Washblog

I appreciate Noemi front-paging this.
Karma collected eagerly. :)

-Aaron

by abelenky on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 03:35:30 PM PST

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Campbell did the same thing in 2004 to Illene Ferrell, who was endorsed by everyone, doorbelled, etc.  

He then ran in 2005 for city council, unsuccessfully.

So this is the third time he's been on the ballot in three years.  I think he ran for something in 2002 as well.

by raincityman on Thu Sep 21, 2006 at 04:06:57 PM PST

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Pat Campbell is an interesting fellow to say the least. From what I understand Pat isn't going to campaign (at least in the traditional sense of mailings, doorbelling, phonecalling, etc) or put up any signs. That said the seat might as well belong to Jim Dunn already.  

Quite honestly the people of the 17th deserve better representation in Olympia than Jim Dunn. Why voters in the 17th would want to pretty much hand the seat back to Dunn by voting for Campbell I'm not sure but hey this district has sent Don Benton to Olympia since 1994 so who knows what they're thinking.

However, unlike Campbell's opponent in 2004 (Ilene Ferrell) Burkman was out there early (December) and has been doorbelling and fundraising like a mad man and even sent out two pretty nice mailers. Despite this he didn't do as well against Campbell as Ferrell did (Campbell got 50.5% in the 2004 primary) which baffles me.

Here are a few potential theories on what might have influenced the Burkman/Campbell race:

1. Republicans crossed over to vote in the democratic primaries. There were no meaningful republican primaries in Clark County (let alone the 17th) so why not vote in the primary for Campbell?

2. People know Campbell's name because he has been on the ballot in 4 of the last 5 years (State Rep in 2002, 2004, 2006 and Vancouver City Council in 2005).

3. People voted against the endorsement of The Columbian (Vancouver's newspaper) for whatever reason (they're too liberal, conservative, they suck, whatever arbitrary reason they hate the paper is reflected onto the candidates or issues they endorse). I still remember my Dad doing this growing up. If he hadn't made his mind up he'd vote the opposite of whatever the paper had picked. I don't think I'll ever know why but then again there isn't always a method to the madness.

4. Campbell is the "anti-establishment" candidate. Some people just go for that.

5. There is a group there that was upset about the state party/HDCC backing Burkman so far out when another candidate (Paul Waadevig) had expressed a desire to run.  They felt that it should be up to the local party activists (and/or voters) to pick their candidate. In the end of that drama the county chair and treasurer resigned in protest and a number of people in the 17th were upset about what happened.  It wouldn't be suprising if these people were helping Campbell in some way.

I personally am not a big conspiracy theories like some of people that I know. However, I just thought I'd throw some ideas out there.

In reality, we'll probably never know what really happened it will all be just speculation.

by cuyahoga on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 01:31:03 AM PST

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can't make up for the fact that so many people are disillusioned and don't see governance as something they have a part in.  

Democracy comes from the outside -- from laws, constitutions.  And it comes from the inside.  Some democracy killers that work from the inside out:

Election cheating; forced all-mail voting; the relentless attempts by WA State Republicans to narrow the right to vote; the disproportionate rate of incarceration among young men of color; campaign smears and lies; BIAW dirty money pouring into our elections; the trivializing of the mainstream news into entertainment...

These amount to a relentless campaign of anti-democratic messages, telling 'we the people' that we don't count, that we don't have a say in our own governance.  It's disenfranchisement from the outside and the inside.  And it feeds the power and wealth of the venal.

This is not just a matter of personal choice.    I meet people all the time who generally share my world view -- sustainability, decency, and peace -- but who respond to the insanity by turning their backs on voting.  This diminishes the electoral power of everyone who shares that world view.

The answer lies not through outrage, I believe -- but through finding a way to get our democratic spirit back, so that more people, more young people, more people of color, more peace-lovers, even more conservatives --  have that pride and ownership, the knowledge that they are needed. Then, I'll bet, we won't be seeing so much stupid stuff like this race in the 17th -- probable expressions of ignorance, discouragement, anger, cynicism.  

by noemie maxwell on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 08:34:27 AM PST

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Link is here: The Columbian

Some interesting comments from the article:

Campbell did no doorbelling. (Burkman knocked on 4,000, leaving a hand-written note on his literature where no one was home. His supporters knocked on another 4,000 doors.)

