WHY RUN?

Many people over the years have asked me to run for political office, both Republicans and Democrats. (I have been a Democrat and a Republican off and on, depending on Party Policy, Programs, and Performance. Both Parties have now abandoned me, as I am a moderate -- in the middle, which means I don't hold extreme positions.

(My Motto is "Reason NOT Extremism") I am not a MAGA supporter, thus alienated from the current Republican regime -- President Trump and MAGA leaders have seen their popularity fall precipitously to almost 30%, with over 60% not in favor of what they are doing to the USA and its citizens. Democratic leaders (Senator Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani) are Socialists. I can't abide by that at all, and I do not think most Americans support that agenda. Recognizing that not all Democrats and Republicans fall into those camps, their voices are nonetheless muffled, if not ignored by the Extremists.

All politics is local, and with the country in a crisis, I want to listen to, advocate for, and help the people of the Inland Empire in the 5th Congressional District. We face growing inflation, whereby the cost of a gallon of gas has increased by 60% with this ill-begotten "War of Choice" involving Iran...and no practical end in sight. Inflation is rising quickly in every part of our economy, and many businesses (big and small) are failing due to high, unrecoverable costs. People are losing their jobs or being temporarily laid off. Our very way of life is being threatened at its core with lots of talk by politicians, but very little real action.

I want the farmers in the Palouse to get back their tariff refunds asap. Farming and AG are vital to this region. Tariff-bullying was never even contemplated in the Economics and International Trade & Finance courses I have taught over the years. Consumers always pay the price increases from the misuse of tariffs. (I have managed a 100-year-old family farm for several years and it is getting more and more difficult to meet rising costs, deal with unstable prices, often incomprehensible floods of government paperwork and insurance compliance, not to mention finding good people to work in the face of the terrorizing of legal immigrants.)

Environmental protection of our precious forests and land is crucial, as fire danger is on the rise, with National Forest Rangers unable to hire seasonal workers to fight fires and mitigate disasters, due to Trump's funding cuts.

THIS HAS TO STOP! As a lawyer, I know how to confront those that lie and steal. I have been trained as an advocate, to speak truth to power; yet, at my core I am a consensus-builder, imbued with finding workable solutions to complex problems, if possible. If not, I can fight very hard for what's right and for respect.

Sadly, our universities and colleges are under attack by this Administration through 1) withholding existing funding that is statutorily dedicated to them, 2) scaring away top international students amidst already-declining enrollments from demographic changes, and 3) attempts to punish the Western United States for not supporting the President in the last election.

We've lived in Spokane for over 11 years, and we plan to stay here until the day we die. We love it -- we love the people and the culture, based around humility, fairness, and a history of continuous striving for improvement in our lives and the lives of our children. We love the focus on smart Economic Development in various neighborhoods in Spokane. We love the climate and the four seasons.

We love our faith-based institutions; the gorgeous and most productive wheat fields in the world in the Palouse; the B1 and B2 Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament which together with Hoopfest makes Spokane the 'Basketball Capital of America'; the beautiful Spokane River Falls downtown (that no other city its size or larger has in its central district); the focus at the university level on entrepreneurship and small businesses leading to job creation and economic versatility; seven great universities and colleges academically, which also effectively compete in athletics while being underfunded, dismissively treated, and under-recognized/underappreciated -- yet nonetheless succeed wildly as underdogs (Go Zags, Go Cougs, Go Bucs, Go Eagles); and the recreation available year-round with orchards (especially Green Bluff in the Fall), amazing forests all the way up to Canada, 75 lakes within a 50-mile radius, outstanding fishing and hunting, nearby ski areas, and so much more.

I thank God for creating this place!

Please help me to help you by voting for me in the Primary Election!