From Stark
U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, the Everett Democrat whose 2nd District includes Bellingham, has endorsed Suzan DelBene in the neighboring 1st District, which will include nearly all of Whatcom County outside the city beginning in 2013.
DelBene has also picked up an endorsement from Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen, according to her office.
Here is the statement from Larsen’s office:
“The First Congressional District race is critically important for Democrats this fall. As someone who currently represents large portions of the district, I know what it takes to win there, both as an open seat in 2000 and a hotly contested one in 2010.
“I have been watching the race closely and evaluating the Democratic candidates. I am looking for the person who can best run the kind of modern campaign that mixes the necessary organization, outreach to the big and small towns, and resources to deliver the positive message of restoring the middle class and protecting Medicare.
“That candidate must also push back against the tired Tea Party/Republican policies of the presumed GOP candidate.
“I am endorsing Suzan DelBene for Congress. Suzan DelBene has worked hard in the last few months to understand the issues in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties through aggressive outreach to local community groups and elected officials. She combines that with her clear knowledge of the needs of North King County.
“Suzan DelBene has put together the kind of organization to win the primary and this fall. I am not surprised by this as it reflects her success in business putting together successful organizations.
“Suzan DelBene has proved she can raise money competitively in this race, outraising all other Democratic candidates and crushing the lone Republican candidate in that aspect of the campaign.
“Most importantly, Suzan DelBene brings her moderate business background and a progressive outlook that best equips her to address the need for jobs and economic growth in the new distrtict.
“Suzan DelBene is passionate about restoring the middle class that was devastated by the Bush recession and will fight for all working families while protecting Medicare for seniors and educational opportunity for kids.
“All of this points to Suzan DelBene as the Democratic candidate who will win this fall.
“Democrats are blessed with a great group of candidates for the new First District. Suzan DelBene is a cut above. I am asking Democrats to support her.”
End of Larsen press release
Here is DeBene’s response:
BOTHELL – Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Everett) announced his endorsement of 1st Congressional Candidate Suzan DelBene today. The following is a statement from DelBene:
“Whether it’s standing up for veterans, seniors or the working families in his district, Congressman Larsen has always put the interests of his constituents first, ahead of special interests and I’m grateful for his support.
“I’m running for Congress to be a partner with him to make sure there is someone fighting for the middle class in Washington DC, and to put our country and our economy back on track.”
Larsen’s announcement continues a string of significant endorsements in recent weeks bolstering DelBene’s campaign. Recently Gov. Chris Gregoire, Snohomish County Councilman Brian Sullivan and Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen all have come out supporting DelBene.
For more information about Suzan DelBene, visit: www.delbeneforcongress.com
He should have waited there may be a new candidate yet:
“After seeming to rule out the idea, Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich is once again flirting with a political bid in Washington state.
Kucinich sent an email to local supporters Sunday asking them to participate in an online survey on whether he should run for Congress here.
In his email, Kucinich cited request from a local group, Washington Citizens for Kucinich, asking him to think about a political relocation….
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2017991180_dennis_kucinich_polls_local_su.html?syndication=rss
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Congressman Larsen endorses Susan Del Bene for more reasons than he has stated here.
Susan Del Bene is a multimillionaire. She is part of the 1%. She’s a very nice person. But after viewing her resume and the many jobs and positions she’s held over a short period of time I find that she’s very inconsistent as far as sticking with something. Del Bene did not do as well as any of the other participants in many of the forums. I have attended several of them. I doubt if Rick Larsen has attended one summation point
Congressman Larsen endorses Susan Del Bene because she can self fund her campaign thus freeing up monies from the Democratic Party that may go to himself or other candidates in our district. Another reason, which I think is the primary reason, Congressman Larsen endorses Susan Del Bene is that she has on the record stated that she will caucus with the New Democratic Coalition.
If you would like to know who the new Democrats are I’ll make it very simple for you. But please do your own research. The new Democrat Coalition is a group of Wall Street Democrats if you like K St., Democrats who are bought and paid for by corporations through political donations and favors. This is not illegal in the sense as bribery is but it is no different.
Congressman Larsen’s advice and positions over the years have been lackluster and inconsistent. I find him lacking in common knowledge on many issues and definitely a disappointment to many of those in his party. Typically Congressman Larsen will check the air before taking a firm position on an issue. That practice is what makes him such a great politician and such a poor congressional leader.
I caution you to look at his endorsements and consider one of the other two or three candidates who are actually from the 99% who would be far better representing the 99% then a 1% candidate who may have all the best intentions in the world but have not experience nor has done the groundwork to really represent the general public.
I frankly wouldn’t want endorsement from Congressman Larsen because of his affiliation with the New Democrat Coalition K St., Democrats or Wall Street Democrats and his voting record is very poor no matter what the ratings groups say. He has had little courage on the less popular issuies.I just wish the Democratic leadership would quit supporting incumbents without basing that support on their performance on the most serious ofissues. I would say you’re going to be much better off voting for Ruderman, Burner, or Ruynar.
Do the research yourself don’t just vote for somebody because Congressman Larsen endorses them. This guy has been conning people for years. I would invite you to the to publicly ask Congressman Larsen some simple questions. I think you would be shocked at his attitude towards you asking questions as well as his knowledge in answering the questions.
Asking anything of Rick Larson results in a dial tone.
One problem is that the redistricting sweetened up all the districts to make them “safer”, which means that elected officials are now much less accountable, since they are not worried about re-election.
In a tough election year, like 2010, it would have been a very unwise move for anyone running in a close race of their own, to endorse in a tight primary race and potentially offend all of the donor supporters of all the other candidates in a Dem primary.
Darcy Burner is a sentimental favorite with a wide base of people who know her, and Laura Ruderman has raised comparable money and been gaining a large base of support as well. To endorse on this race, implies that Larsen is not hungry for support from Burner and Ruderman supporters, even in his own district.
Sentimental Favorite? LOL!! RM-Just endorse Rudermann .
Burner is The best candidate of the two. I am more confident she will work for the people instead of the status quo.
Take the money issues out of elections and you will get the best person for the job. If you want to elect someone on the basis of raising money you will always get what you pay for. Not so much! Looks at congress now.one of the lowest approval ratings in history. Delbene same rhetoric and is part of the same club different party in name only.
Burner will usually come out ahead on the issues not by “Sentiment”. This is a great laugh RM. THANKS!
DelBene is anti-worker, at least in technology. Our economy depends on good jobs, not just any menial job that comes along. Any progressive worth their salt realizes this. But DelBene is in favor of large companies passing over local unemployed workers in favor of overseas and temporary resident labor. This practice does not help Washington workers. America’s technological dominance, if it can even still be said to exist, is rapidly being exported by lazy and cheap hiring decisions. In a time when all corners of the country suffers from 50-year unemployment crisis, the notion of promoting external labor over local labor should be scandalous. This should be a big deal to anyone who cares about jobs and the economy, but because most people hear meaningless letters and numbers, and know next to nothing about the technology industry (except Gates, Jobs, and Zuckerberg), they ignore it. But today’s Seattle and Washington are the result of the skilled jobs provided by the technology industry. Yet because worker-paid or on-the-job training is as quaint as pensions and 9 to 5s, the overworked, underpaid skilled worker who loses their job won’t be able to get another one, because s/he has to compete with recent grads of foreign government-subsidized technical schools, thanks to offshoring and the deplorable H1-B program. Corporations claim a lack of skilled workers, and it’s a bald-faced lie to cut corners and hire cheaply.