“Seaview Coalition” – Tiffany Oakes, Nansen Malin, Jim Sayce

At our Friday Night Gathering last evening, the conversation quickly centered on the late-breaking news about J. D. Rosetti’s (D. Longview) appointment to Dean Takko’s seat in the Washington State House of Representatives. Most of us had seen the results of the 15-commissioner-meeting on social media and we were still pretty much gob-smacked. Except, of course, for neighbor Frank Wolfe, our very own commissioner who was there.

We had a gazillion questions for Frank – mostly about the rather convoluted process that is used to appoint an interim replacement for a vacant seat in the Washington State legislature. In the first selection go-round earlier in the month, Tiffany Oakes Turner from Long Beach handily won the nod. Despite the fact that women seldom have been chosen/elected to represent our 19^th District, most of us thought that the final choice was more-or-less a shoe-in. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

Chinook Observer, Oct. 21, 2015

Apparently, the commissioners from the other four counties represented at the final selection meeting on Thursday had other plans. Against all odds, they voted pretty much in a block for the Longview man. As Chinook Observer reporter St. John wrote on that afternoon’s e-edition:

But in the end, neither the PCO [Precinct Committee Officers] recommendation nor the popular support for Turner carried much weight with the commissioners, and Rossetti’s documented history of drug-use, harassment and conflicting public and private behavior didn’t sway them either — Rossetti handily defeated his opponents, taking 12 of 15 votes, to Turner’s two votes, and Sayce’s single vote.

Jim on the Campaign Trail

The entire decision smacks of good ol’ boys and back room deals. The only bright spots have been the reactions of Rosetti’s two opponents – ‘our own’ Tiffany Turner and Jim Sayce. No grousing, no speculating —  just positive-moving-forward steps. Tiffany has already filed to run for the seat in the November 2016 election and her supporters are gathering steam for a serious campaign.

I’m not sure whether Jim has filed, but his upbeat comments on FB make me hopeful: Hey peeps! Home safe from Cowlitz County after an incredible 52 days and 3000 driving miles of lobbying for the 19th legislative district representative position. A bit stressful because I was the outlier and knew it from nearly the beginning. JD Rosetti was appointed, Tiffany Oakes Turner was 2nd and I 3rd… I could write a novel…Thanks all for your support! Who knows what tomorrow brings!

Well said, Jim! Whatever is in store, I hope the decisions are made out here in the open. Back rooms and old boys should be history by now. Let’s make that happen!