Activist attorney from Port Townsend considering challenge as a Democrat against Dicks
Port Townsend attorney and activist Paul Richmond stands outside his office. He is considering running against veteran Rep. Norm Dicks for the Democratic nomination for Congress. -- Photo by Jeff Chew/Peninsula Daily News
By Jeff Chew, Peninsula Daily News
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"David is my middle name," said the 46-year-old Port Townsend attorney, who is considering taking aim at upsetting Dicks, D-Belfair, from within Dicks' own party.
Richmond, who said he would run as a Democrat, plans to announce his candidacy for the 6th District congressional seat this week — if he decides to take the political plunge for the November election.
"The congressman usually doesn't comment until the opponent files for the office," said George Behan, spokesman for the North Olympic Peninsula's congressman, who has served in the House since 1977.
"He expects that there will be competition, and he looks forward to a race on the issues and on his record of service to the 6th District."
Dicks is the third-ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, serving on three subcommittees.
He is the chairman of the Appropriations Interior subcommittee and is a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Richmond, who moved about a year ago from Seattle — where he lived for 20 years — to Port Townsend to enjoy its quality of life, said his interest in running was piqued after hearing Dicks' positions at a Jefferson County Democratic Party gathering last year.
Civil liberties
The activist lawyer — who has been practicing since 2002 — is convinced that the civil liberties of U.S. citizens are at risk because of the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act of 2007, which was co-sponsored by Dicks.
The bill, which had broad bipartisan support, also was co-sponsored by Rep. David G. Reichert, R-Kent, and 13 other House members.
Richmond said the law focuses on ideology rather than criminal behavior, and threatens activity protected by the First Amendment.
"I think we're at a point in this country where we are looking at some threats to civil liberties," said Richmond, who has represented plaintiffs against the Seattle Police Department and in medical marijuana cases.
Richmond — who has a degree in film from the American Film Institute and the California Institute of the Arts — was a consultant and co-producer for the documentary film, "Urban Warrior."
The film looked at increasing use of military tactics by police, calling it "militarized policing," and included references to the Seattle Police Department's response to protests against the 1999 World Trade Organization conference.
In Port Townsend last month, an impassioned Richmond stood before the City Council, helping to convince its members to delay an ordinance that would prevent the homeless from camping in Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park.
Richmond contended that the ordinance would "bulldoze the rights of the homeless," who have limited shelter available in Port Townsend during the harshest months or winter.
As a former supporter of Dennis Kucinich for president, he also spoke as an uncommitted Democrat during the Jefferson County presidential caucuses in Port Townsend.
Get out of war now
Richmond said that while Dicks supports a phased withdrawal from Iraq, "I think we should get out of Iraq ASAP, right away."
He believes that veterans who are serving more than one tour of duty in Iraq are coming home jobless and without proper health care.
Richmond said he is concerned about a trend of hiring more police that he said began with President Clinton's 1999 crime bill to put 100,000 more officers on the streets.
That led to more property seizures to pay for the extra police, he said.
"We're seeing more and more police," Richmond said.
"If we have more police, we're going to see more arrests.
"That creates classes of people that become criminalized."
Richmond earned his law degree from the University of Washington.
His business Web site is at storytellinglawer.com.
His campaign's mailing address is P.O. Box 1534, Port Townsend, 98368.
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Port Townsend/Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
Last modified: March 01. 2008 9:00PM