I should check my answering machine more often. I guess I was too busy making dilly beans over the weekend.

State Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, left a message to say he is withdrawing from his previously announced run for Congress against U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, and instead will run for re-election to his state House seat in the 2nd Legislative District.

Wonder what that does to JT Wilcox, who announced last week he would be running for what appeared to be Campbell's vacant seat in the state House.

Campbell sent out an e-mail news release late last night. Thanks for the heads up, Tom. Can I interest you in a quart of pickled green beans?

Rep. Tom Campbell declares intent to return to Legislature in 2010.

Roy, Washington. August 31, 2009.

Rep. Tom Campbell announced today he will run for re-election to the Washington State House of Representatives.

“I have been asked by a number of my constituents to reconsider my candidacy for Congress so that I can continue my work in the State Legislature on behalf of the 2nd Legislative District. I have listened to these voices and have decided to once again ask the voters of the Second District to elect me to represent them in the Washington State Legislature.”

=> Read more!

J.T. Wilcox, who used to be chief financial officer for Wilcox Farms, made it official today by announcing that he is running to replace state Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, in the 2nd Legislative District.

Campbell is running for the 9th Congressional District seat now held by U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma.

I say, "made it official" because I was told during the past legislative session that a candidate with a very prominent name was toying with a bid for Campbell's legislative seat. And the word then was "Wilcox," but I didn't know which one.

Wilcox, 48, is getting an early start. It's only August 2009 and the election isn't until 2010. I guess he wants to work on his name familiarity 'cause probably nobody in the 2nd District has ever heard the name "Wilcox."

We did a big spread on Wilcox Farms a few weeks back. You can read all about them 700,000 chickens and their eggs. J.T. Wilcox is no longer with the "family" business -- he left in 2008 -- but he did work there for 23 years.

And the "Got Milk" reference is not a stretch. He was chairman of Milk-Pep, the $100 million program that ran all of those milk mustache and other ads.

His campaign Web site is listed below, but it won't be up and running until later today or tomorrow.

WILCOX ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
J.T. Wilcox Announced his Campaign for State House of Representatives Today Pledging to be an Advocate for Property Rights, Local Traffic Improvements and For Balancing the State Budget Without Increasing Taxes.

Yelm - WA -- Local businessman and community leader JT Wilcox today announced his campaign for the State House of Representatives on the grounds of Wilcox Farms, saying, “Washington State government needs the kind of commonsense I learned right here on the family farm.”

=> Read more!

Actually the prediction came from Nick Handy, the state elections director. Handy reports that about 85 percent of the signatures have been checked. The sponsors of the measure, which seeks to repeal the latest expansion of gay partnership rights, turned in 137,689 signatures on July 25.

To make the November ballot, petitions must hold 120,577 valid signatures.

Here are the numbers so far: As of Wednesday 117,069 signatures had been checked, 103,198 have been approved and 13,871 have been rejected.

The signature error rate currently is 11.85 percent. The overall rejection rate must not exceed 12.4 percent for R-71 to go on the ballot.

“We have said all along that this signature count will be too close to call, and that is still the case,” Handy said. “We’re not going to announce whether Referendum 71 qualifies or not until all of the signatures are reviewed.”

Handy said public interest in this process is unprecedented.

“Our office has never received so much interest from observers and the public, and never before has the Office of Secretary of State provided daily updates to the public with an opportunity to ask questions and provide reactions on a blog,” Handy said.


Online daily updates about the R-71 signature checking process on its Web site, which can be found here.

James Postma, one of three announced Republican candidates for Congress from the 9th District, is hosting a series of town halls meetings on the federal health care reform debate. All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

Here's the schedule:

– Wednesday, August 26th, Lakewood City Hall, room 1E board of directors room, Lakewood Towne Center.

– Thursday, August 27th, Puyallup Library, board room, 324 S Meridian, Puyallup.

– Friday, August 28th, Kent Commons, Interurban room, 4th and James street, Kent.

All meetings start at 7:00PM. Postma asks that people who want to attend RSVP at 253-441-0541.

Kathy Durbin at The Columbian in Vancouver has a story about a national GOP fundraising appeal disguised as an opinion survey.

This is a pretty common practice, using the questions to both test future campaign themes and to rile up donors enough to send generous checks. But to say that both sides do it shouldn't divert attention when they get especially outrageous.

Like this question in the "survey:"

"It has been suggested that the government could use voter registration to determine a person's political affiliation, prompting fears that GOP voters might be discriminated against for medical treatment in a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system. Does this possibility concern you?"

