Could 2010 Be Jay Inslee’s 1994 All Over Again?
By Andrew at May 23rd, 2010.The year was 1994, and after casting a series of votes that riled his Central Washington constituency, 4th District Congressman Jay Inslee was promptly shown the exit by voters.
Blame it on the “Republican Revolution” if you like, but the loss didn’t keep Inslee out of state and national politics for long.
A graduate of the University of Washington and practicing attorney, Inslee moved from the Yakima area to Bainbridge Island.
But before he would return to Congress, Inslee ran for Governor in 1996 and lost to Gary Locke in the Democratic primary. In 1998 he defeated two-term incumbent Republican Congressman Rick White for the 1st Congressional District seat. In subsequent match-ups against GOP opponents, Inslee has cemented his hold on the district by wider margins.
Two GOP newcomers aim to change that.
This week, we’re profiling the first of two Republican candidates seeking their party’s nomination against Inslee.
Meet Matthew Burke, certified financial planner, and outspoken Tea Party activist. Like Inslee, Burke is an Eastern Washington transplant hailing from the Yakima area. But unlike Inslee, Burke has spent most of his adult life in the private sector — not seeking higher political office.
Starting out a bank teller, Burke worked his way up to helping individuals plan for financial success. However, his own path to financial success wasn’t so clear cut — as the candidate openly acknowledges in a “dirty laundry” page on his website.
Burke does, however, see a path to victory despite being a relative newcomer to Republican politics.
With the help of consultant Bruce Boram, Burke says he has raised a little more than $30,000 since March.
Burke faces a former Microsoftie in the GOP primary with an ability to self-fund his campaign, and thus plans to target his message with whatever resources he can raise before August 17 to likely conservative and independent voters.
Burke’s main message is a mix of Constitutional and conservative-libertarian thinking. In short, he believes 22 years in financial planning will make him an asset in “Congress to get this country’s disastrous fiscal house in order, and return the federal government to its proper, constitutional role.”
Burke also says he’s counting on energized voters, angry about corporate bailouts and other over-reaching Democratic policies, to give him their votes. To do that, Burke plans to expose Inslee’s voting record early and often, saying the incumbent favors “atrocious, tax-and-spend, always pro-big government solution[s].”
You can follow Matthew Burke’s campaign on Twitter @MatthewKBurke for the latest news.
Check back next week as we profile Burke’s GOP primary opponent, James Watkins.
Post Script: Inslee is often mentioned as a candidate for Governor, as well as posts in the Obama Administration. If he were to pre-maturely resign his post in Congress, it’s not immediately clear who would step up on the Democratic side to campaign for his seat.
Tags: Bainbridge Island, Burke for Congress, Gary Locke, Inslee for Congress, Inslee for Governor, James Watkins, Jay Inslee, Matthew Burke, Rick White, Watkins for Congress, Yakima
Andrew
Andrew is a UW alum, Seattle native and dedicated hometown football fan.
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Matthew’s a great guy and he has a strong knowledge of financial markets. But, his opponent, James Watkins has a more well-rounded background, having worked in banking, the federal government reducing jobs at the FDIC and helping to develop small businesses at Microsoft and in his own consulting company. Watkins has the volunteer structure and the momentum to defeat Inslee on every issue. Inslee’s consistent votes for higher taxes, to tax carbon fuels, to bring electric outlets to Seattle as a first step in eliminating gasoline powered cars in Washington are vulnerable to Watkins’ common sense solutions. Matthew doesn’t have the organization in place to go against the behemoth. I’d love to see Matthew run for state office and build a loyal team of support before he goes after someone like Inslee.
I am looking forward to the interview with James Watkins. He is a candidate that is out and about in Kitsap County. He and his team walked in the Viking Fest Parade with the Republicans. He has made multiple appearances in our County and is making a statement about his conservative campaign. We need
congressional candidates that support a balanced budget and jobs for the people of our state and Nation.
Here we are as time FLYS well into the 2010 political race season.
I moved recently into the 1st Congressonal District.
I became aware of James Watkins intention to run against Jay Inslee in late fall of 2008. It was something like 5 months later when I first heard that there was another candidate entering the race to unseat Jay Inslee.
I learned the full story of James Watkins and why he is running to help get our country back on a common sense path. When I found out that Matthew Burke was entering the race I began to learn about this patriot and what his story was.
I believe both Matthew and James would do a tremendous job representing my concerns for matters as serious as they get for our nations future.
I understand the strength of character required to overcome the past problems people face in life at the personal level, and I am proud for the rebuilding Matthew has done in his life, good for him. I am also proud for the guts it takes to get in the game to steer our nation back on course. America has people with the ‘right stuff’ in their hearts stepping up across this nation like never before.
This November ‘failure is not an option’, we have ‘everything at stake’ for our future safety and security.
There are a few issues on the record regarding Matthew that the other side of the political arena would undoubtedly try and make hay out of, and the other side never leaves these matters rest from what I’ve seen in my life.
This election year is shaping up to be a major showdown between forces for more freedom, and forces for more control over our lives.
I personally don’t know of any of these types of issues happening in the life of James Watkins. Both men are on the right track for America as far as I’m concerned, however in my heart I feel that James Watkins is far more ‘electable’ in this year when all the marbles are on the line.
Those of us ‘in the game’ and on the teams helping this year will have to pull together after the primaries and get the job done, our children are counting on us to protect their future rights to persue the American Dream. That is our adult responsibility and our duty going forward. We have awakened to the fact that we can’t trust government to behave properly, therefore ‘we the people’ have to make room in our lives to stand watch inside the halls thruout our nations, and state capitols, and every local level there is. If we don’t take back control of our destiny our destiny will be chosen for us and we will be forced to live lives painted by someone else. That is not what has made America the greatest nation in the history of the planet earth.
We have to send the right people to elected offices in 2010.
Good luck to all of us,
Chuck Barnes
I’ve met Matthew Burke, and he is a dedicated citizen who is working hard on his campaign, and I applaud him for his passion and interest in bettering our country and our state. For the 1st Congressional District race, however, James Watkins stands out as someone whom I would choose first above all others as my Representative.
James has had a successful business career that will translate well to helping our country’s current financial mess. I appreciate how he believes we can save money by cutting federal jobs and focusing instead on creating new private sector jobs. I also agree with his common sense solutions on the best ways to reform health care insurance and with his conviction that tax relief will help businesses more than another stimulus bill.
James quickly started off running an efficient, effective campaign earlier this year, which is evidence of his vision, drive, and management skills. In a recent poll by the Puget Sound Conservative Underground against his Republican candidate, James received 82% of the votes from fellow conservatives, a powerful indication that voters will view him as a strong, articulate, and on-message candidate. (http://www.meetup.com/PugetSoundConservativeUnderground/polls/)
In 2010, Democrats in our state, such as Jay Inslee, are more vulnerable than ever at being defeated, and James Watkins has what it takes to defeat him and head to D.C. to represent We the People.
Matthew is EXACTLY what we need. We are seeing across the country that people are fed up with established politicians. Even established GOP are being ousted in strong GOP communities because we are mad at the status quo. We don’t need another career politican; we need someone who knows what it likes to rise and fall in private industrsty. Matthew has lived real life, has experience in an area that is ranked the #1 concern of voters today – the economy. While James has been working the traditional political rounds with the establishment, Mattew has been connecting with the people.
I want someone who knows what it’s like to deal with “main street” issues and the struggles of a middle class family. I want someone who is true to his conservative values; someone who understands, loves and will honor the Constitution. Matthew is a good man and will do what is right for Washington citizens. We should worry how DC will change our candidates. Matthew is strong in his faith and convictions, he has integrity – and a wife who will kick his butt of he strays!
For the record, James Watkins is not a career politician. His wife urged him to run after attending tea parties with the rest of us and feeling a need to do more to restore our nation to it’s founding principals. James has demonstrated his management skill by putting together a truly impressive campaign. That means working within the party he will represent without compromising his values and reaching out to conservative, tea party and 9/12 groups. In Washington we can’t take one single vote for granted–James doesn’t. James will be up against an opponent who will do anything and say anything to get elected. I am grateful Watkins has been so strategic in putting together this campaign. He might seem like a politician, but that’s just because he works so hard at accomplishing the goals he sets for himself. This is the man who WILL beat Inslee. He is also the man who has strong conservative ideals who won’t compromise or sell-out. We can count on James to stand for smaller government, lower taxes, greater freedom, reasonable energy and environmental policies and market-driven health care solutions.
