Rossi looks to Everett for support at Lincoln Day fundraising dinner
Published 11:04 pm Friday, February 29, 2008
Republican Dino Rossi plans to bring his campaign for governor to Snohomish County tonight by headlining the GOP’s annual Lincoln Day fundraising dinner.
More than 300 people are expected at the dinner and dance at an Everett Holiday Inn. The event celebrates Lincoln as the first GOP president and is a key fundraising event for the county party.
Having Rossi speak will help rev up the party, Snohomish County GOP party chairwoman Geri Modrell said.
“People are getting on the bandwagon,” she said. “People are energized because of Dino, and I see no reason why he should not be easily elected.”
Rossi is speaking at 33 Lincoln Day dinners as he campaigns around the state. Snohomish County’s event is at the Everett Holiday Inn and is No. 12, Rossi said.
That’s a lot of chicken, Rossi said with a laugh.
“It’s been a remarkable turnout at the Lincoln Days,” he said. “I’m telling people exactly what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it.”
Rossi, 48, lives in Sammamish. He grew up in Mountlake Terrace and attended Woodway High School. He is a former state senator and works in commercial real estate.
Snohomish is mostly a blue county: Snohomish County voters continue to elect a Democratic majority in its state legislative delegation, congressional delegation and county government.
Even so, Snohomish County is viewed as a swing county and could be a battleground in the governor’s race. In 2004, Rossi won about 6,400 more votes in Snohomish County than Chris Gregoire, but he lost his bid for governor by 129 votes after three recounts and a court challenge.
Rossi said his Democratic supporters in Snohomish County and around the state — he dubs them Dinocrats — are going to push vote tallies his way.
“We have a tremendous number of Dinocrats — people who are crossing party lines,” he said.
Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.
GOP dinner
Seats are still available for tonight’s Lincoln Day Dinner. The event is 5:30 p.m. to midnight and includes guests Dino Rossi, 1st Lt. Jeffrey Adams and KTTH (770-AM) radio host David Boze. The night includes auctions, dinner and dancing to The Beatles cover band Creme Tangerine. The event is at the Holiday Inn, 3105 Pine St., Everett. Cost is $100 to $150 per seat. For information or reservations, call 360-708-3899.
