Taylor named to legislative seat

They came, they listened, they selected.

An unusual "summit meeting" of county commissioners from a four-county area has resulted in the selection of David Taylor of Moxee, in Yakima County, to be the new state representative for the 15th Legislative District.

On March 30, commissioners from Klickitat County, Skamania County, Clark County, and Yakima County -- 12 in all -- came to Goldendale to name a replacement to fill the open Washington House seat.

The county commissioners who gathered at the Klickitat Public Utility District office had three Republican Party candidates to choose from: Custom sawyer Jake Anderson of White Salmon, Moxee agricultural consultant David Taylor, and former Sunnyside City Councilman Don Vlieger.

The three finalists were chosen by Republican Party precinct committee officers from the four-county region that comprises the 15th District. Only Republican candidates were considered because the open seat had previously been held by a Republican, former State Rep. Dan Newhouse.

Newhouse left the Legislature in February after Gov. Chris Gregoire asked him to become director of the Washington Department of Agriculture.

In the end, the commissioners voted 8-4 for Taylor over Anderson. Vlieger did not receive any votes.

Monday's vote means Yakima County will continue its domination of the legislative district. All of the 15th District's representatives -- Taylor, State Rep. Bruce Chandler, and State Sen. Jim Honeyford -- reside in Yakima County. Newhouse also is from Yakima County.

The vote for Taylor went against the recommendation of the 35 Republican PCOs who selected the three finalists -- they had ranked White Salmon's Anderson as their number one choice.

Anderson is a third-generation cattle operator who also co-owns Anderson's Custom Sawing, a specialty sawmill north of White Salmon. He has been active in local Republican Party politics, and is currently in his second term as secretary for the Klickitat County Republicans.

After the commissioners' vote, Anderson maintained a positive attitude, and pledged to support Taylor in the fall election campaign.

"The county commissioners voted for who they thought would best serve the constituents of the 15th District," Anderson said. "I wish David the best of luck, and will do everything I can to get him elected. This has been such a positive experience, and it just means I get to go back to sawing lumber and enjoying the county."

Anderson acknowledged, however, that this was the second time he had been named as the top choice of the Republican PCOs for a political position, yet in both cases he saw the position go to another candidate.

In early 2008, Klickitat County PCOs named Anderson their preferred candidate for an open Klickitat County Commission seat -- a job that went to current Commissioner Rex Johnston.

On Monday, Johnston voted for Taylor, who lives and works in Yakima County. Klickitat County Commissioners David Sauter and Ray Thayer also went for Taylor.

Anderson indirectly questioned the lack of backing from his home county.

"The commissioners did what they felt was right and I have to respect their beliefs and decision," Anderson said. "As to why the Klickitat County Commissioners voted for another candidate, you'll have to ask them."

Johnston said Taylor's experience impressed him.

"Anderson is an excellent campaigner and presents himself well, but ultimately I think experience is what swayed everybody more than anything," Johnston said. "Experience tipped the scales. Taylor had so much more experience than the other two."

All three of Skamania County's votes went for Anderson, along with one vote from Clark County. All the others -- including all three from Klickitat County, three from Yakima County, and two from Clark County -- went for Taylor.

In addition to running an agriculture consulting firm -- Taylor Consulting Group -- Taylor owns a steel fabrication business in Moxee and operates a cattle ranch as well.

Taylor pledged to visit each county to get a better feel for issues of interest in communities around the district.

"I will be in each county. I've already committed myself to being out there every day," Taylor said.

Taylor added that he would not have any trouble representing the interests of counties other than his own Yakima County.

"I will follow the Chandler, Newhouse, Honeyford model. I also look at the associations I have with the Farm Bureau and the Cattlemen's Association," he said.

Johnston said he did not enjoy having to make the call among what he considered three good candidates.

"It was really very difficult for all of us," Johnston said. "We really dislike decisions like this, where somebody has to win, somebody has to lose. I hate that. I'd like to see everyone who has the gumption to get out there and throw their hat into the ring to win. But I can't vote for someone just because he is a neighbor."

Johnston added that he was impressed with how Anderson handled the outcome of the commissioners' vote.

"He took it really well; he was very big about it," Johnston said.

Johnston said he anticipates there will be some local folks who are disappointed he didn't vote for the "hometown" candidate.

"We would have loved to have somebody from Klickitat County, but we were not about to do it for that reason," Johnston explained. "We can't make decisions based on who we like the best or know the best. We have to take into consideration the whole district, and also who is most likely to get elected. If someone is in there for six months and voted out, what would that benefit us? I'm sure a lot of people are mad at me -- but that goes with the job."

Although Taylor was immediately sworn in to fill the legislative seat, his campaigning is not over -- the appointee must face the district's voters this fall. A two-year term in the Legislature will be at stake on the fall general election ballot, and Taylor is virtually certain to face a challenger from the Democratic Party.

With the primary election coming in August, it's also possible one or more Republicans will jump into the race as well.

Taylor pointed out that he believes he will be a strong political candidate in the fall, no matter who runs against him.

"I don't like to fail," Taylor said. "If I am behind, I will work harder and my people will work harder. I have a broad level of experience."

Anderson took a philosophical view on the outcome.

"It has been 25 years since there has been a state legislator from the Gorge, and it's just going to have to be a little longer," Anderson said.