A week before voting began, a Burkman-camp poll of 17th District registered voters had 49 percent of Democrats favoring Burkman, 38 percent still undecided and only 13 percent for Campbell.

The lifepac.org Web page, which lives and breathes for social conservative causes and candidates, etc., will favor Dunn in November. But in the primary, lifepac listed Campbell as "recommended" and Burkman as "anti-family."

In the Campbell-Burkman contest there could have been a bloc of Dunn backers who voted in the Democratic primary just to hurt Burkman, the "anti-family" father of three who took a break from political life in 2002 to give more attention to his family.

by abelenky on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 02:25:06 PM PST

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Every theory offered so far plus others probably has some validity.

It's Clark County, for crying out loud. The Columbian's market penetration is really, really low and Portland media really doesn't cover Clark County much. Lower turnout elections in Clark County are wildly unpredictable.

I would caution against either giving small-fry groups like Lifepac much credit. If that were so Brent Boger would have done better in the court of appeals race, and he even lost Clark, where he lives.

It's also doubtful that Campbell's victory is some huge harbinger of a sea change, although I would wager that most Democratic primary voters have a high level of intensity.

Also, I don't know how anyone could reasonably claim to know what will happen in the general election. Campbell just beat a guy with a paid campaign manager and a well known consultant. Burkman spent about $50,000 and Campbell spent $68. All bets are off.

To be clear, Campbell is running against JIM DUNN, one of the worst campaigners in the Republican stable. If I were Campbell I would start demanding a debate now, and if Dunn won't do it, send a limousine to his house every night (with reporters in tow, of course) until he does agree to it.

by Jon DeVore on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 08:24:05 PM PST

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Mr. Campbell --

Would you be able to describe what you've been doing in your campaign to reach out to the people in your legislative district, to meet them and get to know what's important to them from their own words?

I'm wondering, because this post says you have not been doorbelling.

Thanks in advance if you are able to answer.

by noemie maxwell on Sat Sep 23, 2006 at 09:31:25 AM PST

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Paul Waadevig ran against Sen. Don Benton in the 17th LD in 2004 and lost. He was the FIRST one to announce running for the State Rep., Position 1 position in the 17th LD.

In late 2005 2006, Frank Chopp met with the 17th LD Dems Chair (me), the Vice-Chair and the Clark County Dem Chair. He informed us that David Nierenberg (a local wealthy political contributor) did not want Waadevig and the "party" was looking for an alternative candidate.

The next thing we know, Burkman announces and he receives a $10,000 contribution from the House Democratic Caucus Committee. As the post of my website indicates (www.d4v.org), the $10,000 can be contrued I think accurately that as just a flow through contribution from David Nierenburg.

At this point Paul Waadevig is demoralized and decides to drop out of the race. The Clark County Treasurer (me again, I had switched positions) and the Clark County Chair resign.

I resigned because staying an official in the party meant I was complicit in the financial interference of the HDCC in our local politics. I could not adjust my ethics to that complicity. I was also campaign treasurer for Paul Waadevig for the 60 days or so that he was a candidate.

My take on why Pat Campbell won is very different than most of the speculation. I believe most people pay no attention whatsoever to the facts as I've outlined them above even though much of the above was in thepublic domain through the Columbian newspaper.

If you look at the voter pamphlet, Pat clearly has deep union roots, worked as a correctional officer/probation officer much of his life and served in the military.

Burkman is a retired manager from HP and already was on the city council.

The voter looked at the two backgrounds and said I'm going for the down-to-earth union guy.

Burkman also recently voted for internet filtering at the library, that also cost him some votes. Burkman also refused to fill out a questionaire for a anti-abortion PAC that has signs all over town.

I know Pat Campbell quite well and he is a very likeable, decent, straight talking individual. He doorbelled 11,000 or so homes in his 2004 race and I am sure projected his goodness quite well to the constituency. Burkman, I understand, doorbelled 4000 homes in 2006 and I think may have not connected well with the voters in the 17th LD.

