Olson Says Nethercutt Used By Powerful

Judy Olson claims Eastern Washington’s congressman is a tool of powerful people who don’t live in his district.

The Garfield, Wash., farmer says U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt works for House Speaker Newt Gingrich and wealthy lobbies like the National Rifle Association.

“I don’t think he’s representing us at all,” Olson said Monday, formally announcing her congressional campaign for the Democratic Party nomination at the Ridpath Hotel.

Olson, 50, peppered her speech with criticism of Nethercutt’s voting record, which she said followed Gingrich’s lead 96 percent of the time.

She slammed the Spokane Republican for trying to lift an assault-weapons ban while many constituents remained haunted by the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital massacre in 1994.

She also accused Nethercutt of a willingness to cut student loans and Medicare, programs she said are invaluable to the “hard-working, middle-class” families of Eastern Washington.

Olson, a firm, business-like Democrat, is a fourth-generation farmer and the first woman elected president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. In 1994, she became the first woman picked to head the national organization, too.

Not surprisingly, Olson’s harshest criticism of Nethercutt involved a farming issue. Early this month, he backed a measure to reduce payments to farmers even before farm subsidy programs are curtailed.

“I found that unconscionable,” Olson told a dozen supporters who showed up at the campaign event.

“George Nethercutt ran on the slogan that we needed a listener,” she said, recalling Nethercutt’s successful 1992 campaign to unseat House Speaker Tom Foley. “But I’m not sure who he’s been listening to.”

Olson said she believes Nethercutt misunderstood the message voters were sending when they elected him.

“When this district voted for change in 1994,” she said, “I don’t believe we voted to endorse Newt Gingrich’s agenda.”

Dennis Mitchell, a Nethercutt campaign aide, released this statement regarding Olson’s speech:

“Representative Nethercutt anticipates a healthy debate on the issues raised today and others, including reforming welfare to include a work requirement, allowing local law enforcement to fight crime without interference from federal bureaucracy and improving the quality of life for the families of Eastern Washington through continued efforts to balance the budget.”

Asked how she intends to mount a competitive campaign against a well-financed incumbent, Olson conceded raising the necessary money will be a problem.

“It’s very, very difficult,” she said, noting she intends to solicit campaign cash from outside the district.

Olson wouldn’t discuss the names of her potential outside backers until, she said, they commit to her campaign.

Campaign chairman Michael Ormsby said Olson has raised about $30,000 so far. He estimated she needs a total of about $300,000 to adequately challenge Nethercutt.

Nethercutt already has collected $156,000 to spend on his campaign.

Olson graduated from Garfield High School and attended Washington State University, but never graduated. She has been a full partner in her family farming operation for the past 20 years. She and her husband, Rich, grow wheat, barley and lentils. They have three sons.

One other Democrat, Sue Kahn, of Spokane, is vying for the opportunity to challenge Nethercutt at the polls in November.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo