Dino Rossi Vs. The Democrats: WA 8 News, Week Of May 14

BONNEY LAKE, WA - Monday kicked off candidate filing week for 2018 races, and at least two candidates in the WA-8 race were first in line to file.

In King County, Democrat Shannon Hader and Independent Centrist Bill Grassie filed on Monday. Hader has been campaigning locally for months, so chances are you've heard of her or even met her. But who's Bill Grassie?

He's a former Microsoft executive and winemaker from Fall City. His policies are, well, very centrist. He says that college should be affordable "but not free" and he's both pro-choice and anti-choice? His positions seem somehow to the left of Dino Rossi, but to the right of the Democrats.

Other candidates will no doubt file throughout this week. We'll have a better picture of who's in and who's out by next Monday - filing week ends on Friday.

Candidates jump on popular issues

This week, candidate Kim Schrier issued a statement calling on Dino Rossi to "take a stand on net neutrality." She wants Rossi to state whether he's for it or favors the way the Trump administration is handling it.

Rittereiser this week came out in favor of single-payer healthcare. He made the announcement via an op-ed on his campaign website. It's a safe bet: an April Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 51 percent of Americans favor single-payer.

Happy Mother's Day from Dino Rossi

Endorsements

Shannon Hader: She was named a Moms Demand Action candidate of distinction for her position on guns. Hader, a doctor who worked at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has pointed out that the CDC is barred from doing research into gun deaths. She's also called shootings a "public health problem" in America. Hader also earned an endorsement from former state Senator Nita Rinehart, who served the 46th Legislative District, which is at the top of Lake Washington.

Jason Rittereiser: Rittereiser picked up some more union endorsements this week from the Pile Drivers and Divers Local 196 and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 66.

Upcoming events

• May 16 - Shannon Hader at Highpoint Village in Enumclaw
• May 19 - Flip the 8th canvass with state Democrats in Sammamish
• May 19 - Flip the 8th canvass with state Democrats in Renton
• May 19 - Shannon Hader canvassing in Auburn
• May 19 - Shannon Hader celebrates Pierce County Democrats in Tacoma
• May 29 - Jason Rittereiser's Listen & Learn Town Hall, William C. Warren Building, 411 E St NE, Auburn at 7:00 p.m.

Have a political event you want listed? Email neal.mcnamara@patch.com.