Tammy Ramsay of Hoquiam announced her candidacy for the 24th District on Wednesday. ()

Tammy Ramsay of Hoquiam announced her candidacy for the 24th District on Wednesday. ()

Hoquiam Democrat eyes 24th Legislative District seat

HOQUIAM — A second Democrat has jumped into the ring to vie for a state 24th Legislative District seat.

Tammy Ramsay, 48, of Hoquiam announced Wednesday her intention to run as a Democrat for the district that covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.

“My campaign will address education, economic development through working ports and tourism while preserving the natural beauty and ecosystems of the 24th District, and I will work to get better funding for local law enforcement agencies,” Ramsay said in her written announcement.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman announced his candidacy Monday. He is running as a Democrat.

Candidate filing takes place from May 16-20.

The top two vote recipients for each office in the Aug. 2 primary election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

Ramsay said she has been a political activist in Olympia for eight years and has lived in Hoquiam since 2000.

She is married with two adult children and two grandchildren.

She began her work in the political arena in 2004 as a volunteer for the political campaigns of Gov. Christine Gregoire and President Barack Obama, then stayed in Olympia to lobby the state Legislature in the fields of education, family-wage jobs, the cannabis industry and laws dealing with driving under the influence, Ramsay said Wednesday.

“The state is going to have to address again our DUI laws,” she said.

Driver impairment

Ramsay’s view is that current laws do not address actual impairment of drivers. She said measuring the blood level of substances such as alcohol and THC does not show how impaired a driver is.

“I don’t want DUI offenders to get out of charges,” she said.

Ramsey said she would work with other legislators.

“I don’t like the polarization in politics today. I work well across the aisle,” she said.

Sen. Jim Hargrove, who currently represents the 24th District in the state Senate, announced March 10 his intention to retire.

On Monday, state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim announced his intent to run for Hargrove’s state Senate seat, while Chapman, 52, took aim at Van De Wege’s seat.

Chapman, who announced earlier that he would not run again for the board of county commissioners, began his political career as a Republican, changed his affiliation to independent, then joined the Clallam County Democrats in November.

Republican Maggie Roth and Democrat Ron Richards have announced their intentions to run for Chapman’s seat.

Prior to his election as commissioner, Chapman served as a local law enforcement officer and U.S. customs inspector. In that position, he was credited with apprehending terrorist Ahmed Ressam in 1999 and thwarting Ressam’s plan to bomb Los Angeles International Airport.

Chapman and his wife of 27 years, Bobbi, live in Port Angeles and have two sons, Larsson and Anders.

Van De Wege is majority whip in the House Democratic Caucus, a position he has held since 2010. He serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, Health Care Committee, Rules Committee and is a member of the Commerce and Gaming Committee.

He is a lieutenant with Clallam County Fire District No. 3 and lives in Sequim with his wife, Jennifer, a high school teacher. They have two children, Allison and Jackson.

_________

Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

John Gatchet of Gardiner, left, and Mike Tabak of Vancouver, B.C., use their high-powered scopes to try to spot an Arctic loon. The recent Audubon Christmas Bird Count reported the sighting of the bird locally so these bird enthusiasts went to the base of Ediz Hook in search of the loon on Sunday afternoon. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Bird watchers

John Gatchet of Gardiner, left, and Mike Tabak of Vancouver, B.C., use… Continue reading

Forks schools to ask for levy

Measure on Feb. 11 special election ballot

Jefferson County commissioners name Pernsteiner acting sheriff

Jefferson Democrats to nominate three interim candidates

State commission fines fire commissioner

PDC says Kraft owes more than $4,600

Marine Center receives $15 million

Funding comes from Inflation Reduction Act

Port Townsend creates new department to oversee creative district

Melody Sky Weaver appointed director of Community Service Department

Orca that carried dead calf for weeks is mourning again

The mother orca nudges her dead calf with her snout, draping it… Continue reading

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Will Barrett of Port Townsend and his cairn terrier Harris brave the cold and wet weather on Friday to walk around the Marine Science Center pier at Fort Worden State Park. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Rainy walk

Will Barrett of Port Townsend and his cairn terrier Harris brave the… Continue reading

Kate Dean.
Kate Dean reflects on Jefferson County career

Will work for state office of Public Lands

The Hub, a place to form community connections and incubate ideas, hosts a Night Market on the third Friday of every month. CEO Roxanne Greeson invited people to drop by for one of their events, or stop by between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, to see what they think of the space. (Roxanne Greeson)
The Hub aims to incubate ideas, grow community

PA business hosts spaces for artists, storefront to sell creations

Food resources are available across Peninsula

Officials say demand continues to rise over previous years

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Daily News relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in