State Representative Glenn Anderson (R-Fall City) officially announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor in the November 2012 elections Monday, Jan. 9.
“We all know that our nation and state face exceptionally challenging circumstances. This situation requires very hard work and creativity to recapture the American Dream in Washington,” Anderson said in a press release. “Olympia must step out of its comfort zone of bending to organized special interests – of both the left and the right – to empower the greater, common good.”
Anderson will face Democrat Brad Owen, of Shelton, in the race. Owen has been in the office since 1996. According to The Olympian, Republican Bill Finkbeiner, a former Senate majority leader from Kirkland, announced last month he is running. Also in the race is a less-well-known Party of Commons candidate, Clifford Mark Greene of Bellevue.
“The current Lieutenant Governor has now served 16 consecutive years, and is seeking re-election to a fifth term. What will the citizens of the state get in the next four years that they failed to achieve in the last 16 from the incumbent?”
The release said Glenn Anderson 2012 campaign will focus on re-energizing the Lieutenant Governor’s office as a force for thoughtful independent thinking and advocacy in solving Wahsington's problems.
Anderson said he plans to emphasize the creation of new, family-wage, private sector jobs; assuring that K-12 schools, colleges and universities are adequately funded and held accountable for results; rebuilding Washington's social services safety net to assure it provides a hand-up to opportunity and achievement while honoring human dignity, not dependency, on government; and demanding state government live within the taxpayers’ means to provide essential services.
“The most fundamental characteristic of Americans is our optimistic, can-do attitude. That is why our pride is hurt when we recognize the dark path that we are travelling down. Our children are now indebted servants to foreign powers. We lack family-wage private-sector jobs that provide stability for our families and communities. There is an appalling decline in the average level of education that forecasts a better future. And, there are real questions about maintaining public safety and social services. This is not the American Dream we cherish,” Anderson said in the release.
“I do not believe that we have to accept such a negative situation and idly await our fate. It’s my belief that the common ground we share is truly stronger than that which divides us. We ALL can do better to create a common sense, prosperous and fair future for our children and ourselves. It is time to act."
Once the 2012 Legislative Session concludes around March 8, Anderson will begin campaigning in eaernest for the Office of Lieutenant Governor. The relase said that he plans to fulfill his obligations to the 5th district in the Legislative Session before engaging in the upcoming contest for higher office.
