Looks like Stan Flemming's congressional sights are staying planted on the newly created 10th District.
Flemming, University Place's first mayor who's currently serving as Pierce County Councilman, announced last year that he was running for the district that includes parts or all of Lakewood, UP, Sumner and Olympia.
It is the product of new legislative boundaries from the Washington State Redistricting Commission.
He's running against fellow Republican County Councilman Dick Muri of Lakewood, as well as Democrat Denny Heck of Olympia. Flemming and Muri are scheduled to have a debate April 4, according to The News Tribune.
Flemming said today with the recent announcement by senior , there was some speculation that the Republican would focus on the newly vacated 6th District.
Not so, says Flemming.
“I have never considered switching congressional districts” Flemming said in a released statement. “I was the first Republican to enter this race and have always planned on running in the new 10th, no matter where the district lines were. I’m happy that my home is within the district boundaries and feel that as a candidate I have much to offer all the people in the 10th. The 10th is a moderate district with diverse regions of economic issues, military bases, environmental and education issues, all of which I am qualified to represent and fully intend to.”
Patch will have more on this story as it develops. Here is the complete news release from Flemming's Office:
This morning the Flemming for Congress campaign announced that Stan Flemming, a retired Army General and current Pierce County Councilmember, will not be switching districts in his run for Congress. Flemming, the first candidate in the race to file for the new 10th Congressional District with the Federal Election Commission(on December 15th), has been actively campaigning for that seat since.
With the announced retirement of Congressman Norm Dicks, there has been speculation that Flemming would change to the 6th district for his congressional run. “I have never considered switching congressional districts” Flemming was quoted. “I was the first Republican to enter this race and have always planned on running in the new 10th, no matter where the district lines were. I’m happy that my home is within the district boundaries and feel that as a candidate I have much to offer all the people in the 10th. The 10th is a moderate district with diverse regions of economic issues, military bases, environmental and education issues, all of which I am qualified to represent and fully intend to.”
Flemming did note that there were other candidates who, based on their professed experience were more suited for that particular race, "I am committed to represent the people of the new 10th congressional district, as I have committed to represent everyone in all elected positions I have held.”
Flemming’s campaign has recently moved into offices within the district boundaries in Lakewood and announced contribution milestones reached in less than 2 months which puts his fundraising well ahead of what took his Republican opponent over a year to reach. The fundraising has also put Stan on the map for national organizations to support.
SGM (Ret) Donna Lowery Vietnam Vet 26 years of service