Kerry plans to visit Everett

EVERETT – Democratic Sen. John Kerry will bring his campaign for president to Everett on Friday to talk about jobs and economic development with members of one of the state’s most powerful unions.

Kerry plans a “town hall with working families” that includes members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, campaign officials said. The location of the event was undecided as of Tuesday.

The Massachusetts senator also plans a Friday evening fund-raiser in Seattle, with a public rally set for Saturday morning at the Tacoma Dome.

This is Kerry’s first campaign stop in Everett and his first trip to Washington since receiving his party’s nomination for president. He visited Seattle in May.

The trip comes nearly two weeks after President Bush campaigned in the state, considered one of the battlegrounds where the national election will be decided. Polls show Kerry leading Bush in Washington, with 11 electoral votes at stake.

Vice President Al Gore won the state handily in 2000, and no Republican presidential candidate has won here since Ronald Reagan. Yet, President Bush’s advisors say the race is too close to give up the state.

Partisans in Everett are gearing up for the first visit by either presidential candidate during this campaign. Both Gore and Bush came to town in 2000.

Frauna Hoglund, chairwoman of the Snohomish County Republican Party, welcomed the news. “Maybe we’ll have some folks go out there and greet him,” she said.

“We’re very excited to have the next president of the United States in Everett,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, a leading Democrat. “He shares Snohomish County’s values of work, family, faith and community.”

Conversations on security are under way between the Secret Service and the Everett Police Department. Deputy chief of operations Jim Seaman and patrol Capt. Mike Campbell “are actively involved” in planning, police department spokesman Boyd Bryant said.