Democrat Tannehill - 'A Different Wing of the Party'

New face to replace Senator Cantwell?

NCW Media Managing Editor Gary Bégin interviewed Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Clint Tannehill at Bob's in downtown Wenatchee about his desire to replace longtime Senator Maria Cantwell.

Here is what he had to say:

NCW Media: There are about 29 candidates for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by longtime Senator Maria Cantwell. Why are you attempting this uphill battle?

Tannehill: Just because you won before, doesn’t mean you automatically win again. Somebody has to keep the system honest. I also believe that there is a large portion of the Democratic Party and Washingtonians that do not feel represented with our current leadership. I think it is clear with how many people are running that the state wants a change. The people are tired of the political machine that has been dominating politics for too long.

WBJ: Are there certain polices she supports that you don't?

Tannehill: I think NAFTA needs a serious overhaul. It was put in place without thinking of the needs of the people (both foreign and domestic), and only really catered to the corporations. Maria Cantwell also supported the ACA, while I support a single-payer system.

WBJ: Both of you are Democrats, so it appears you are in a "different wing" of the party?
Tannehill: Yes. I am in the wing of the party that represents the working class, the 65-plus, and all of those that feel left behind by the disconnected party elites. I represent those with no seat at the table, the ones that can’t afford lobbyists, the ones that don’t typically fund political campaigns; the ones that need policy to work for them the most.

WBJ: What about gun rights, regulations and related security areas.

Tannehill: Washington State has sensible gun laws in place that must be implemented nationwide. We need the background check system to work across all government agencies and across all states, and we must create systems that effectively execute these laws coast-to-coast. We need to push for the nation to mirror the gun laws of Washington. Gun violence liability must follow the perpetrator as well as the gun owner. As a personal victim of gun violence, my goal is to promote safe storage of firearms. This alone will save lives.

WBJ: What about Tariffs, trade wars and imports-exports?

Tannehill: We need to work away from trade wars and get an understanding of a trade system that works for all parties. International  trade can be good if done correctly. We should work to stop the international trading of subsidized industries and crops. Our current trade system has been broken from the get-go because it is designed with only the corporations in mind, not the welfare of the workers and the common people.

WBJ: Trump seems invincible in his ability to distract the world from his corruption and his cabinet's corruption. What are you going to do about it if elected? Impeachment?

Tannehill: I think we should work on the things we can and focus solely on those areas while we wait out his tenure. If something comes about where it is without a question an impeachable offense then of course impeachment would be an option. But I think that chasing the cat is not the answer.

WBJ: Please flesh-out your personal profile for our readers here in North Central Washington:

Tannehill: I am a fifth-generation Washingtonian, born in Eastern Washington and raised in Hillyard. If you live in Spokane, you know Hillyard is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Washington. But Hillyard is also a place where the people take extreme pride in where they come from. Many people might consider Hillyard a ghetto, or a bad place to grow up, but to me, I see it as a place where people work hard and celebrate their community, no matter how disadvantaged they are. Growing up in Hillyard left me with a unique grit and perseverance that not everyone has. It may have been a survival mechanism rather than a choice, but I believe that’s what helped instill my sense of determination to take something mediocre and make it reach its full potential. What I do wish for this area is more youth programs and more adult education opportunities. It also has many issues with addiction and people on public assistance similar to many other low income areas. I would love to see this change in Hillyard and statewide.
Many of my professional endeavors have been in pursuit of seeing this idea become reality. I continue to run companies in the private sector and develop many new companies in various industries. I have also been successful in real estate investing throughout Washington for many years. Since a higher education was not an option for me growing up, I worked to make college a possibility for myself. I studied Business Administration & Management at Spokane Falls Community College and Political Science at Seattle Central College and the University of Washington. This has greatly impacted my commitment to universal higher education.
Today I live in Seattle with my fiancée Olivia and our dog Whodi. Working on cars is now a hobby of mine, and I enjoy restoring cars and motorcycles in my spare time. I am currently restoring one of my very first vehicles, a 1967 Buick Riviera.

WBJ: Why would Clint Tannehill be good for Washington in D.C.?

Tannehill: I will be good because I will find the center where people agree and will work there. I will represent the true needs and ideas of Washington State. That is the only agenda that I have to push: the will of the people.