When I met Doug Roulstone in Everett this week, he admitted feeling a bit apprehensive.
I wanted to learn how he planned to unseat incumbent 2nd Congressional District Democrat Rep. Rick Larsen. I had questions.
Roulstone, a Republican, said he didn’t have all the answers – yet.
“There are a lot of things to get done in our country, our state and the 2nd District,” he said. “I get things done. I want to improve things.”
He revealed, in between sips of a white-chocolate mocha at Tully’s downtown, that some of his supporters told him to postpone our meeting because it was too soon to be talking about the race.
The election is 18 months away and his campaign is in its infancy. Few voters know Roulstone. Right now, the Snohomish resident lacks the money and organization to pose a serious threat to Larsen.
What Roulstone does have is an impressive resume.
He is a combat veteran of the first war in Iraq and served as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier the USS John C. Stennis from 1997 to 1999. He retired from the Navy that year and became co-owner of a Monroe business that designs and manufacturers precision machined parts. He’s been active in business groups, education organizations and the Navy League of Snohomish County.
Roulstone is also a member of the community task force that worked with Larsen and other elected officials to keep Naval Station Everett off the Defense Department’s base closure list.
Larsen wondered Friday why Roulstone was running.
“As a candidate, I’m not real sure he’s offering the district anything I’m not doing now,” Larsen said.
Larsen is in his fifth year representing the 2nd District, an omelet of urban and rural communities seasoned with every spice of political philosophy.
He won by a landslide in November, capturing 63.9 percent of the vote against Island County Auditor Suzanne Sinclair, the Republican challenger.
Larsen expected a tougher battle. Voters in the district are splayed about evenly along the partisan divide, as his two previous victories made abundantly clear.
Larsen collected 50.01 percent of the vote in his first win in 2000 against Republican John Koster, now a Snohomish County Councilman. In 2002, Larsen’s percentage rose to 50.07 as he beat Republican Norma Smith by less than 9,000 votes.
Roulstone figures to conduct a more vigorous campaign than Sinclair. Success may depend on finding those issues – the bright lines – that divide him and Larsen and that sway voters.
The Iraq war is one potential difference. Larsen and Roulstone are at odds over President Bush’s decision to go to war, but both want the military to receive the supplies and equipment to do the job.
On subjects such as Social Security, the proposed Wild Sky Wilderness and immigration reform, Roulstone said he is still gathering facts and building solutions. In other words, he’s not sure yet of his position.
He’s got time.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield’s column on politics runs every Sunday. He can be reached at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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