I went to the University of Washington debate between Matthew and James. Although I will agree that either candidate would be a nice improvement to the ultra-liberal partisan politics of Inslee, there is no question that Matthew is a better debater. Rather than awkwardly thumbing through notes as Watkins seemed to do after most questions, Matthew seemed polished with a very good grasp of the issues. It also seemed to me that Matthew took a stand on every issue, whereas James dodged a direct answer to quite a few questions. Because whoever wins the primary will have to hand it to Inslee in a debate, I’m going with the polished candidate.
My perception of how the debate went pushed me to go to a fund-raising event for Matthew. At this fundraiser, he talked about several issues, but focused on the current fiscal and monetary policies of the government, and that of the Fed. With this man’s knowledge of these issues, coupled with the fact he has been a financial planner for so many years, it makes him a formidable candidate against Jay. Not only have I put a sign in front of my home for Matthew, I plan on volunteering for his campaign, which I understand has quite a few volunteers, several of whom are busy making calls to prominent donors on his behalf.
I encourage everyone to go to the next debate to see what I am talking about.
I’ve heard Matthew and James speak on a number of occasions, and I am constantly blown away by the depth of knowledge that Matthew has on the issues. Matthew not only understands and embraces the philosophy of the Conservative ground-swell taking place in America, he is extremely knowledgeable about government intrusion in the free market. Matthew constantly speaks of the dangers of progressivism, Keynesian economics, the abhorrent Death Tax, the need for a complete Audit of the Federal Reserve and a slew of other issues that excite crowds everywhere he goes. Matthew is extremely personable and right on with his grasp on the issues because he bases his views on the Constitution and the intent of the Founding Fathers.
I urge everyone to get to know Matthew and his wife Jennifer, true conservatives and patriots.
To those who say that this year “failure is not an option” I agree, and I know that Matthew has the charisma and personality to win over independents in the 1st CD and not only get in office this year, but to stay in office even when the tide of conservative activism is over and the democrats attempt another run in 2012 or 2014.
I find it interesting how all these citizens have commented on the article about Matthew Burke by writing a glowing endorsement of Matthew’s primary opponent, James Watkins. I wonder if they think we’re all too stupid to realize that the Watkin’s Campaign put them up to it? “Here’s to hoping the voters really are gullible!”
I have also had opportunity to meet and listen to both candidates, even seeing them debate. Both of the candidates seem nice, able, and much better than Jay Inslee. In listening to them both though, differences have become very clear. Mr. Watkins comes across as the epitome of the “politician.” He is vague in his answers, general in his approach, and is squishy on things that should be done to fight for the United States to become great again. On the other hand, Mr. Burke comes across as a well read, knowledgeable, unwavering man of the people that can roll up his sleeves and clean house back in Washington DC. What we need is DIFFERENT. I believe Different IS Matthew Burke. If you ask him a question, you get a straight answer, from his heart, laser focused on what is best for the country, period.
Then there is the question of honesty and integrity. Mr. Burke is a wide open book, nothing hidden and no lies. Mr Watkins however, leaves something to be desired. During the last debate, Mr Watkins was asked about his endorsement list he handed out to the crowd of Americans looking for an honest candidate to represent them. In 3 different cases, Mr. Watkins placed people on this list that had NOT endorsed him. Everyone makes mistakes, but to back it up with a bawled face lie, is unforgivable. When pressed, Mr Watkins said he would produce the letters of endorsement in question, he in fact promised he would do it the next day. To this day, and that was a week ago, they have not been produced. This speaks volumes about his character. Do we need another flimsy politician who lies to your face?? I think not. This is just the tip of a very big iceberg. He talks about his 350 volunteers, yet in the 4 times I’ve seen him speak, I always see just a handful of the same people. And he speaks of creating “thousands of private sector jobs,” but never really tells you how he did anything in particular. We all have friends who exaggerate, and we all know it, and they are still our friends, but we should not even think about sending someone with those qualities up against the Inslee machine. He will get chewed up and spit out the other side. James Watkins, the more I learn and inform myself on these two candidates, is more of the same and the very reason we are where we are in The Republican Party. We’ve had politicians like him, let’s go for something better. I have made up my mind, Matthew Burke is different and better, he has our backs, he will fight for us, and he won’t LIE, which is something I can’t be sure of about James Watkins, because he already has…..
I was at the meeting. Someone asked Watkins to make the endorsements public, James told that person to leave his name with the campaign and they would get copies to him. He did not say he would make the endorsements publicly available. He is protecting people’s privacy which I appreciate. If someone is on his list and has had a change of mind, that person needs to contact him and ask to have his/her name removed. We don’t know if that has happened. I recognized names on the list and can give assurances that those names were indeed authorized.
