Rossi visited Othello to thank supporters

Urged people to vote

OTHELLO - Republican governor candidate Dino Rossi visited the Othello Senior Center Saturday afternoon as part of his campaign victory tour.

Rossi came to Othello to thank people for support and to urge them to remind others to vote.

He said he has approximately 50,000 contributors statewide, which he says is a state record for a governor candidate.

"There's no town too small because I actually plan on being governor of the whole state of Washington," Rossi said about his campaign motto.

If elected, he says he will work to decrease the state deficit. He said he estimates a $3.2 billion deficit by the end of Gov. Christine Gregoire's current term. He claims she blames others for the deficit and plans to raise taxes.

If elected, Rossi says he will eliminate the death tax.

"These problems are too big for one party to solve," he said.

Rossi said he has bipartisan support. He said several Democrats now call themselves "Dino-crats."

If elected, he hopes to make Washington a bad place for criminals and a good place to conduct business. He wants to strengthen criminal punishments and create a friendlier business atmosphere.

He said helping small businesses will help decrease unemployment by making more jobs available.

"What this state needs right now is a leader," Rossi said. "This is our year if we get out the vote. Together we are going to restore the greatness this state once knew."

Congressman Doc Hastings, R-4th District, came to the event to support Rossi.

"I just can't emphasize how important this is in order to get the vote," he said.

Hastings urged people to vote, register to vote and register others to vote.

During the event, guests traded information to recruit others to register to vote.

Kelly Acers traveled from Seattle to follow Rossi's weekend campaign tour in protest.

Outside the senior center building, he quietly held a large sign stating, "Dino Rossi wants to lower the minimum wage."

"We just want to get the message across to voters that he wants to lower wages by $1.50," Acers said. "We think that's very unfair. We think the minimum wage is very important."

It was not confirmed if Rossi plans to lower the minimum wage.

More than 50 people supporting Rossi attended the Othello stop of the tour.

"He's very supportive of the issues in Adams County," Adams County Republican Party Chairman Bob Fuller said. "He's very attentive to what is happening in the Columbia Basin."

He said Rossi visited Adams County at least four times since he was an official Republican Party candidate. Gregoire has not visited Adams County once, he said.

Fuller said it's important for candidates to make their presence known so voters know they are represented.

"Our candidate is getting out and meeting people," he said. "I'm not taking our Republican voters for granted. The party is strong."

After Rossi's Othello visit, he was scheduled to meet with citizens in Quincy.