This time it is developer Grace Pleasants.

But unlike last week's story about Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy withdrawing her support for Tacoma mayor candidate Jim Merritt, Pleasants says she never agreed to be listed.

"He's a very nice man," Pleasants said of Merritt. But she said she prefers Tacoma Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland for mayor. Pleasants has even agreed to co-host a fundraising event for Stickland with Blaine Johnson. The event is set for Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Traver Gallery in the Albers Mill building.

Merritt's campaign manager Ronnie Bush said Merritt thought he had gotten Pleasant's permission to list her among his supporters back in January. She said the campaign was surprised when it saw the announcement of the fundraiser for Strickland.

The Sixth Avenue Business District is sponsoring a "meet the candidates" forum for contenders for Tacoma city office on Thursday (Aug. 27). Expected are mayoral candidates Jim Merritt and Marilyn Strickland, at-large council candidates Keven Rojecki and Victoria Woodards, along with Councilman Jake Fey, who's running unopposed.

The forum starts a 7:30 p.m., following a 30-minute social time. It will be at Epworth LeSourd United Methodist Church, 710 S. Anderson St.

Here is the Associated Press story on the latest federal court ruling on the legal challenges to the Top-Two primary.

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge in Seattle has refused to dismiss a legal challenge to Washington’s top-two primary system.

Secretary of State Sam Reed had asked the court to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties.

Even though the state’s top-two primary was upheld last year by the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge John Coughenour ruled Thursday the parties can continue to challenge how the primary is conducted.

The secretary of state’s office says the ruling means a new round of litigation that could change how candidates are listed on the ballot or in the voters’ pamphlet.

State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz said the ruling means the state will have to amend the current law.

As we've reported U.S. Congressman Adam Smith will be in Lakewood next week for a town hall on health care. The location of Tuesday's event has changed to accommodate the expected turnout.

The Aug. 25 town hall is scheduled for Harry Lang Stadium, 6615 111th St SW, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Those who want to attend should call Smith's office 253-593-6600.

Not to be outdone, congressional candidate James Postma, a GOP challenger for Smith's seat, is holding his own town halls.

• Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Lakewood City Hall, room 1E board of directors room, Lakewood Towne Center.

• Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Puyallup Library, board room, 324 S Meridian, Puyallup.

• Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. Kent Commons, Interurban room, Fourth and James street, Kent.

Those who want to attend should call 253-441-0541 to RSVP.

Later in the month, 3rd District Congressman Brian Baird will be in Thurston County. He's scheduled a town hall for Aug. 31 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at South Puget Sound College's Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road SW in Tumwater.

After initially criticizing the health care town halls for producing more conflict than discussion, Baird reversed course and decided to hold a series of events around Southwest Washington. His first meeting in Vancouver attracted 2,800.

The 2nd and 29th District Republican Club will be hosting two candidates, vying for positions on the Port of Tacoma Commission. The Port of Tacoma is an independent municipal corporation that operates under state-enabling legislation and handles more than $36 billion in annual trade.

Don Meyer, current Executive Director of Foss Waterway Development Authority, and Dick Marzano, who is seeking re-election, will be discussing the responsiblities of a commissioner and why they are qualified to ask for your vote in November.

We hope you will join us Sept. 2, 2009 at 7:00 pm (6:30 pm social time), at Week's Dryer's Fellowship Hall, 220 134th St. S., Tacoma (Parkland). For information, contact Amy Cruver at amyann56@hotmail.com.

Please be sure to mark your calendar for Oct. 7th to hear from Luke Esser, the Chair of the Washington State Republican Party, as well as to celebrate our 59th birthday.

Early morning returns show Marty Campbell still has a substantial lead in the Tacoma District 4 City Council race. Roxanne Murphy remains in second place, with Susanne Marten a close third.

The latest results show Campbell with 58 percent of the vote, Murphy with 23 percent and Marten with 19 percent.

The Pierce County Auditor’s Office will release more results at 5 p.m. today.

The candidates for Tacoma’s District 4 City Council seat weigh in on the early results:

Marty Campbell: “I do think they look good. It really reflects a lot of hard work by a lot of people … It’s early, so I’ll be anxious to see the further returns.”

Roxanne Murphy: “It’s exciting that I’m at 22 percent as a rookie candidate. It will be fascinating to see additional votes come in. This is also showing that there are three very strong candidates running for this East Side seat. And that’s a very good thing.”

Susanne Marten: “It was a great campaign. I enjoyed learning more and more about this neighborhood and talking to people. I certainly want to wish the best to everyone.”