Homeland Security czar Tom Ridge says a vigilant citizenry is the best defense of our nation. In that spirit, I issue this general alert of a renewed threat from a familiar target:
Incumbent politicians.
Some will strike by phone today, others via the U.S. Postal Service this week.
They don’t want to hurt you; they want to represent you. You have what they desire — money.
Why now? They’ve been in a fund-raising deep freeze since Dec. 13, banned by law from seeking and accumulating campaign capital before, during and immediately after the state Legislature was in session.
The freeze thawed at 12:01 a.m. today, and most politicians have some catching up to do.
For four months, their challengers have been politely shaking down donors, scooping up the nickels, dimes and $1,000 bills that come loose.
I suspect Attorney General Christine Gregoire will be dialing for dollars. In the race for governor, this front-running Democratic cash magnet finds herself trailing the Republican’s anointed one, Dino Rossi, by a couple of hundred thousand geoducks.
Meanwhile, our beloved kingpins, queen bees and loose screws of democracy in the Legislature are thirsting to restock their vaults for the Sept. 14 primary and Nov. 2 general election.
Granted, incumbency is a priceless re-elective commodity. With $100,000, plus or minus a few twenties, incumbents can all but ensure they’ll wax any opponents.
Two years ago, Republican candidates spent an average of $70,180, and their Democratic counterparts $85,421. Winning, on average, cost a bit more, nearly $110,000.
The need for green varied with the heat of each race.
In the vast 39th Legislative District, a Grand Old Party nesting ground, Republicans Dan Kristiansen and Kirk Pearson waltzed to victory as representatives for Arlington, Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar. Their bills totaled $61,000 and $63,500, respectively.
Head to the 44th District, where political breeding is less homogenous, and re-election’s price tag was $170,314 for Democratic Rep. Hans Dunshee and $178,000 for Democratic Rep. John Lovick.
Surviving in the Senate can be even pricier.
Camano Island’s Mary Margaret Haugen, a Democratic pillar and winner of eight straight elections, spent $211,000 to keep her seat in 2000. For all that, she got 51 percent of the vote.
Typically, monies funneled through the parties account for a sizable offering. Then those infernal "organized special interests" of teachers, builders and doctors add generously to the pile.
That still leaves plenty of ordinary folks whose ante politicians seek.
From my seat, the new primary system may depressurize candidate solicitations and enable them to curb their cash intake for the primary, then carbo-load for the general election. Since candidate names will appear only on their party’s ballot, why send out expensive mailers in August to voters who can’t vote for you until November?
I wouldn’t.
What I will do in the coming months is guard my money and my vote, expending both wisely. The security of the state and the nation depend on it.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com. Listen to him live at 7 a.m. Mondays on The Morning Show on KSER 90.7 FM.
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