The CEO of Safeco Insurance has announced he will step down as head of the company effective Aug. 31. Mike McGavick has been widely rumored to be the target of numerous Republican recruiting pitches to be a candidate for a number of offices, notably for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Maria Cantwell.
The News Tribune of Tacoma carried a report of McGavick's courting by the state GOP. That report also mentioned three other possible cantwell contenders: Rep Rick White, who unseated Cantwell when she represented the state's First Congressional District from 1993 to 1995; former federal prosecutor Diane Tebelius, who was herself an unsuccessful candidate for Congress; and state Sen. Linda Evans Parlette of Wenatchee, who is most likely a longshot. Dino Rossi had announced last week that he would not be a Senate candidate, and White followed suit Monday. With Republican heavyweights lining up behind McGavick, it seems all but assured that he will not only enter the race but would be the favorite, especially in fundraising.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Underground Web site has been discussing this race, and at least one contributor to the discussion board shares my views that Sen. Cantwell is going to whip the Enron horse as hard as she can next year. Those policies toward energy use and abuse of the electricity market back in 2001 is a huge issue in counties that rely on public power, namely Snohomish County and those in central Washington (Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Benton and Franklin). Keep in mind that these are all counties where Dino Rossi won slim to decisive victories in 2004, but where a Senator who has a record of helping constituents could prove to be popular.
Also, Sen. Cantwell will be at a Chelan County reception on Aug. 12 in Leavenworth. This follows an adress by Gov. Christine Gregoire in Wenatchee July 28 to the state labor council. Chelan Democrats have shown they are a presence here in this "red" county, and they could be enough to tip a balance in a close race.
-- Wenatchee, Wash.
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