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CAROL MOSER LAUNCHES LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN - April 2, 2008
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Carol Moser
627-5198
moserzone@charter.net
Good Afternoon! Thank you for joining me today! I would to recognize a number of elected officials who are here with me today. Rep. Bill Grant, Majority Caucus Chair of Walla Walla, Benton County Commissioner Leo Bowman, Franklin County Commissioner, Neva Corkrum, Richland Mayor John Fox of Richland, Richland City Council members Rita Mazur, Sheila Sullivan and Dave Rose, Prosser City Councilman, Steve Becken, Lynn Johnson, Councilman from Benton City, Tri-Citian of the Year George Garlick, and I would like to recognize my husband, Ken Moser.
Thank you all again for being here with me in this special place, Richland’s “A Place for All Ages”. It seems like yesterday when we were dedicating this building and encouraging people to use it. I’m sure that I speak for many people here that we are proud to have played a part in its development.
Today it is with great excitement that I am announcing my candidacy for the State Legislature. I am running for the House of Representatives, Position 1, as a democrat. This is the position in which Representative Shirley Hankins served us so well for 24 years, and we should all appreciate and acknowledge the time, energy, and dedication she has given to our region.
Those of you who have followed my career understand the way I make decisions; I do my homework in defining the issue, gather the necessary information, seek input and the experience of others, consider the options, test them with others, then make the decision I think is in the best interest of the citizens. I have approached this election in the same manner; carefully, but deliberately. Given the priorities of our district and our state, I not only want to be your Representative, but I want to be at the table when developing policy and funding projects. As the fastest growing, and the 4th largest metropolitan area in the state, it is important that both sides of the isle understand the needs of our District.
I am running for this office because I believe that I have the background, skills, and experience that is needed to protect our interests, and to keep our priorities on the front burner. I come to this race with a great deal of proven leadership and results. My relationships at the local, state, and national level have helped build bridges and forge partnerships which have resulted in some important projects, and programs for our district: this Community Center, the additional lanes on Highway 240 between Richland and Kennewick, the first Smart Growth/Livable Communities Forum, the final trail link of the Sacagawea Heritage trail between Kennewick and Richland, the cable casting of Richland’s City Council meetings, the Tapteal Business Park, the revitalization of Richland’s Parkway, and Badger Mountain Park to name a few.
I am proud to have been an advocate and partner in bringing these projects to fruition, but I’m ready to take the next step. My experience on the Washington State Transportation Commission has confirmed that the final work on policy development is the State Legislature’s responsibility, and a lot can happen or not, towards the end of a legislative session. This is where I think I can be of most benefit to you in Olympia as a democrat. It is one thing to introduce legislation, it is another to get it heard through committee, through rules, onto the floor, and into the Governor’s hands. Working as a team with our other legislators, Senators Delvin and Hewitt, Representative Haler, Representative Grant and Representative Walsh, the partnerships that I have developed at the Council level, and the knowledge that I have learned at the Commission level will serve all of us well at the Legislative level.
Where does my passion for policy come from? I guess it is knowing that really good policy lays the foundation for future success. It is like having a good road map versus a sketch on the back of a napkin. We are lucky that we have so many partners in our District laying the foundation. Partners like the Cities, the County, Tri-dec, the Ports, the Chambers of Commerce, the Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Health District, United Way, the Ben-Franklin Transit, our Hospitals, our Irrigation Districts, and so many others. It will be my challenge in Olympia to connect the roads so that they lead to success.
I would love to be your advocate in Olympia. I will ask for state support for research and development in energy, agriculture, and our life science industries. I’ll help carry the torch to improve our transportation infrastructure for business and tourism. Together we will build on our successes at WSU-Tri-Cities and CBC to grow more 4-year programs and workforce training, and I will fight to give local government the tools to maintain public services and promote the quality of life for our citizens. I will be compassionate towards the needs of our disadvantaged, and your partner is helping government reduce the burdens on small businesses, yet fight for the opportunity to keep labor in Washington strong and employed. And through it all, I will strive to ensure that we keep those features and places that define us as a community, protected, but accessible.
I have no doubt that this District, with its brainpower, its compassion, and its values can be the model of success for the rest of the state. It already has, in many cases. Please help me, help you in continuing to be that example of partnership, cooperation, and compassion. To that end, I will be doing my homework over the next several months, gathering information, listening to your input, learning from your experience, knocking on your doors, and understanding your issues. I will be attending your meetings and doing my research, so when it comes time to represent you in Olympia, I will hit the ground running, and I will be on the front line.
Thank you.
If there are any questions, I would be happy to answer them.
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