Dani Bolyard encouraged by 35% of vote

COULEE CITY - Most people would find it a daunting task to overcome a 65-35 defeat in anything. But Dani Bolyard of tiny Coulee City is excited about the rematch with Tom Dent of Moses Lake.

Bolyard and Dent, both former leaders of the Grant County Republican Party, are the only two people who competed for the Washington State House seat from the 13th district in the primary election. They compete again until the November election.

Neither Bolyard nor Dent had great name recognition, but businessman Dent probably had more because of the nature of his work. Dent ran away 13,249 votes to 7,257.

Instead of being dour, however, Bolyard was ebullient. She said her door-knocking campaign fared well against Dent's high-budget effort.

"Thirty-five percent is exactly where I expected to be at this point in the race," Bolyard said.

Because of Washington's top-2 primary election system, Bolyard knew this would be a long game. She said she didn't expect to be on top at the halfway mark because of how a doorbelling campaign works.

Yes, old fashioned doorbelling campaign. Bolyard had little money for TV, radio or print advertising.

Some volunteers knocked on doors, but it was Bolyard herself at most stoops, stairways and patios at the 18 communities visited. Some voters were stunned to see her, or any candidate, there.

There are 10, with a large number of voters, to go.

"It takes quite a bit of energy to do that, and I'm not out of energy yet," Bolyard said. "That won't change. My intent is still to make personal contact with as many voters as possible, because voters matter more than money."

"I want to know what concerns the voters have, what they do and don't like about their government's activities, and what they expect from me," Bolyard said. "The only way to do that is to meet them face to face."

"We hope to attend a few public debates where voters can hear for themselves the differences between my opponent and me," Bolyard added. "I'd also love to attend any public meetings of community groups where I can listen, learn and even speak."

Bolyard disagrees with Dent on several issues, and she pointed to three.

* Gun rights: "I believe both initiatives currently on the ballot are destructive to our 2nd Amendment rights, our state constitutional rights under Article 1, Section 24, and our state's right to manage its own internal affairs without federal intervention. I do not support I-591 because of a weasel clause."

* Social issues like abortion. "While I, like him, support life at all stages, I also understand that the federal government must not have any say in these matters. According to our federal Constitution, these issues are left to the states, and the federal government is banned from intervening.

"The reasoning of our founding fathers was that a government closer to the people is more accountable to the people. When the federal government supersedes the authority and will of the people, it is far less likely to be corrected than at the state level. I intend to protect the voters of our state and their right to decide closer to home how to address these issues."

The Representative's role: "I believe every voter - every member in the process - has a right to participate. My practice has consistently been to give every constituent the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. This practice will not change. It is foundational to our Republic, and I have always held to that principle."