Timm Ormsby faces two challengers for House seat

Opponents of state Rep. Timm Ormsby in the Aug. 2 Washington primary say it’s time for the incumbent to go.

“He’s been there long enough,” Republican Laura Carder said. “I think he is taking the voters way too much for granted.”

They’re running for a House seat representing the 3rd Legislative District, which includes central Spokane.

Ormsby, a 57-year-old Democrat, has been re-elected to the seat every two years since 2004.

“I feel confident in my campaign,” Ormsby said. “I feel most confident in my record. I’m happy to run on my record.”

Carder, 69, said she wanted to run against Ormbsy in part because he doesn’t “represent the will of the people on some of the bills.”

However, Ormsby said, “When I go to Olympia and do the job, I’m constantly thinking of the people I’m there on behalf of.”

“I consider it a very high honor,” he said. “The thing that I want to do most is craft budgets and policies that reflect the values of our communities.”

Carder acknowledged that while it may be challenging to win in the heavily Democratic district, she doesn’t believe Republicans should let Democrats run unopposed.

“It’s a long shot, but it’s worth the effort,” she said.

Carder said she wants to return to Christian values that “make our nation a great nation.”

“We’ve got to stop promoting homosexuality, transgenderism and so forth, and focus more on employment, private-sector employment,” she said.

Paul Delaney, a 51-year-old Libertarian, entered the race because he feels politicians have too much power. He called Ormsby “a government hack.”

“I’m not an incumbent,” Delaney said. “I’m a person that says what needs to be said. I don’t bow to political pressure. I do what I feel is right. I don’t do what the government feels I should do, I do what I feel is right for the people.”

Delaney said if elected, he would work to fast-track completion of the north Spokane freeway.

The two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November election.