LD18

DENVER -Taking a moment to switch gears from the hoopla of the national convention to the nuts and bolts of state politics, Rep. Brian Baird (D-Vancouver) predicted that Southwest Washington would pick up a few seats for Democrats in the state House and Senate this November.

"I think we have a real shot at picking up a seat in the 17th," Baird said. "I think Tim Probst is going to win that seat. I think we have a great shot in the 18th. I like our candidate there VaNessa Duplessie, running against [Rep. Jaime] Herrera who has never been elected herself, really has hardly been in the district the last ten years. Vanessa is hard working, sharp, articulate, a real go getter."

Baird was also pleasantly surprised to see David Carrier running relatively close to Sen. Don Benton in the 17th District, and Jon Haugen within ten points of Sen. Joe Zarelli in LD 18.

Rep. Jaime HerreraIn a district that was darkened by scandal in 2007, things are looking up this fall with a race full of rising stars. Southwest Washington's 18th Legislative District, which runs from the Vancouver suburbs of Ridgefield, Battle Ground and Camas north to the Lewis County line, features Rep. Jaime Herrera (R-Battle Ground) looking to win her first election against LaCenter Democrat VaNessa Duplessie.

Both candidates are relatively young with impressive backgrounds and bright futures in their respective parties according to local insiders.

Yesterday we posted about a mailer the group Mesa Deserves Better sent to voters about a 28-year old divorce paper between Russell Pearce and his wife. LuAnne Pearce hit back calling the mailing despicable. Below is her full letter.

“Recently opponents of our State’s employer sanctions law made despicable, misleading and false attacks on my husband and our family. Twenty-eight years ago a petition for divorce was filed on my behalf. The allegations in this 28 year old document are not true and the petition was shortly thereafter withdrawn.

The people behind this “Mesa Deserves Better” committee are not honorable. Their only purpose is to destroy my husband’s good reputation, to hurt our family and to repeal the law which prevents them from hiring individuals who are in this country illegally. I urge everyone to reject these mean spirited people and all who are affiliated with them. It is apparent that they will go to any length and use any measure to further their own political agenda.

My husband is a good man, a man of faith who taught our children and grandchildren the meaning of honor and duty to God, Family and Country. I hope all voters in District 18 join me in supporting my husband for State Senate and rejecting these misleading and false attacks.”

-LuAnne Pearce

The independent expenditure group Mesa Deserves Better has taken the gloves completely off against Representative Russell Pearce in his campaign for senate. In a mailer sent to voters, the group points to 1980 divorce papers between Pearce and his wife that alleged Pearce “possessed a violent temper, and from time to time his and shoved his wife.”

Mesa Deserves Better was formed on 7/18/2008 and is chaired by Republican consultant Nathan Sproul.

H/T to Espresso Pundit

Last week the Maricopa County Republican Committee Executive Guidance Council decided to get involved in the LD18 senate primary after it was learned Republican Kevin Gibbons had received $1,500 in campaign contributions from former Democrat Party Chairman Jim Pederson and his family.  The County Chairman of the MCRC, Tom Husband encouraged Gibbons to give the donations back to Pederson.

Arizona Sen. Jim Waring (R-Phoenix) and Democratic LD12 candidate Eve Nunez, who have both turned in the maximum number of signatures allowable to Arizona Secretary of State Jan Brewer. Waring raked in 1,316, maxing out for a Republican in LD7, and Nunez's 1,132 signatures are the most allowed to be recorded for a Democrat in LD12.

Though filing only opened at the beginning of the month, a steady stream of filings have been presented to Brewer's office, and already some races are starting to take shape, in particular the House races for LDs 18 and 30.