The focus here on the open seat created by the retirement of Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, the one that pits Democrat Kim Abel against Republican Jan Angel.

The Gig Harbor Unit of League of Women Voters, the Gig Harbor Branch of American Association of University Women, and the United Methodist Church of Gig Harbor are sponsoring a candidate forum for the legislative candidates of the 26th District. It will be held on Thursday, October 23rd, from 6:30 till 9:00 p.m., at the United methodist Church, 7400 Pioneer Way in Gig Harbor. The public is invited.

Before then, there will be another candidate faceoff before the Kitsap League of Women Voters Thursday at 7 p.m. in Port Orchard at the Given's Community Center.

Abel is trying to make an issue out of Angel getting money from the BIAW. You can read about that here.

UPDATE: Elliot Swaney, political director of the Building Industry Association Washington, called Thursday morning to say that, contrary to what Abel is saying, BIAW has not contributed to Angel's campaign.

"She apparently is 'un-Abel' to figure out a PDC form," Swaney said. "Neither the BIAW nor the Washington Affordable Housing Council (BIAW's PAC) have contributed to the Angel race."

Swaney said local building organization affiliates may have, but they make their own decisions.

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Commissioner Angel,

On October 2 at the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum I challenged you to stop taking money from the Building Industry Alliance of Washington (BIAW). You stated that you had not taken money from BIAW.

Five days later on October 7 at the Key Peninsula Community Council, the Key Peninsula Business Association and the Key Peninsula Civic Center Association Candidate Forum, I presented you with facts from your own public disclosure documents that showed you indeed had taken 2,400 dollars from the Affordable Housing Council. The Affordable Housing Council is the political action committee of the BIAW. There I asked you, in light of the pending lawsuit over the BIAW scandal, that you not only stop taking money from BIAW but that you return it. Unfortunately, you still denied that you took money from BIAW.

I again now, in this letter, urge you to not only stop taking money from BIAW, but that you return any funds you did receive from them and ask them to not participate in your campaign.

You and I both know, that as candidates, we have unique control over our campaigns. We and we alone can say who gives us money and what our campaign says. Please return the money because I believe that public office is not for sale, we need to follow the rules, and so do our supporters.

Jan, will you stand up for decency and truth in these final days of the campaign? Will you stand up with the Justice Department as they investigate the BIAW funds? Will you stand up for the individuals that have contributed legally to your campaign and mine?

Commissioner Angel, I look forward to your response to myself and to the public.

Sincerely,
Kim Abel