Richard Carson announces he is the “independent” candidate in 2010!

Just a few short weeks ago, Richard Carson announced his candidacy for a seat in the Washington House of Representatives in the 2010 election. The 18th-District Hockinson resident is currently active in working to stop the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) from building a 500 kilovolt transmission towers through southwest Washington. Carson, who is semi-retired, does consulting work in several Western states to improve government agencies’ customer service efforts and to make them more cost-efficient.

Carson is running as an independent.

“I have lost faith in the Republican and Democrat parties,” said Carson. “Both parties are more concerned about the special interests who are lining their pockets than they are about what their constituents want. Southwest Washington needs a strong and independent voice!”

Carson said that “jobs and the economy are the central issues. We have the highest unemployment in the state! Instead of raising state and local taxes, we need to work to retain and create jobs.”

Carson noted that, “I am also at a loss about why anyone would consider putting a toll on a new Interstate 5 bridge. That is a federal bridge connecting San Diego to Seattle. Why should we pay a toll?”

Carson currently volunteers time for CASE 31 (Citizens Against SEgment 31). The group is one of many trying to get the BPA to build underground electric transmission lines that don’t have the same health, environmental or visual impacts as the proposed 150 foot tall towers. Carson has also been a trustee of the Hockinson Public Schools Foundation and the Kit Carson Historic Museums in Taos, New Mexico. Carson says, “I am a descendant of Kit Carson and my roots in this community go back over 155 years. That’s when Kit Carson and Colonel John Fremont expedition reached Fort Vancouver. They created the Oregon Trail and opened up the American West. We need more of that same entrepreneurial spirit today.”2009

Carson will bring 30 years of budget and management experience to the job. Most recently he was director of the Clark County Community Development Department where he managed 165 staff, a $17.5 million budget and reviewed over $600 million a year in new projects. Carson holds a masters degree in administration from Lewis and Clark College and an undergraduate degree in geography from Portland State University. Carson is also a decorated Vietnam-era Navy veteran. Carson is a nationally known writer about over-regulation and property rights, and has published over 100 essays.

Carson is running for Position 1 in the 18th legislative district, now held by republican Jaime Herrera – (who has also just announced she will be running for Brian Baird’s position in Congress this year). Carson’s prospective district includes Camas, Washougal, Hockinson, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, La Center and Yacolt in Clark County; and Woodland, Kalama and Castle Rock in Cowlitz County. Rich, his wife Sue and their two daughters live on 20 acres in rural Hockinson with their three horses, three dogs and a lot of chickens.

Carson said, “I love this place. It is truly John Deere country!”

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