable to perform his or her duties, the lieutenant governor fills in.
During legislative session, the lieutenant governor serves as president and lead parliamentarian of the state Senate. This means running floor sessions and settling legal and procedural disputes that might arise. The annual salary is $101,889 plus a little extra for every day he or she fills in for the governor.
The big fight heading toward the top-two primary Aug. 2 is shaping up to be among the four Democratic lawmakers, each of whom has demonstrated the ability to raise money, conduct campaigns and win elections.
Sens. Cyrus Habib, of Bellevue; and Karen Fraser, of Olympia; and Rep. Jim Moeller, of Vancouver, each began campaigning last fall.
Hobbs, 46, who is in his third term, jumped in Wednesday. He is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Transportation Committee and a major in the Washington Army National Guard.
Habib, 34, leads all candidates in the money race, having hauled in $385,982 in contributions as of Wednesday. Hobbs is next with $225,243 followed by Fraser with $92,499 and Moeller with $25,135, according to filings with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Among the three Republicans, Yin, 41, has raised the most, $100,841, and began airing ads on Seattle radio stations this week. With the better funded Democrats in the race, he told the crowd that Republicans should unite behind his candidacy to prevent dividing the GOP vote in the primary.
“I’m your front-runner,” Yin declared Thursday. “Our number one goal right now is to make sure there are not two Democrats in the race. We have to be strategic.”
Yin, who grew up in Yakima, earned an undergraduate business degree from the University of Washington and an International MBA from Georgetown University. As a television reporter, he said he covered business for Bloomberg Television, CNBC Asia Television and Fox
Figueroa, 64, was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and raised in Bay City, Texas, before moving to Washington 38 years ago.
When he was was elected to the University Place City Council in 2009 he became the first naturalized citizen from Mexico to be elected in Washington. As of Wednesday, he had received $35,805 in contributions
He touted endorsements from former Attorney General Rob McKenna, former state Sen. Dino Rossi and former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart to demonstrate his base of support.
McClendon, 48, has worked as an anesthesia technician and a Realtor. These days he co-hosts the nightly radio program “Eyes on Washington” which is a forum for social and political commentary. He said it’s helped make him a familiar name with thousands of potential voters.
Name ID is critical to winning, he said. McClendon had not filed any reports with the Public Disclosure Commission as of Thursday.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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