Picton promises to fight for the 'little guy'

EPHRATA — Lewis Picton is running for central Washington's 4th Congressional District because he wants to put a stop to both the increasing federal debt being dumped on future generations and the war in Iraq, which he calls a "fiasco."

Picton, a Democrat from Manson, blames the Bush administration, Republican incumbent Rep. Doc Hastings and Congress for increasing federal debt.

And don't expect Picton to do it quietly.

"The fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush-Hastings wrecking crew will be coming home to roost," he said. "Bush-Hastings has helped the rich get richer and mortgaged the future of the next two generations who will have to pay the bill. They deliberately reversed a very sound fiscal policy established by (former) President (Bill) Clinton."

Serving in the U. S. House of Representatives puts him at "ground zero" of this and other political debates impacting the next generation, Picton said. That's why he decided to run.

"I have two young sons and I feel that Bush-Hastings are taking this country down a very dangerous road," he said. "No real man dumps so much debt onto the back of his kids and grandkids."

Picton, 52, a merchant seaman who frequently works off the coast of Alaska as a cruise-ship pilot, says his background enables him to work on issues facing the 4th Congressional District with a world-wide perspective.

"The world is very interconnected now and we cannot ignore or avoid the people and challenges beyond our borders," he said. "Internationally, Bush-Hastings has alienated most of the world with their arrogant, ignorant, and violent actions. These clowns have caused so much harm to our nation it will take an entire generation to assess the damage and begin the repairs."

Picton promises to be honest with the people of central Washington and confront them with the problems and challenges they face. Big changes and sacrifice are required, he said.

Among the biggest is the failure of the federal government, he said, calling it wasteful, intrusive and counterproductive. The federal government must be dismantled, while power and resources are returned to the individual states, he said.

The country must resolve the issues of privacy, abortion, firearms, and separation of church and state, he said. "Then our nation can deal with the real challenges of the 21st century."

He's concerned for the soldiers in Iraq, who he said are fighting a war that continues to worsen American interests.

"The fiasco in Iraq will get worse before it gets better, and I don't think it ever will get better," he said.

"This is a mostly rural district and it has sent a lot of good people to the military," he said. "The danger our fellow citizens face in Iraq and our concern for them will overhang the district like an inversion fog."

During the campaign, and in answering questions for the Columbia Basin Herald, Picton made good on his promise to offer voters a more confrontational style of Democrat.

"It is time to raise some hell and call out these Republican liars and war profiteers," he said. Democratic voters, he claims, have waited for a candidate willing to "throw some elbows."

Picton's opponent in the Sept. 19 primary, Kennewick Democratic candidate Richard Wright, provides voters a less feisty alternative.

The primary winner advances to the Nov. 7 general election to face the winner of the Republican primary between Hastings and Kennewick's Claude Oliver.

"Mr. Wright is a good man who has accomplished much and has much to offer," Picton said. "I offer a more confrontational style of Democrat because the Republicans have been getting away with fiscal and international murder. I think it will bring out more Democrats."