By Grant Fredericks — The LeClaire Report
The Fourth of July fills Eastern Washington with flags, and it should. But the loudest form of patriotism is not today’s parades, or tonight’s fireworks. It is what we all will do on Election Day. And between now and the primary on August 4, tomorrow is important, Sunday, July 5.
At 2 p.m., the Spokesman-Review and the Spokane Public Library will host a forum for candidates in the Fifth Congressional District at the downtown Central Library.¹ Every candidate has been invited. Our current Congressman Michael Baumgartner has chosen not to attend. When he launched his re-election in early May, he indicated he was too busy to meet his constituents on a competitive stage.
So, the patriotic assignment is ours. Voting for the right candidate at this moment, with all that threatens the economy, the country’s security and our democracy, calls for each of us to look beyond any single hot button issue. Defeating a Republican in CD-5 requires unity behind the right candidate. The person we send to Washington casts the district’s one vote on federal spending, impacting health security, housing security, food security, education, agriculture and policies that protect the rights and dignity for everyone living in this country. The right candidate will focus on reclaiming the authority of the power of the purse from the executive branch. The next democratically led Congress will have to investigate corruption, interpret the law, and cross-examine witnesses under oath in many committee hearings already being planned. While new legislation under Democratic leadership will make efforts to rein in executive corruption, the people’s house must still write bills to keep the government functioning as it rebuilds support for a more representative union. At this moment, a ballot cast on a single grievance, the price of gas, on immigration or even on the frustration many feel about the past shortcomings of the Democratic Party, will gift the seat back to Baumgartner.
Which is why Sunday is a test to give the candidates, not just an event to attend. Listen to how they answer. Be skeptical of the ones who promise to make life affordable again, or the candidate who promises to fix everything, but never says how. Be wary of the candidate who argues that the sky is falling, and only he or she can fix it. Consider, as you listen to each presentation, whether this candidate can work effectively within the Democratic Party caucus to influence legislation that will impact this district.. What committees will this candidate be assigned to by party leadership that will meaningfully advantage Eastern Washington and the rest of the country. A first-term member of the House cannot overturn a Supreme Court ruling, outlaw corporate money by force of will, or promise free health care to all; a candidate who makes those pledges is performative, not aspirational. Ask instead the question the job demands: can this person read a statute, follow the money, and hold a powerful official to account when the cameras are off.
That standard rewards a particular kind of preparation demonstrated through experience, common sense and a proven understanding of how government is built to work.
The Fourth of July calls to us, not only to celebrate our 250 years of self-government, but to do the homework it asks of each of us, to ensure we can celebrate our 251st year.
Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m., the Central Library downtown. Free tickets are available at https://www.spokesman.com/northwest-passages/events/candidate-forum/
Bring your questions and listen carefully to the answers. There is a real chance this cycle that the right person on that stage will be our next member of Congress.
They are not allowing questions from the audience. So I’m not going to