Sandy Matheson to run for Congress

Calling herself a problem solver, Tri-Cities businesswoman Sandy Matheson is running as a Democrat for the 4th District's congressional seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings.

Matheson said she is running because she thinks the district is "facing very serious challenges" in areas such as economy, jobs, education, security and the cost of health care.

She said that what makes her a good candidate is the fact that "I have an extensive background" on these areas. "I worked in my community to address these issues."

As an example for the education field, she mentioned her current job as an adjunct instructor for Washington State University, a stint as a school board member, as well as a time as a member of an advisory board at WSU and at Columbia Basin College.

In health care, Matheson said she spent a decade as a member of a Tri-Cities hospital board, along with seven years as board president for the Kennewick General Hospital.

There, Matheson said, "I dealt with issues we deal with today, such as cost containment, and the quality of health care."

The Denver-born Matheson, living in the district since 1976, was chief executive at the Hanford Environmental Health Foundation, an institution focused on delivering occupational health care.

In business, she mentioned her experience as a business consultant, and her recent tenure as chairwoman of the Tri-City Industrial Development Council. Matheson holds a Master's degree in business administration from WSU.

"I have a good track record of addressing issues in these areas," she said.

Matheson, who has never run for a partisan office, and whose experience in elected posts comes from her time at the hospital board, declined to compare herself to Craig Mason or Richard Wright, the other two Democratic candidates who hope to win the primaries in September, and seek to unseat the Pasco congressman.

Matheson predicted the differences between her, the two Democratic hopefuls, and Hastings, will show throughout the course of the campaign, although she declined to say what those differences were.

"Right now I am not addressing the other candidates," she said. "I am working to define myself as a candidate."

The way she is defining herself, she said, is as "an independent voice for central Washington."

Matheson said there was a need to address the issues for the people of the district, and that she did not think partisan approaches are in their best interest.

"The issues in the district do lot line up with a party. You need to be voting the issues and not the parties." For Matheson, a vote that is entirely based on party lines does not address the issues.

Matheson said that her past support of Republican candidates such as Hastings and former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, stems from what she sees as her support of the political process.

"I have tremendous respect for people who step up for public service," she said. "I approach things with an open mind, and when you do that, you don't fit easily into labels. Labels tend to be confining."

Despite this, she said she does not find it difficult to run as a Democrat.

"I believe in people," she said. "The Democratic Party looks out for the needs of the people, and that is what I look out for, as well."

The 4th District has become a Republican stronghold, with Hastings winning re-election bids four consecutive times. Matheson believes that the issues facing the district can cross party lines.

"This is a wonderful district of independent-minded people," she said.

Although most of her career as a public servant has taken place in the Tri-Cities area, Matheson said that as far as Grant County is concerned, people need to make sure "our economy and our farming are strong."

Matheson said that as she travels through the district, she is learning more about the specifics of all the areas. She added that the topics of concern for the people in the county are similar to those affecting people in other parts of the district.

"Fundamentally, I am committed to helping strengthen the economy," she said. "Sustaining family-wage, long-term jobs, improving education and reducing the cost of health care."