Posted on 02/20/2008 2:44:11 PM PST by mdittmar
He may have boasted of his big family, his political rise and his legislative triumphs, but speaking Tuesday night before hundreds of Clark County building industry professionals, Dino Rossi was all businessman.
"I came from a world of no salary, no benefits; you don't work, you don't eat - I understand the free enterprise system," the Republican gubernatorial candidate said at the Vancouver event, to laughter and applause. "And I sign the front side of paychecks."
Rossi, a former commercial real estate broker and state senator who lives in Sammamish, is five months into what he expects to be a rematch against Gov. Chris Gregoire.
He also sought Tuesday to play up his viability as a candidate against the incumbent he still calls "Christine Gregoire."
His campaign had raised $1.7 million from more than 17,000 donors by the end of 2007, he said.
"We are going to finish what we started," said Rossi, who lost to Gregoire in 2004 by 129 votes. "Everybody in this room knows 129 people."
Rossi was the keynote speaker for Tuesday's membership dinner for the Building Industry Association of Clark County in the Hilton Vancouver Washington.
"We really need your help," Rossi told the crowd. "Anything from $25 to $2,800, we would welcome."
Rossi promised to refocus all of state government around the principle of "customer service."
"I (would) get to appoint almost 2,000 people, from blueberry commission on up," he said. "Think about that: growth management hearings boards. Every board or commission you can imagine. ... (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction), Department of Ecology, Labor and Industries."
He said he would make congestion relief the "number-one priority" for the Department of Transportation.
Rossi said Gregoire, 60, has worked for government since he was in fourth grade.
Rossi, 48, blasted the increase in spending since Gregoire came to office and criticized her for a future budget shortfall.
"That's reckless," he said. "That's fiscally irresponsible at best."
Rossi predicted that Gregoire will be forced to raise taxes, and, based on an interview with the Spokane Spokesman-Review, warned that she seemed to support a state income tax.
Government reform, he suggested, could help the state cut its above-average rate of failure for small businesses without sacrificing its high rate of business startups.
"That's what this is about," Rossi said. "It's about changing the culture and direction of the state for generations, and turning Washington state into an entrepreneurial state."
Hopefully, Rossi will be declared the winner, not just be the winner.
I have noticed that Queen Christine seems to be trying to move to the center now that we are in election season. It just makes me sick and the lamestream presstitutes are falling in Locke-step (pun intended) with her newly found Centrist message. Dino needs to hammer home her liberal ways for the past 3.5 years. There is nothing she would not do to keep her power over her loyal subjects in her little kingdom.
GO DINO!!!
When does sam reed come up for a vote?
This year. He’s a Republican, by the way.
Yea,McCain is a Republican too.
I’ve already donated to Rossi. Nothing would give me greater pleasure in 2008 than seeing Fraudorie kicked to the curb where she belongs.
The only thing she’s done while in office is pander to unions, drive businesses away, and do nothing as major roadway projects like 520 bridge and the Alaska way viaduct continue to break apart.
I kept my Dino Rossi sign from the 2004 fiasco and I am seriously considering putting the Re-Elect part on the sign to make a point.
The Queen has been an absolute disaster and with total control the RATs have in this state, it will be an uphill climb for Dino but if anyone can do it, Dino can!
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
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http://www.crosscut.com/2008-election/11828/Washington+poll%3A+McCain+edges+Clinton%2C+loses+to+Obama%3B+Gregoire+widens+her+lead/
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