SPOKANE – Three Democratic U.S. House candidates from Washington and Idaho met Friday with representatives of a dozen Northwest tribes, seeking information and possibly some votes.
Peter Goldmark and Richard Wright, Democrats seeking the two House seats in Eastern Washington, and Larry Grant, running for the 1st District seat in Idaho, sought the meeting with tribal leaders.
“This is a momentous occasion,” said Yakama Nation legislative liaison Mathew Tomaskin. “Can you remember when candidates were willing to sit down with tribes and discuss issues?”
Most of the time, tribal representatives travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers they do not know personally, he said.
“This is the first time candidates have come and discussed issues beforehand,” he said.
During a day of meetings, the candidates and tribal leaders talked about housing, economic development, the Columbia River and trust land reform issues, said Goldmark, who is challenging Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris in the 5th District.
Goldmark, whose ranch is on the Colville reservation, came up with the idea for the meeting and worked with the Colvilles to make it happen.
He said the meeting was a listening session for the candidates, to educate them about issues important to Indians.
Grant, a former Micron Corp. vice president, is challenging state Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, for an open seat representing the western portion of Idaho.
He said there were four reservations in the district and it will be up to the tribes to determine if they will support his candidacy.
“We were not talking about political things,” Grant said. “There were no endorsements.”
Wright is challenging Republican Rep. Doc Hastings in Washington’s 4th District.
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