I thought Matthew looked small, petty and desperate to make that kind of public attack. If he had an issue, he needed to get verification in private. If it wasn’t forthcoming, then he would be on more solid ground when he makes such charges. This is just one of many examples of Matthew’s inability to put together a professional and disciplined campaign. If he can’t stand up to Watkins, he will melt under the Inslee onslaught of dirty tricks and nasty politicking. Inslee won’t be so nice.
Dear Ms. McCombs, didn’t Mr Watkins place a copy of all of his “supposed” endorsements on every seat at the debate both you and I attended? If I’m not mistaken, isn’t that making them public ? So much for him protecting their privacy. I have a question for you, how do you know that Mr. Burke did not ask Mr. Watkins in private, and did not get anywhere. The FACTS are, James Watkins is not being truthful about his endorsements, and he has yet to produce letters of endorsement for those in question. And furthermore, when would it be okay with you that James be questioned about these things if not in an open forum of voters. How else do these things get out so people know the TRUTH. Again, Mr Watkins was asked about specific people on HIS list that HE passed out to the crowd, after he made public statements about them, and FAILED to produce the said documents.
Also, what makes you think Mr. Burke is at all melting, he’s just getting started…..
Your whole reply does not even make sense, please put some thought into what you’re trying to say before wasting our time.
When I said I was glad James didn’t make the endorsements public–I meant the signature, letter or document the person used to endorse Watkins. Obviously someone doesn’t give permission to use their name without knowing the name, not the document, will be made public.
James was surprised by Burke’s attack, which led me to believe that Burke didn’t ask first. James is very approachable and if he was told someone wanted a name removed I am certain James would remove it. I’ve had discussions with him about the importance of an impeccable background because the real opponent in this race is Inslee. Inslee is known for using extremely dirty tactics. He has a slash and burn attack campaign strategy. James isn’t foolish enough to give either Burke or Inslee such easy ammunition. It sounds like a simple, easily explained misunderstanding.
I have decided to support Matthew Burke in his bid to oust Jay Inslee in the 1st Congressional District race. I have had the pleasure of meeting Matthew, and also attended a forum hosted by the UW Young Republicans in April where both he and James Watkins spoke and responded to questions posed by the students.
I have tremendous respect and admiration for Matthew because he has managed to survive a great deal of adversity in his life beginning with living on his own and supporting himself, at the age of sixteen, working his way through college, and managing to conquer his alcoholism and the subsequent consequences. These are the kind of life experiences which build a strong character, and a great deal of humility, two qualities which are sorely lacking in today’s politicians.
During the forum Matthew impressed me with his knowledge and understanding of our Constitution and the values taught by our Founding Fathers. He convinced me that he truly believes in returning our nation to these founding principles. Together with his background in banking and financial planning, and his grasp of the gravity of our current fiscal nightmare, he would bring back to Washington an unbridled commitment to return our government to one which is all about responsibility, ethics, morality, and sanity. Matthew understands that he will be representing the people. It is Matthew’s humility, which will serve the people well. He will not go to Washington in search of personal power, wealth, and fame. He will go with a solemn vow to be an honest and faithful representative of we the people.
In reading James Watkins’ website, and listening to his responses at the UW forum, I found myself questioning his sincerity. He presented with a kind of elitist attitude, and everything he said seemed to be scripted talking points which made it feel insincere. I found myself wondering if these were things he really believes in. One question posed by a student inquired about whether he is a true conservative, a moderate conservative, or an independent. His response was that he is a “fiscal conservative”. This again struck me as disingenuous. He just didn’t convince me that he is a genuine conservative. He wasn’t comfortable discussing the Constitution or our Founding Fathers, which also made me question his commitment to conservatism and to returning America to its original founding principles of limited government, protecting life, liberty and property, as well as a strong defense.
John McCain lost the election to Barack Obama in 2008 because he is not an authentic conservative, and campaigned as if he were trying to please everyone. I am convinced that the only way we have any hope of returning America to fiscal sanity, liberty, prosperity, and morality, is to oust every single incumbent regardless of party affiliation, and begin again. Those conservatives who run a campaign which is based on a disingenuous conservative platform will fail just as McCain failed.
James Watkins website lists a number of important endorsements, but he does not back them up with any kind of verification by any of those individuals listed. I would like to hear from these people in their own voices, or through some other form of written verification that these endorsements are in fact genuine.