I also think the exclusionary tactics used in the local party and the last minute media surrounding those tactics served to boost Pat Campbell's votes in the final hour.

I hope this clears up the mystery of this race. I also hope the local party, the local elected officials, David Nierenburg and all the activists in the 17th LD and nearby will drop down their swords, accept the Pat Campbell is the "Ned Lamont without the money of the 17th LD" and work their a#$^% off to help Pat win this position.

He will be a great legislator beholden to no one but his conscience and the people of the 17th LD and Washington. I can forgive and forget and move on. I challenge everyone in the 17th LD to stop the bickering and hurt egos and start doing whatever they can to get this good man elected.

by bushtool on Sat Sep 23, 2006 at 06:08:54 PM PST

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Too bad DFV didn't actually endorse him in the primary. I guess they were too busy with county clerk races or something.

This attempt to turn Pat Campbell into some kind of progressive symbol is a fucking joke. I don't know Campbell at all, but if you read his issues page it is pretty mainstream to conservative Democratic Party positions.

From all accounts Campbell would be a fine legislator and vastly superior to the Republican Jim Dunn. But don't come on here all "progressive" about Pat Campbell.

That said, the Clark County Democrats should basically shut the fuck up and support the nominee the voters chose.

Jeebus this is a weird place. Best Democratic chances in say, 42 years, and this is what happens. People need to take their personality conflicts and sublimate them into a better effort to defeat the real enemy.

by Jon DeVore on Sat Sep 23, 2006 at 08:37:54 PM PST

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It seems to me like this is about a limited group of people that for whatever reason hate David N. and were detirmed to have former Republicans Paul W. or Pat C. run even if they have NO chance of defeating Jim Dunn in the general election.  What cracks me up is how this group seems so offended that people other than them should have any say in who the best candidate is to defeat Dunn and uphold our Democratic values.  Why should they get to decide?  Isn't it reasonable to have input from people who are experienced with hard races?  People that have carried the torch for Democrats for more years than either of the prior-Republican candidates.
Paul W. was a terrible candidate for so many reasons.  I don't see what is so bad about involved party members encouraging other candidates (much better than Paul) to run.  Isn't the point to get rid of Jim Dunn and elect someone who cares about health care for kids, equal rights for everyone, and helping the poor.  
What this group always fails to mention is that there were/are just as many active local Democrats that did NOT want Paul/Pat as their representative.  Just because 5 party leaders in the 17th liked Paul/Pat doesn't mean they have the right to have secret (you know you did) meetings and decided that Paul/Pat is the candidate no matter what better candidates comes along.
Pat C. is barely a Democrat, he's not pro-choice, he is for slinging mud and he doesn't represent my Democratic values.

by Rat Race on Mon Sep 25, 2006 at 09:25:49 PM PST

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Jack Burkman was a candidate chosen for us in District 17.  I like others was willing to give him a go.  After it became clear that this was a mistake, I entered the race.  My basic campaign strategy was this:

1. Beat Jim Dunn with the truth of own his record.
   
2. Expouse clear positions and push others to do the same.  
   
3. Avoid special interest money like the plague.

In the implementation we had a number of special circumstances that we worked with creatively.  As one columist wrote today, the race is percieved by some to be a David and Goliath situation.  So close to the truth.  In fact I have two very special t-shirts depicting the battle between David and Goliath that the columist was unaware of.

For better government and better candidates,
Pat    

by Pat Campbell on Fri Sep 22, 2006 at 02:11:46 PM PST

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DFV chimes in with a response to party financial contributor David Nierenberg's "you're all a bunch of kool-aid drinking cultists" tirade in the Columbian:

Dazed and Confused

Now that the primary is over, Dunn is emininently beatable, but now you'll see excuses from establishment Dems to sit on their hands in this race.  The HDCC website still lists Burkman as their candidate in the 17th.

by Chris Bassett on Sat Sep 23, 2006 at 03:40:37 PM PST

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Did he run this time?

Here's his info in the 2004 voter's guide.  But I heard he ran this time, as well.  Any info from anyone?

by noemie maxwell on Sat Sep 23, 2006 at 05:39:24 PM PST

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