Grant GOP holds Lincoln Day Dinner/Fundraiser

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner/Fundraiser Saturday attracted many local, state and federal office holders.

Looking out at the crowd gathered for the dinner at the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel in Moses Lake, a guest could see Fourth Congressional District Rep. Dan Newhouse, Judge David Estudillo, Prosecutor Garth Dano, Sen. Judy Warnick, Representatives Tom Dent and Matt Manweller and several other leaders from the Columbia Basin and beyond. The dinner itself was the Grant County GOP’s biggest event of the year and annually raises thousands of dollars for the party.

“We don’t charge membership dues at the Grant GOP. So this is our fundraiser. We might make $6,000 tonight. And then that is what we operate on throughout the year, unless we have something else like a picnic or something to get more money,” Ann Mix explained. “Our operating budget isn’t real high. We have a lot of volunteers and rely on our volunteers.”

The Lincoln Day Dinner featured a variety of different items up for bid during both the silent and live auctions. Attendees were also able to purchase raffle tickets in hopes of taking home a 50-inch television. The event at its core is an opportunity for local GOP members to get together and show a public presence of solitude in the wake of a fractured political climate.

“Right now we have so many things coming at us that are negative. It’s a boost to get together with like-minded people. We keep each other informed about what is going on and then also the camaraderie,” Mix explained. “Camaraderie is really important, especially right now to unite us because we are being attacked from so many corners. It’s just unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The headliner for the dinner was Washington State Treasurer Duane Davidson, who has eastern Washington ties. He previously served as Benton County treasurer in 2003, a position he held for four terms. Before he was elected as county treasurer, Davidson was serving as the chief financial accountant for Benton County.

The outcomes from the dinner are no doubt various, as people who have the power to make serious changes locally, regionally and nationally were present during the event. But perhaps the most important outcome, or success from events such as the one on Saturday, was to ramp up the excitement for the things the GOP has wished would become a reality for years, decades even, that are now becoming a reality under President Donald Trump.

“Republicans are traditionally not so out there. They don’t fight back usually. They have always been that way, but right now we are fighting back. And one of the things we really like about Trump is that he is fighting. He’s fighting for us," Mix said. “And that has gotten people more excited and willing to stick their neck out and get involved."

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.