His departure leaves eight sure candidates, four from each party, and one Democrat, Denny Heck of Olympia, who is thinking about it.
“My family cannot afford a self-financing arms race, nor can I afford the preoccupation of campaigning while my 22nd Legislative District is at peril from cuts during the 2010 session. Since I sought office, my first priority has been others,” Williams said in a statement. “I would rather support others than finance an ego trip.”
Williams’ news release said that since his first run for a seat in the state House in 2004, he and his wife, Nicole, have donated $47,824 “to state political causes and campaigns.” He said they gave another $11,400 to races that are tracked by the Federal Elections Commission.
The four Republicans in the race are state Rep. Jaime Herrera of Camus; David Castillo, an Olympia-based financial adviser; Jon Russell, a Washougal City Council member and operator of health clinics; and David William Hedrick, a former Marine from Camas.
Announced Democrats include Cheryl Crist, an Olympia peace candidate; state Rep. Deb Wallace, a Vancouver Democrat; Hispanic activist Maria Rodriguez Salazar of the Vancouver area; and state Sen. Craig Pridemore of Vancouver.
