Holmquist opens campaign in Grant County

Fishing event gathers county GOP leaders

The race is officially on for Janea Holmquist.

The state representative, R-Moses Lake, opened her campaign for re-election with a "Sure Catch Kick-Off" fishing event Friday evening.

Surrounded by a number of prominent county and district Republicans, Holmquist asked the dozens of supporters who arrived at Moses Lake businessman Roy Warnick's home to help her elect more Republicans to state office. She told her audience that if they agreed with her stance on issues, "I am going to need you."

State Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, said that with Holmquist facing Democrat challenger Dale Hubbard, Republicans could not take anything for granted. Hinkle said it was important to keep Holmquist in the state House of Representatives.

"We need a majority to fix our state," he said. "Part of that is keeping Janea and supporting her fully. We can't afford to lose her."

Grant County Republican Party chairman Tom Dent praised Holmquist for knowing what is right and staying strong on issues. He said county Republicans had to have the courage to talk to people to help elect party members to office.

"(U.S. Rep.) George Nethercutt can be our next U.S. Senator and (former state Sen.) Dino Rossi can be our next governor," Dent said. "We can overcome King County with our votes."

Grant County Republican state committee man Ron Baker shared Dent's optimism saying he was positive Holmquist was going to be re-elected, and that he looked forward to working with her for the next two years.

The election in November will be the first non-primary election for Holmquist, who was appointed to her post and then ran unopposed in the general elections of 2002. At the event, Holmquist reminded her supporters of some of the highlights of her time in office.

Among them, she mentioned the balancing of the budget without raising new taxes. "We can do it again next year," she said.

Holmquist pledged to work to protect water and property rights if re-elected. She said that recent water and property rights legislation showed that representatives can put together laws that make sense. She spoke of legislation that closed loopholes getting drunken drivers off on technicalities, as well.

She said reforming health care in the state was one of the areas where there was work to be done. "Our system does not allow our small businesses to provide health care to their employees," she said.

She added that one of her goals was to help the House Republican Caucus control the rule-making ability of state agencies, as well as getting more Republicans in office.

"If you haven't had the chance to listen to Rossi's message, I hope you will. He is the answer to our prayers," she said.