McKenna visits Moses Lake Thursday

MOSES LAKE - With election day looming, gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Rob McKenna stopped in Moses Lake Thursday for a brief rally with Grant County supporters at C&V Auto.

McKenna stressed the importance of urging other county residents to vote next week, and thanked supporters for their hard work over the past months.

He said with about 33,000 registered voters in Grant County, it was important they have a voice in this election.

"We know that when Eastern Washington turns out, good things happen," McKenna said.

McKenna is the Republican candidate for Washington state governor this election. He campaigns against U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

Moses Lake was McKenna's 18th stop on his most recent statewide tour. According to campaign organizers, McKenna is on an eight-day campaign tour, which started in Bellevue, and will have visited 30 venues by the time he returns to the west side.

The gubernatorial candidate also visited Spokane and Ellensburg Thursday, before continuing on to other parts of the state.

Moses Lake resident Ivan Schultz said the economy is one of the major issues Grant County voters want candidates to address during this election.

"Finances are the biggest thing," he said. "We're being crippled with excess taxes and misaligned revenues out here."

Schultz said he supports McKenna's bid for Washington state governor because he believes McKenna will keep this region's best interests in mind if elected.

"We want someone who is sincere about the needs of this area," he said.

With election day drawing closer, Schultz said he urges county residents to not only vote, but vote smart.

"It's so easy these days, you can research anything on the Internet," he said. "Research the candidates, both of them and see what's going on."

Schultz said that regardless of which candidate residents end up supporting, the important thing is that they vote.

Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said he is confident McKenna will address Grant County law enforcement needs if he is elected governor.

"He has taken a hardline stance on fighting meth, sexual predators, domestic violence and the one closest to my heart is gang violence," he said. "He's taken a big role not only in our county but in the state of Washington."

McKenna said that he will make safety in Grant County, as well as across the state, a top priority if elected.

"We will work together even more on gang violence issues and other issues in the county," McKenna said. "You need a governor who puts public safety first."

McKenna also said that since the declining Odessa aquifer is a major concern for people in the region, he will make it a priority of his as well if he is elected.

He said he put together a solid plan for the protection of the aquifer, since water is a vital resource in Eastern Washington.

McKenna said that he will support economic development in Grant County as well. With new industries making their way to the area, he said there is great potential for job creation in Grant County.

"There's data centers here now, for example, and other various industries," said McKenna. He said that trend is something that should continue.