Inslee, a Democratic U.S. Congressman representing the Seattle area, is a candidate to succeed Gov. Chris Gregoire. Gregoire is not seeking relection in 2012. Inslee will most likely face Republican state attorney general Rob McKenna in the general election.
Please click the photo above for more.
Inslee grew up in the Shorewood area. He attended Shorewood Elementary and Cascade Middle schools.
Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, Deputy Mayor Brian Bennett and Hispanic community leader Mauricio Ayon accompanied Inslee on the tour.
The tour began at the Burien City Hall/Library and went to the Electric Train Store and Carnicera Zacetecas grocery before ending at the 909 Coffee and Wine Bar in Olde Burien.
Inslee talked to train shop owner Scott Law, grocery owner maria Vidrio and coffee shop owner Kelly Ricci while visiting their establishments.
Inslee also stopped in West Seattle, and West Seattle Herald's Steve Shay reported the following from that visit:
Gov. candidate Inslee, "We're not going to allow the virus in Wisconsin get into Washington to attack middle class"
The congressman spoke at fundraiser at Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction
White Center-raised Congressman Jay Inslee spoke at the rock n' roll-themed Feedback Lounge last night in the Morgan Junction of West Seattle during a fundraiser. he is running for governor against GOP candidate Rob McKenna, Washington’s Attorney General.
KC Council member Joe McDermott Intro
King County Council member and West Seattle resident Joe McDermott introduced Inslee to a crowd of about 30, also introducing Representatives Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon, (D) 34th District, Marcy Stone and Tim Nuse, 34th District Democrats. Also present were organizers LeeAnne Beres, Shannon Braddock, Les Treall and Bob Walsh.
McDermott added jocularly, "I want to welcome and acknowledge that while our county executive could not be with us, he sent even better people, his brother Blair, and parents John and Lois Constantine."
"I believe in his experience and his values, what he'll bring to Washington State," McDermott said of Inslee."His experience in the Yakima Valley area brings a perspective that the average statewide candidate we see does not have (...) I think that balance from across the state will serve us well. He is a srong supporter of clean sustainable energy sources. He is passionate about that, in our state, and across the country.
He continued, "Close to my heart is his strong support for marriage equality."
Rep. Jay Inslee speaks
"I cannot wait for that bright day when I am equal with my wife," Inslee responded with a laugh, then continued seriously. "I have a 39 year marriage, really a great blessing, raising 3 kids (...) We have had a great life together. I fundamentally believe there is no politician in this state or any other state that should say (the gay community) can't have a shot at what I have had. I think it's a value of the state of Washington and I plan to pursue (marriage equality).
"I am a fifth generation son of the State of Washington," he continued. "The best days of my life growing up was when my mom and dad took me to Lincoln Park, and roast weenies on a nice summer day. When we lived in White Center, (He attended Cascade Middle School) I listened to some great sermons at Fauntleroy Congregational Church while viewing the incredible cedar trees in back of that church. And now, as governor of the state of Washington I'm going to do everything humanly possible that those trees around this evergreen state will continue to grow to keep this state ever green.
"I am the candidate in this race who knows the working people of the state of Washington," he said. "I learned to work from my dad who taught biology at Sealth and Garfield. We think he taught Jimi Hendrix biology, not chemistry." (That got a huge laugh.)
"I painted houses in Burien, drove a bulldozer in Bellevue, washed dishes and waited tables in Edmonds, taught community college in Yakima, prosecuted drunk drivers in Everett, represented Hanford nuclear workers, practiced some law in Tacoma. I recognize the value of workers of all stripes in every corner of this state. I am the candidate who pledges to assure that were not going to allow the virus that has gotten into the state of Wisconsin get into the state of Washington to attack the middle class.
"Early childhood education is the best investment we can make. We're going to stop cutting early learning child teachers and start cutting loopholes for out of state corporations that they do not need. We're going to find money through health care savings, provide our teachers better training. We've got dedicated teachers, and principals, but will compress the time it takes to remove a teacher if they are not cutting the muster.
I will announce a grant with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to start biotech industry with bio fuel in the state of Washington. People laughed at me when I started advocating this several years ago when I said that we could maybe fuel our economy and maybe jets with biofuel and the Republicans said it was a pipe dream. Well, two months ago Targeted Growth in Seattle, by taking biofuels from eastern Washington, put it in a 747 jet and flew it across the Atlantic."
Regarding Boeing's South Carolina factory, he said, "We've got to maintain a great transportation system so that Boeing can't say that we can't move their products around. That's where Tim Eyman's efforts to destroy infrastructure around the state are so dangerous."
An audience member asked Inslee, "Why run?"
He responded, in part, "Tough as it is, I still believe in the ability of Uncle Sam to help, even in these difficult times."
