MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS, MOSCOW, IDAHO | SARAH MASON |
WASHINGTON PRIMARY ELECTION:
Candidate aims to reach across party lines in Columbia Basin Project: Legislative hopeful Glen Stockwell says project will stimulate Washington's economy
WASHINGTON PRIMARY ELECTION:
Candidate aims to reach across party lines in Columbia Basin Project: Legislative hopeful Glen Stockwell says project will stimulate Washington's economy
Aug. 13--CANDIDATE BIO
Name: Glen Stockwell
Running for: District 9 legislative representative
Age: 60
Party Affiliation: Republican
Occupation: Owner of a trucking and freight brokerage company in Ritzville, Wash.
Experience: Former member of the Columbia Basin Development League
Editor's note: The following story on Glen Stockwell is the second of a two-part series on the candidates for Washington House District 9 representative. A story on Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax,, Stockwell's opponent in the race, appeared in Thursday's Daily News.
The future for Washingtonians holds one of three options, Glen Stockwell said. Residents will either see a continued decrease in services, an increase in taxes or the generation of new revenue. Not only does Stockwell support the creation of new revenue in the state, but he said he has a plan to create the necessary revenue and jobs to get Washington back on its feet.
"This is the only project that will actually dramatically change Washington state's multi-billion dollar deficit," Stockwell said.
During his campaign for 9th District Legislator this year, Stockwell is championing the Columbia Basin Project, a $3 billion project that uses water from Lake Roosevelt to irrigate land in eastern Washington. The project was started by President Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s, and Stockwell said for years he has fought to complete the work.
"The pumps have been in the water," he said. "All they have to do is just turn it on."
Stockwell said his plan involves forming "Washington State Green Team" with President Barack Obama and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and other legislators to make the project feasible.
"Patty Murray and President Obama can be the two people, along with myself, and we can be like the three musketeers," he said.
Stockwell said he would work with Obama and Murray to figure out a way to fund the project and with Secretary of Commerce, and former Washington governor, Garry Locke to develop a funding program.
Completing such a project will require working across party lines, something Stockwell said he is eager to do. Though he's listed on primary ballots as a Republican, he considers himself an "old-style FDR Democrat" who does not act based on party lines. Stockwell is also a member of the Tea Party movement, according to his website.
Stockwell said he is disappointed that local legislators such as Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and his competition Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, have not come forward with similar plans to invigorate the state's economy."
Joe is a nice human being, but he keeps going to Olympia with no project plans," he said.
Stockwell said he graduated with a masters from the "school of hard-knocks" and has campaigned for multiple positions in Washington to no avail, including his campaign for the Washington State Legislature in 2009.
Stockwell said he hopes to campaign for the U.S. Congress in 2013.
Stockwell and his opponent, Schmick, will appear on the primary ballots in District 9, which have already been disseminated in Whitman County.Ballots are due to the county auditor Aug. 17.
Sarah Mason can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by e-mail to [email protected]