Didier: ‘All in’ for 4th District race
For anyone who had any doubts about his intentions about running for Congress, Clint Didier ended them today.
He scoffed at the prospect of setting up an "exploratory committee" and announced he was a candidate at a morning press conference in Pasco. He's got a second event at 2 p.m. at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane.
"I'm all in and up and running," he said. The full press release can be found inside the blog.
CLINT DIDIER “ALL IN” 4TH CONGRESSIONAL RUN
FORMER NFL CHAMPION SAYS … NOW IS THE TIME
PASCO, WA February 17, 2014
Clint Didier said today he is honored by the overwhelming encouragement he has received over the past several days to run for the 4th Congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Doc Hastings. Didier said his cell phone was instantly loaded with calls from supporters immediately following Doc Hastings retirement announcement on Thursday. I’m getting calls and support from all over the state. That’s a nice place to begin.” Clint said. “And I am pleasantly surprised that Seattle media and some Republican Party officials are already calling me the frontrunner.
Didier said he spent time with his family and closest advisors over the weekend to consider the pros and cons. “Campaigning is tough work. You cannot do it unless your family and friends are behind you 100 percent. And like it was in the NFL, that’s the effort I will give this race. This is not an ‘exploratory committee.’ I’m all in and up and running.
“This is President’s Day and it occurs to me that most of our founding fathers were farmers, like me. George Washington was a farmer. It also occurs to me that they were up against the same things we are again today. That is government run amuck.”
“Everyone I talk with seems to share an uneasiness about this time in America. It’s an uneasiness about our future. Even though they can’t put their finger on it, everyone seems to know it centers on the size and scope of the federal government. It has to change and we need those willing to take the tough votes to change it. I am.”
“I think most people in the 4th district want someone they can trust to push back against the ever- growing nanny state. They are tired of an economy that cannot produce jobs. And they are tired of Republicans who can’t seem to get the job done when it comes to things like saying ‘no’ to higher taxes, big bailouts, never-ending regulations that are stifling our economy, and government sticking their noses into our private decisions, like healthcare choices.”
“So, now is the time. Now is the time to elect someone not afraid to push back against the bureaucracy and special interests behind it. It’s time to get this Party rallying once again around the ideal of limited government. I will be faithful to that cause.”
“Finally, I want to thank Doc Hastings for his 20 years service. He is a good man and I wish him well in his retirement.”
Clint Didier is a former NFL tight end and two-time Super Bowl Champion. Born into a farm family in Eltopia, Washington, Didier rose to play nine years in the NFL, seven of those with the Washington Redskins. Following his NFL career, Clint returned to Eltopia with his wife to raise a family of four children and continue farming where he began.
Didier graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Political Science.
