HOQUIAM — A second Democrat has jumped into the ring to vie for a state 24th Legislative District seat.
Tammy Ramsay, 48, of Hoquiam announced Wednesday her intention to run as a Democrat for the district that covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
“My campaign will address education, economic development through working ports and tourism while preserving the natural beauty and ecosystems of the 24th District, and I will work to get better funding for local law enforcement agencies,” Ramsay said in her written announcement.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman announced his candidacy Monday. He is running as a Democrat.
Candidate filing takes place from May 16-20.
The top two vote recipients for each office in the Aug. 2 primary election will advance to the Nov. 8 general election.
Ramsay said she has been a political activist in Olympia for eight years and has lived in Hoquiam since 2000.
She is married with two adult children and two grandchildren.
She began her work in the political arena in 2004 as a volunteer for the political campaigns of Gov. Christine Gregoire and President Barack Obama, then stayed in Olympia to lobby the state Legislature in the fields of education, family-wage jobs, the cannabis industry and laws dealing with driving under the influence, Ramsay said Wednesday.
“The state is going to have to address again our DUI laws,” she said.
Driver impairment
Ramsay’s view is that current laws do not address actual impairment of drivers. She said measuring the blood level of substances such as alcohol and THC does not show how impaired a driver is.
“I don’t want DUI offenders to get out of charges,” she said.
Ramsey said she would work with other legislators.
“I don’t like the polarization in politics today. I work well across the aisle,” she said.
Sen. Jim Hargrove, who currently represents the 24th District in the state Senate, announced March 10 his intention to retire.
On Monday, state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim announced his intent to run for Hargrove’s state Senate seat, while Chapman, 52, took aim at Van De Wege’s seat.
Chapman, who announced earlier that he would not run again for the board of county commissioners, began his political career as a Republican, changed his affiliation to independent, then joined the Clallam County Democrats in November.
Republican Maggie Roth and Democrat Ron Richards have announced their intentions to run for Chapman’s seat.
Prior to his election as commissioner, Chapman served as a local law enforcement officer and U.S. customs inspector. In that position, he was credited with apprehending terrorist Ahmed Ressam in 1999 and thwarting Ressam’s plan to bomb Los Angeles International Airport.
Chapman and his wife of 27 years, Bobbi, live in Port Angeles and have two sons, Larsson and Anders.
Van De Wege is majority whip in the House Democratic Caucus, a position he has held since 2010. He serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, Health Care Committee, Rules Committee and is a member of the Commerce and Gaming Committee.
He is a lieutenant with Clallam County Fire District No. 3 and lives in Sequim with his wife, Jennifer, a high school teacher. They have two children, Allison and Jackson.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.