Oregon Public Broadcasting

With an open congressional seat, candidates for Washington’s 3rd Congressional District are busily courting voters. Democratic women in Clark County hosted a Saturday meeting with candidates.

That same day, Republicans got a good look at their favorite contenders at the County convention. The race to replace Democrat Brian Baird could be one of the most competitive in the country. The narrowing field is in a race that’s been influenced by new voters, and a bruising health care debate. In Washington, candidates don’t even file until June. But voters in the 3rd District race are already taking stock of the candidates.This vetting committee grilled financial advisor and Republican David Castillo last week. The group is We the People, a collection of self-described Constitutionalists and others who came together during the Tea Party rallies last summer.

Committee member Lynn Costello said, "We have a multi-level vetting process, which involves Questionnaires we send out in the mail.”The questions continue on a stage, in front of several dozen voters."My question to you is, in an effort to reduce the size of government, can you name three federal agencies you’d like to see eliminated, returning those functions to the states?," Costello asked CastilloIt’s hard to hear on the tape, but Castillo went for the EPA, and the Departments of Energy and Education.Castillo’s a tall, gregarious guy with the conservative credentials that please this group. He held various jobs in the Bush administration focusing on homeland security, as well as veterans issues.

Some years ago, he worked for a conservative group whose funders have become closely allied with the Tea Party movement.  Castillo is clearly counting on a groundswell of new, like-minded voters."I ultimately believe the folks who are getting engaged who’ve never been engaged before, becoming part of the so-called Tea Party movement, is a great thing. If we abide by the principles of limited government and common sense conservatism, those people are going to remain engaged," he said.Castillo got into the race early, before the incumbent Democrat, Brian Baird, announced he would not run for re-election. That hasn’t stopped another up-and-comer from the right, State Representative Jaime Herrera.“In Southwest Washington, and I think this is intensified, we like to pick the person. It’s less about the party affiliation, and more about whether that person’s going to work hard," she said.Like Castillo, Herrera is young, and grew up in the district. She cut her political teeth in Olympia, working for trusted GOP names like Congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris-Rogers.

She’s new in office, since 2007, but gets generally high marks from Republican colleagues as a quick study. Her entry in the race was welcomed by party leaders, who think she has potential to raise a lot of money.Another Republican candidate is David Hedrick, a former Marine who shot to right-wing stardom after delivering a town-hall tongue-lashing to Brian Baird last summer.

The field gets more crowded factoring in Democratic candidates.Olympia activist Cheryl Crist challenged Brian Baird back in 2004. She’s back this year, pitching a peace platform.

Maria Rodriguez-Salazar, an organizer of several recent regional campaigns, has also joined the race.But two heavy hitters have dominated fundraising and endorsements so far. Denny Heck is one the best-connected Democrats in the state.The unemployment rates in the 3rd Congressional District are 14.5% 14.6%, 14.7%, and 15%. We have to shove the other stuff aside and say this is the highest priority," he said.Heck’s spent decades in public service, from serving as a state rep for Clark and Skamania Counties to chief of staff for former Governor Booth Gardner.

After several years in the private sector he says he wants to go to Congress to jump-start economic solutions. As for fundraising, in the last quarter of last year, he raised more than all other candidates combined.

But State Senator Craig Pridemore shows no sign of backing down. "I find the voters very skeptical, very cynical, and really looking for a reason to believe that the system is worth participating in. I think voters are looking for people who respond to their needs," he said.Pridemore’s resume includes time as Clark County Board Chairman. He’s now a state Senator, whom colleagues call pragmatic and energetic. More than one Democrat has been heard lamenting the choice between Pridemore and Heck.This healthy crop of candidates sprouted in part because of the structure of the Washington state primary. The top-two vote-geters, regardless of party affiliation, will advance to the general. Two Republicans might face off in November - or two Democrats, or one of each.Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the Rothenberg Report, said never mind the format - neither of the national parties can afford to ignore the Third District. “I think both parties are going to have to make very critical spending decisions when it comes to these races. They’re working with a finite amount of money, they’re looking at 60, 70, 80 house races across the country, but I think the real fight is in open seats like WA 3rd," he said.Gonzales predicts a lot of polling, and grueling scrutiny for the candidates.