Republicans rally at Lincoln dinner

MOSES LAKE - "Who is the next governor of Washington State?"

Grant County Republican Party Chairman Tom Dent asked the crowd of more than 170 people attending the Lincoln Day Dinner at the Moses Lake Golf and Country Club Saturday night the question several times.

Their response was always loud and unanimous.

"Dino Rossi!"

The Lincoln Day Dinner was filled with energy, enthusiasm and applause for candidates and party supporters.

Plaques and applause were given to precinct officers Chris Garing, Kyle Lynch and Beth Yarborough for their service to the Republican party.

After dinner, Evergreen Freedom Foundation President Bob Williams was the guest speaker and wife of Republican governor candidate Dino Rossi, Terry Rossi was the special guest. Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake and Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, spoke briefly about their work in the state Legislature.

Williams spoke of the need for leadership, importance of the presidential race, party beliefs and the need to set a state agenda for future government.

"Today voters are craving leadership," Williams said. "Authenticity, principled conservatism, competence and ethical standards. They will embrace it when they find it … voters in America are hungry for that type of leadership today."

Noting the news stories of Republican division over presidential candidates, he urged party members to support the chosen Republican candidate. He said it is necessary to support any candidate who will uphold the party's beliefs.

"So if you have doubts, let me give you six reasons why you must support the Republican presidential nominee … six (U.S.) Supreme Court justices will be over the age of 70 or nearing that age when the next president is sworn into office … who do you want to appoint their successors?" he asked.

Williams spoke on how the party must be unified in providing grassroots support to both presidential and governor candidates.

He quoted GOP Chair Luke Esser's analysis of the 2006 elections.

"First we didn't offer a clear positive unified vision to the voters and second we didn't organize a strong, effective statewide grassroots campaign," Williams stated.

"But the real question is did we learn from that defeat?" he asked.

He called upon Republicans to give more money, donate more time and talk to more people about the beliefs and stance of the Republican candidates.

Williams said he believes he's a Republican because he believes in a government that treats people fairly, is frugal with public money, follows good science not "emotional environmental rhetoric," offers judicial restraint, is a constitutional republic, fights for people to have opportunities, holds fidelity with God, is safe in the hands of the common man, and provides the freedom to succeed.

"Republicans will not win elections by pretending to be in the middle of the road. Citizens want leadership," Williams said.

He suggested an agenda for the Republican party in the coming elections.

Williams said the GOP should focus on limiting government in size and scope, restore voter integrity by requiring proof of citizenship, protect private property rights and limiting property taxes, develop common sense solutions to traffic congestion, defeat tax and fee increases, expose the truth about state education efforts, fight for transparent government, protect children from sex offenders, end labor unions' use of forced dues for politics, advance the free market in health care reform, and limit state spending.

Terry Rossi followed Williams, both receiving lengthy applause.

She thanked the people attending for supporting her husband and his election bids.

Terry Rossi spoke briefly on how her husband believes in placing needs over wants, insists on financial responsibility and the success of his efforts to remove about 176,000 duplicate, dead and fraudulent voters from the state tax rolls since his last run for governor.

He lost to Gov. Chris Gregoire after recounts and legal action, but by less than 200 votes, she said.

Dent later added if Grant County alone increased voter turnout for Republicans by 4 percent, they could win the next governor election.

Terry Rossi said it is the support of the people that is going to carry her husband to office. She noted how they are receiving more campaign donations than expected.

"There's no way we can lose this race again," she said.

The Grant County Republican Party presented her with a $2,000 donation for her husband's campaign.