Until James can demonstrate to me that he is in fact a true conservative, I will continue to give my support to Matthew Burke. I am not impressed by fancy resumes or long lists of unsubstantiated endorsements, when there seems to be a lack of true commitment to the conservative cause, and an elitist attitude to boot. The last thing we need in Washington is another elitist who has no intention of representing the people. I worry that James would be another elitist politician concerned only with his own quest for power and wealth, and convinced that he knows better than the people he was sent to represent. I will not support any candidate who is not an authentic conservative.
I’m on the list and James has 150% of my support. I’ve supported many candidates and helped with many campaigns. None has excited me as much as James. I first met James and Ashley at the Million Med March on a cold blustery November day in Seattle, we were all waving signs and listening to speakers and hoping to stop the Obamacare disaster. James & Ashley got involved because they were afraid of the direction our country is taking. James is passionately conservative about smaller government, lower taxes, 2nd Amendment rights, 10th Amendment rights, simplified tax codes–the entire litany that all the conservatives endorse. That’s not enough to win an election. James is a consumate professional, I’m sorry that makes him seem aloof. I think he might also be a little bit shy, it’s not easy to put yourself out there and ask for votes and money. But even so, James is everywhere–he attended every Inslee town hall meeting talking to people who wouldn’t ordinarily ever meet him or give him a chance to explain why conservative ideas will restore jobs, the environment and provide better health care. Where was Matthew? At the senate forums, James or a representative is always there with information and to answer questions. Where is Matthew? At parades, picnics, civic events James or a member of his campaign is there. Where is Matthew?
I agree Matthew seems sincere and he knows a lot about financial markets. But, he can’t put together a campaign that can beat Inslee. James can. James has the credentials, he has the conservative fire in his belly that drives us to go stand in the rain and wave signs–but he went farther than making a clever sign. He took unpaid time off and invested his own money to step into the gap and stand for our state and our country.
Goodness gracious, It appears that there may be people that are deep in both campaigns in this comment thread but Jeanie, with all respect, your support for Mr. Watkins whether he is right or wrong is silly and seems paranoid…relax a bit, lol.
I am a senior at the U and wanted to let people know what I saw in the debate between both candidates. The first thing I noticed was a desire by Mr. Watkins to liken himself to Scott Brown. This fell flat for me from the start and appeared disingenuous for Watkins to jump on the political winds at the moment…especially since we see exactly how solid a conservative (or disappointment) Scott Brown is.
I don’t know how many debates have taken place but from my viewpoint, Mr. Burke destroyed Mr. Watkins at our campus debate. He did this by his responses to most questions…he was plain spoken, substantive, and succinct. I didn’t get this from Mr. Watkins at all. I can’t tell you how many times Mr. Watkins asked the moderator for the question to be repeated. After the fifth time I felt like suggesting that he write the question down. But this could have just been a bad day for Mr. Watkins.
The responses of two questions stood out in my mind as being very telling. The first was on the amount of money each candidate had put in out of their own pocket. Mr. Watkins painted an early picture of his superior fundraising ability by accumulating $140,000. When he was asked how much of that was out of his bank account, he said $100,000. This seemed a little shady. The second question on the constitutionality of the Obama-care was brought up and whether each candidate could site the Constitution specifically on why it was or was not constitutional. Mr. Watkins knowledge of the Constitution seemed very weak only saying that he agreed with Attorney General Rob Mckenna. Mr. Burke sited Articles and Sections of the Constitution to make his case. Overall, I got substance from Burke, and platitudes from Watkins.
Burke said he was the guy going to Washington DC not to make friends or to attend dinners but to uphold his oath to the constitution and beat back the Obama/Pelosi power grab. Watkins said he was qualified because he can reach across the isle and build a consensus. I don’t know about you all, but I want someone solid like Jim Demint, not a Scott Brown or another John McCcain. Just my 2 cents.
[...] This is the second in a two-part series on the GOP candidates contending to take on Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Bainbridge Island). The first article profiled candidate Matthew Burke. [...]
[...] In just over a month, voters of the 1st Congressional District will be casting primary ballots. The looming election hasn’t gone unnoticed by James Watkins, a Republican candidate banking on his business experience against six-term Democratic incumbent Jay Inslee (see profiles of Watkins, and fellow GOP primary contender Matthew Burke). [...]