Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Toby Nixon reneges on decision not to run for Legislature in 2008

I guess now we know why the traditional media demands those Shermanesque statements from potential candidates for office:
Former state Rep. Toby Nixon, a Republican who heads the Washington Coalition for Open Government, says he's running for his old House seat.

Nixon lost a state Senate bid in the 45th District in 2006 to Democratic newcomer Eric Oemig. Initially Nixon said he would stay out of politics for a while and spend more time with his family and on his job at Microsoft.

But he says he'll challenge freshman Democrat Roger Goodman for a House seat. He says the Legislature has failed to make any real progress on the major problems facing the state, while setting up the state for a big deficit.
Here is what Toby said back in December when he ruled out running:
After much careful consideration and consultation with my family and advisors, I have decided to not seek election to the state House of Representatives or any another office in 2008.

I have made a number of commitments that I must fulfill, including expanded responsibilities at Microsoft, seeing the amendment to the King County Charter creating an elected director of elections through to adoption, my service as president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and my involvement in several other non-profit organizations, as well as, even more importantly, needing to focus attention on my responsibilities to my family and church.

These require more attention than would be possible if I were also running a campaign of my own this year.
Apparently that carefully thought out decision was meaningless.

We understand if Toby has changed his mind (we can respect that) but he should have left the door open to being a candidate in December.

He assured supporters and opponents alike that he wasn't going to run. He even explained why he had decided not to.

Now it's March, and suddenly, he is running. So what about all those commitments Toby said he had to fulfill? The expanded responsibilities at Microsoft? Campaigning for Initiative 25? Volunteering at those nonprofits?

If we can't expect Toby the candidate to honor his word, how can we expect Mr. Nixon the legislator to faithfully serve his constituents in the 45th District?

Back in 2006, Toby Nixon made a calculated decision to run for state Senate after Bill Finkbeiner announced his retirement. He was easily beaten by Eric Oemig, who I am very proud to call my state senator. I worked hard to help elect Eric in 2006, knowing how effective he would be in Olympia. I haven't been disappointed.

Likewise, I am thrilled to have Roger Goodman as one of my two state representatives. Roger is forthright, smart, and very friendly. He's a terrific lawmaker and a wonderful father. Despite having so many responsibilities, he does an admirable job of making time for constituents - and staying in touch with them too. (I always get a card during the holidays from the Goodman family!)

Toby is going to have an exceptionally difficult challenge ahead of him if he seriously intends to take on Roger. No doubt his Republican allies will run a vicious smear campaign against the Goodmans like they did last cycle. Their 2006 trickery didn't work, however. Roger won handily, much to the chagrin of the GOP.

We are confident that Representative Goodman will again be victorious in 2008, and we are ready to do everything we can to help him defeat Toby Nixon.

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