EVERETT — Republican Chris Vance is an experienced political hand and knows the monumental challenge he’s undertaken to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
But in a campaign stop in Everett this week he said he couldn’t stand idly by as partisanship continued to paralyze Congress and prevent members from dealing with the rising federal debt, unfair tax system, underfunded Social Security and a host of threats to the nation’s security.
“I am horrified at what’s happening in this country and have been for some time. I came to the conclusion the only way to change things is to run for office,” he said before hosting a town hall in the Everett Elks Lodge.
“This is a crusade. I don’t care how long the odds are. I don’t care if people think I’m crazy,” he said of taking on the five-term incumbent Murray. “This has got to change.”
Vance, 54, is married and has two grown children. He’s been engaged in politics in one form or another since working as an assistant field director on a congressional campaign at the age of 20.
He’s served in the state House of Representatives, on the King County Council and, from 2001-2006, as chairman of the Washington State Republican Party. He’s also run unsuccessfully for Congress and superintendent of public instruction.
These days he’s got a private business as a political consultant, is an adjunct professor at the University of Washington and works part time for Randy Dorn, the state’s public schools chief.
On Thursday, he hosted a 90-minute town hall and about 15 people showed up, most with questions.
The theme of Vance’s campaign is “A Time for Truth” and he let them know right up front that he’d be honest with them, maybe to a fault.
“If you don’t like what I’m saying, don’t vote for me,” he said.
His campaign message is simple, he said. Congress is a mess and the process broken.
“Patty Murray has been there 24 years. Patty Murray is part of the problem. She is the living, breathing, walking personification of the status quo,” he said.
Vance shared his frustration with the inaction of Congress, including its failure to pass a budget, as well with an electorate unwilling to take matters into its own hands.
“You voters are mad,” he said. “Voters have got to wise up. If you’re mad at Congress, vote the incumbents out.”
On policies, he said his top priority is reducing the federal debt, reforming the tax code, and replacing the federal health care law referred to as Obamacare.
He also outlined ways to strengthen Social Security, including increasing the retirement age and raising the taxable wage cap.
Audience members pressed him on military spending and he said he wants to increase it.
They asked for specifics on his tax reform ideas. He said he wants to lower tax rates for everyone and eliminate almost all exemptions except ones such as the homeowner’s exemption that he says directly benefits middle class families.
And, as anticipated, Vance fielded a question about Donald Trump from a Trump supporter wearing a red ball cap synonymous with the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign.
“I was wondering how long it would take,” said Vance, who announced May 5 he would not be voting for Trump in either the presidential primary or the November election.
In answering, he stressed his opposition to Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic Party nominee. He noted that there is a divide among Republicans on Trump because of his policies as well as some of his statements.
“I am running against Patty Murray. I am not running against Donald Trump. I am not trying to hurt Donald Trump. I can’t lie about it,” he said of his decision to make his opposition public.
Among those attending Thursday was Mike Luke, the Libertarian Party candidate for U.S. Senate who lives in Lynnwood.
Luke came to listen and didn’t ask any questions. He said he disagreed with Vance’s pledge to increase military spending and wondered how it could be done and keep the federal budget balanced.
And Luke said voters need to think hard before casting a ballot for Vance instead of Murray because his political party is as much responsible as Murray’s for the nation’s fiscal mess.
“They’ve enabled Patty Murray and Democrats with their mentality of spend, spend, spend,” he said.
Thursday night’s forum was the fifth of eight town halls Vance is conducting around the state between May 5 and June 7. It can be viewed online at https://chrisvanceforsenate.com/town-halls. The remaining events are planned for Vancouver, Redmond and Bellingham.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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