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Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers is a major figure in Eastern Washington politics, serving 10 terms in Congress;
An influential lawmaker’s announcement Thursday that she plans to retire at the end of her current term comes as local politicians are still weighing what her resignation will mean for the region and this year’s election season. surprised me.
McMorris Rogers undoubtedly left an important legacy, but which parts of her career are emphasized largely depend on ideological leanings. McMorris Rogers is a principled, hard-working politician who represented Washington’s businesses, farmers, veterans, and more among political allies and her closest friends, and who held some of D.C.’s most important offices. will be remembered as.
Meanwhile, liberals are happy that opponents of abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act will soon be out of Congress, and McMorris-Rogers’ absence on the November ballot will give Democrats a 5th He hopes this will be his biggest chance to win back a congressional district in years. .
Stephen Kirby, Acting Chairman of the Spokane County Democratic Party “I can’t think of any Republican in Eastern Washington who would value even a third of the CMR.
“Obviously, this is great news for us. She’s definitely someone to worry about and has been a bit of a kingpin when it comes to money spent in election cycles. Like everyone else, we’re stunned by this prospect. We don’t see any signs and we have a lot of material all in place about how to deal with her and her voting history.
“This is a whole new ball game.”
MJ Bolt, Spokane County Republican Party Chairman “She definitely leaves a huge legacy behind. She has been our Member of Parliament for 20 years and we thank her for her contributions and salute her dedication.
“I think there’s probably a lot of conversations going on because it’s still early, but having the vacancy now definitely changes things this year. We have a lot of work to do, but we’re ready. will be talking to qualified candidates and will also be talking to other counties in the district, and I am confident that we can recommend some good candidates for this seat.
“Part of the reason people reelected Congresswoman McMorris Rogers is because of her conservative values and adherence to the Republican platform.”
Mary Cooney, Republican chairwoman of the Spokane County Commission, issued a written statement. “It has been an honor to support Kathy personally and professionally for the past 20 years.
“She was a trailblazer and a tireless advocate for the people of Eastern Washington. We will be so sad to lose her as she served as a voice of reason on our nation’s Capitol Hill, but our deepest condolences to Kathy and her family. We are very happy for her and most of all, we are grateful for her contributions to Eastern Washington and our country.”
Josh Kearns, Republican Spokane county commissioner “I think this is a huge loss for our region. It’s always a huge loss when someone with seniority, experience and influence leaves.”
Al French, Republican Spokane county commissioner “I think about Kathy’s world and her years of dedication to this community and country. She was an outstanding public servant.”
Jonathan Bingle, Conservative spokane city council member “Kathy is a great representative for our region, especially given the position she is in now and being able to fight for energy and commerce in our region.
“It was important to have Kathy in that position, especially with the current fight over the dam, but we don’t know what her departure will mean for the region. Kathy is well-respected and has a high ranking in Congress. It’s a position, but it won’t be replaced overnight. It’s a loss to the community, but we thank God for her and her service.”
Paul Dillon, a liberal Spokane City Council member who previously sparred with McMorris Rodgers at a family planning organization. “She was very shrewd and did a great job of breaking records frequently. She had the ability to say two contradictory things at the same time.
“She was the only Washington state legislator to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, but then we’ll see her turn around and voice her support for health care. For me, there has always been a huge disconnect between her and the community she represents.
“She was leading the effort to defund Planned Parenthood, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t really about abortion, it was about stopping Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider. It would have been a devastating blow to low-income families throughout the district.”
Zach Zappone, liberal Spokane City Council member “In fact, I first met Congresswoman McMorris Rogers during a trip to Washington, D.C., when I was in high school. I was grateful for her kindness in showing me around the federal government as a high school student. Virtually, of course, Although we had many disagreements about policy, I am grateful for her contributions to the community and what she brought to the district.
“And I look forward to a new era for the 5th Ward.”
Diana Willhite, former Spokane Valley mayor “I appreciate everything she has done over the years and the sacrifices she has made to defend the interests of the people in our neck of the woods.
“(Dams) are an important issue for us here in Eastern Washington, so the next person will need to show similar interest.”
Michael Baumgartner, Spokane County Treasurer and former Republican state senator “She left a tremendous legacy and I certainly appreciate all the sacrifices and hard work that she and her family put in for Eastern Washington. I told her that Hie will definitely miss Flamingo.” When she first came to Congress, older members called her “the pink flamingo of Washington, D.C.’s barnyard grass.” She hosts an event every year called Pink Flamingo BBQ.
“She is a friend and someone we respect.”
Ozzie Knezovich, former Republican spokane county sheriff “She cared so much about people and work. She wasn’t really a classic politician and actually did a lot of things behind the scenes for individuals.
“She had an understanding and deep concern for the community.
“Whenever someone with a term like this retires, there’s a loss of institutional knowledge. That’s why when someone says we need term limits, I say, yes, there are term limits, it’s called voting, If someone is doing a great job, they should be retained; if they’re not, there’s no need to elect them.
“She had a wide range of knowledge to help the Northwest and America in general. I think she did a great job.”
Marcy Green, Fairfield Wheat Growers, past president and current member of the Washington Wheat Growers Association “We really appreciate her efforts on behalf of agriculture in Eastern Washington. She is a great advocate for our industry and especially for our efforts to protect the Snake River Dams and dam infrastructure. Her leadership was instrumental in this effort.”
Ray Goree, member of Spokane county cowherd “She’s been a good voice for us, but she’s been there for a long time.”
President Jim Wendland Cattlemen of Spokane County “She has been losing her voice for the past few years.”
Alisha Benson, Greater CEO spokane company“She has been a great partner for us as an organization working to promote economic growth in our region.
“She was also an advocate for our military, especially Fairchild Air Force Base, ensuring our base was open and operational. Fairchild is the largest single base in eastern Washington. employer, and when they heard concerns about base realignment or closure, they worked hard with the community to ensure Fairchild remains the Air Force’s primary base of operations.
“She has also been a great partner on the Veterans Affairs side.”
Kitara Johnson, Founder and Editor A personal friend of COME-UNITY Magazine McMorris Rogers “This has been a long time coming. Kathy has had a tough time over the last few elections, and the political landscape is very polarized.
“She represents her constituents and the district really well. As a veteran myself, I don’t think we could have asked for a better representative for our veterans. On Veterans Day, it’s important to think about our veterans. That’s important, but what about the rest of the year? When the medical system went down, when the Veterans Administration wasn’t responsive enough, when the phone system broke down, we had a true champion. Kathy. When I called the office, I knew someone would be able to help me.
“Whoever replaces her, I hope we find a similar champion.
“What people forget most about Cathy McMorris Rogers is that she was a mother. She sacrificed so much to leave this world and still be present in the lives of her children and her husband. , tried to be present for voters.
“I think she did her best and I think everyone is tired of politics in general right now. People are tired of seeing the polarization of people and groups, the lack of unity and willingness to work together. I think that, whatever the reason for her decision to retire, I don’t think anyone would deny that she tried her best, stayed the course, and that the people voted for her over and over again for a reason. . She will be sorely missed.
“But as a friend, I would like to take her home.”
Spokesman-Review writer Nick Gibson contributed to this report.
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