Republican 7th Congressional District candidate says he would be an independent bridge-builder

By Evan Smith

Republican 7th Congressional District candidate Ron Bemis says that he would be an independent bridge-builder in a sharply divided Congress.

Bemis said Friday that he would work with all sides to try to fix the nation’s financial problems.

He added that both Republicans and Democrats get locked into positions and nothing gets done.

Bemis is challenging Democratic incumbent Jim McDermott in the Aug. 7 primary along with Democrats Andrew Hughes, Charles Allen and Don Rivers, Republican Scott Sutherland, and independent Goodspaceguy, with the top two vote getters advancing to the Nov. 6 general election, regardless of party.

Bemis said that he expects to advance to November because primary voters are active voters who will read the voters’ pamphlet and see his message of a need for change in Congress.

The 7th District now includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Edmonds, Woodway, nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, most of Seattle and some of Seattle’s southwest suburbs.

A recent Federal Elections Commission report shows that Bemis had $6,133 in campaign cash, compared to $387,735 for McDermott, $209,845 for Hughes and $17,658 for Rivers, but Bemis said that voters decide elections, not money.