Rossi speaks at Lincoln dinner

Adams County Republicans host candidate

RITZVILLE - Republican candidate for governor Dino Rossi spoke to people attending the 2008 Adams County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday.

The program included a social hour, silent auction, live auction, Color-guard presentation, invocation, dinner and several guest speakers.

Adams County Republican Party Chair Robert Fuller delivered the county message. Washington State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser delivered the state message.

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna mentioned several conventions the leaders visited earlier in the day.

"What a great way to end the day, with a fabulous group of Republicans here in Adams County," McKenna said.

He said it is great to see people of all "stripes" excited about the system and election for president. He spoke of the peoples' fortune to live in a place where the people can govern themselves.

McKenna spoke about accomplishments made during his term in office, including winning the battles against methamphetamine and identity theft.

He said Republicans are going to work hard to elect and re-elect the representatives in the room and other Republicans.

"All I want to say is, visualize Dino Rossi as governor, Rob McKenna as attorney general," McKenna said. "It's pretty exciting."

U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers said it was disappointing to lose status as majority party in 2006.

Republicans are standing against wasteful spending, she said.

"I'm proud of being part of a team that's committed to fiscal responsibility," she said.

She spoke for health care centered on the individual and against foreign-oil dependency.

McMorris-Rodgers thanked precinct officers for their work and said they must identify supporters and get them to vote in 2008.

"What starts in Adams County builds the momentum for the state level, builds the momentum for the national level," she said.

State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-9th Dist., spoke of his service.

"It's been a real honor to be the first senator from Adams County in 90 years," Schoesler said.

He compared the budget with one from two years ago with a $2 billion surplus to current one with a projected deficit $2.4 billion. He named several expenses in the budget, including $175,000 for the governor to hire a business liaison and $250,000 for the Seattle Storm basketball team.

"If you start adding it all up, pretty soon, it's real money," he said.

Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland talked about the role of his office and what a joy it is to run a business benefiting people in the state.

The topics of Rossi's speech included finding the voters needed to beat Gov. Chris Gregoire, treating members of the public as customers, fiscal spending, and ignoring "naysayers."

"I want to know something from you folks. Are you ready to finish what we started?" Rossi asked.

His question resulted in applause from the audience.

He said more than 22,000 people contributed to his campaign in the first four months. During his entire campaign in the last election, there were 30,000 contributors. His campaign in 2004 raised $1.2 million. This time they raised more than $3 million so far.

He noted his supporters included Democrats, who called themselves "Dinocrats."

He said a common theme from voters is they wanted him to win and didn't think he could win. They didn't help find voters, even though they knew people who could vote for him.

"Are you going to help me find those 129 people?" he asked the audience, referencing the number of votes he lost by in 2004.

Rossi focused on the idea of treating members of the public as customers, examining Gregoire's leadership.

He said $280 million for ferries and $30 million for flooding in Lewis County is sitting untouched. He said Gregoire let 3,100 violent felons out of prison early. He said the state budget increased by 33 percent, equivalent to $5.7 million per day in new spending.

The spending growth rate is 2.5 times more than the revenue growth rate, Rossi said.

He said when he was in the senate, he proved government could be fiscally and socially responsible at the same time.

"Those things are not mutually exclusive," he said.

Rossi assured voters the election system is different this year, with changes including the creation of a statewide database, leading to the elimination of more than 400,000 names of people who cannot legally vote.

Several people were indicted and imprisoned for election fraud, he added.

"Is it perfect?" he asked. "No. But it's not the same playing field we were on."

Rossi concluded his speech with a discussion of "naysayers."

He spoke of his mother's hard work in bettering the life for herself and her children despite people's criticisms.

He said he worked several jobs, including working in construction and as a janitor, to graduate from Seattle University.

He said he took a janitorial job while building a career as a real-estate agent. People told him he could not make money in the business.

At age 25, he bought his first apartment building.

When he wanted to run for senator, he heard more criticism.

One person asked, "Who is going to vote for some guy whose name sounds like some kind of wine, and a screw-top wine at that?" Rossi said.

Rossi said naysayers are going to say now that he cannot beat an incumbent.

In the latest polls, Rossi was favored by 47 percent and Gregoire was favored by 46 percent, Rossi said. He said Gregoire has never received more than 50 percent of votes against him in a legitimate poll.

"With your help, we're going to win again," Rossi said.