National Committeewoman Speaks To Yakima County Republicans

2011 Yakima County Republican Central Committee Lincoln Day Dinner

National Committeewoman Fredi Simpson with Congressman Doc Hastings.

This year’s Lincoln Day Dinner event for the Yakima County Republicans was held Friday night at the Clarion Hotel in Yakima.  Guest speakers Fredi Simpson (National Committeewoman for the Washington State Republican Party) and Congressman Doc Hastings led off with short speeches to start the evening’s events.

This post is about Fredi Simpson’s speech.  Additional information about Doc Hastings comments and follow-on events will be covered in another post soon.

Fredi Simpson began her comments by praising those who serve as Precinct Committee Officers or PCO’s for short.  She pointed out that Washington is among just a few states that make this an elected position.  Simpson said that made the Party more responsive to grassroots concerns.

To change the makeup of elected offices in the state, she suggested that people leave their egos at home.  Simpson said it is unrealistic to expect everyone to agree.  Simpson told the audience to carry a toothpick to remind you to “pick your battles”.  She pointed out that elected officials in Washington D.C. had cut more spending than at any time since World War II, and that we need to thank them for their hard work.

Simpson said we should thank Republicans for standing firm in Olympia as well.  Due to their presence, the legislature is now in special session.

Next she said carry a rubber band to remind yourself to be flexible.  Work with candidates, and other people, and recognize that not everything will go the way you want it to.  Elected officials hear much more information in hearings than you get from the news sound bites.  Keep that in mind when deciding who to support.

Also, carry a piece of gum to remind you to “stick to it”, Simpson said.  She referenced Ronald Reagan running in both 1976 and 1980 before he won the election.

Finally, she said to carry a band-aid to remind yourself that words can hurt worse than physical damage.  ”After a primary battle, you need to be Republican enough to call the other candidate or supporters and have lunch, coffee, or something else.  Unless we are willing to step up to the plate and heal those wounds, we will never win”, said Simpson.

At the end, Fredi Simpson said that in the next election that Washington will have a 10th Congressional seat, Senator Cantwell and the office of Governor up for election.  ”We all need to be working together next year,” she said.