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Republican Dino Rossi makes his opening statement at a debate in Spokane on Thursday. It was the fourth of five debates between Rossi and Gov. Chris Gregoire. Rossi made a campaign stop in Kelso on Monday. Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review

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Rossi promises salmon summit during Kelso rally

Monday, October 13, 2008 11:38 PM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi criticized Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire’s management of the state’s fisheries Monday and said he would “convene an emergency salmon summit immediately after taking office” to address the decades-long dispute over restoring salmon populations.

Speaking during a small morning rally at the Cowlitz County Republican Party headquarters in Kelso, Rossi said he would “consider all options” to ensure a “continued sustainable harvest of fish and the recovery of wild salmon.”

Rossi, neck-and-neck with Gregoire in the race’s most-recent polling, delivered his prepared remarks to a small group of Republican supporters and fishermen.

Gregoire’s campaign released a statement Monday questioning whether Rossi’s appeal to restore salmon populations is genuine.

“If you care about fisheries, check Republican Dino Rossi’s record and his backers, and you’ll find out that he doesn’t,” Gregoire spokesman Aaron Toso said. “He opposed a law to prevent dumping mercury into our environment — and that was after high levels of mercury were found in fish.”

Southwest Washington fishermen have been frustrated by a deal between Oregon and Washington officials that cut short this year’s salmon season on the lower Columbia River and extended it in urban areas along the Willamette River. Commercial and recreational fishermen on the lower Columbia said they got a raw deal.

Rossi said Monday that he would appoint new Fish and Wildlife commissioners who would treat constituents as “customers,” not “nuisances.”

“When small businessmen and women within the recreational fishing community are treated like nuisances and not customers by state government, it not only hurts these individuals, it hurts the economy,” he said.

Gary Huber, a commercial fisherman who lives in Cathlamet, said he supports Rossi’s ideas, but he’s skeptical.

“It all sounds good if it holds true,” he said. “We’ve heard basically this kind of stuff before.”

Darren Crookshanks, another commercial fisherman who lives in Longview, said he’ll vote for Rossi, partly because of Rossi’s plan to host a summit to resolve the problems. Crookshanks said dams, sea lions and other factors have made it all but impossible to restore salmon populations “naturally” as opposed to using hatcheries.

“The habitat’s gone now,” he said.

Rossi said he would spend $6 million to clean up an estimated 4,000 Puget Sound “ghost fishing nets,” which are abandoned, adrift and killing salmon.

He said he also would reform the state’s hatchery policies. “Providing a sufficient population of hatchery salmon and steelhead means that recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen can continue to harvest fish while we recover our wild salmon population,” he said.

“Christine Gregoire pledged to do this when she took office,” Rossi said, “but after four years we have witnessed the state of our hatcheries decline, not improve.”

The Gregoire campaign’s statement said fish management strategies should be based on “scientifically credible conservation principles.”

“Conservation first must be the foundation of future harvest and hatchery management practices,” the statement said.

Gregoire also said the governor has supported hatchery reforms, worked to protect and restore fish habitat and advocated tailoring fishing seasons take best advantage of hatchery stocks.

Related article:

Rossi makes campaign stop at Pacific Fibre  (July 28)

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Mr. Chinook wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:39 AM:

" Rossi definitely has my vote, again. "

gimpy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:48 AM:

" Fuggedaboutit, Dino. You had your chance to address fish issues when we appealled to you countless times to stop the LNG plant in the lower Columbia, right where the smolt adjust to salt water. Your reply? "What's LNG?" If you were serious about fish, you would know the answer to that! This is just another attempt to grab some last minute votes. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:41 AM:

" This is a long overdue concept. Da Tax Queen is pouring millions into clean up Puget Sound, and do nothing on the rest of the state. Typical of her politics. Please the Liberal crowd around Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and Olympia and forget about the rest. She hasn't done one thing for Southwest Washington. Total loser. At least Dino is looking out for the areas outside of Liberal Land. Vote Rossi and watch this state leap forward. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Everyone knows that the salmon runs dropped precipitously when the Bush administration allowed for the dams to hold back more water in the upper Snake/Columbia region, east of our mountains. In stead of letting science and nature work, it's all business, watering the high desert for the republican farmers. It's a resource fight and the republicans have been winning for years. You want fish? Vote Democrat and get back to nature and science. "

AmericanGirl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:02 AM:

" You have my vote Rossi without the fish issue, just please do away with the Queens taxes she has ran this state in the ground and we have people who want to let her run it even deeper. "

AmericanGirl wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Wow Rural citizen we have had democrat for the past 20 some odd years in Washington state Where are the fish???? The Democrats have turned Wash in to Calif. "

cheney119 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:09 AM:

" convene an emergency salmon summit immediately after taking office Wow! That should fix everything. I find when a politian (particularly republican politians) call for a study or summit all they produce is a report that no one even reads, they call this lip service and talk is cheap. Look who supports Rossi, the builders and developers, he's a real estate developer himself. Now tell me he's for saving salmon habitat on small creeks where people want to build homes. It just doesn't add up, there isn't one proposal that helps us down here and if you people think that's some kind of salmon policy have another cup of the kool-aid. If you really want to help the salmon in the Columbia eleminate all gillnetting in the Columbia River, they are simply arguing over who gets to catch the last fish, if you like buy back their boats and permits with sport fishing funds, but get the nets out! "

grams wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:45 AM:

" Oh Great, now we hear about how Rossi wants to do something about the Salmon issue.. Where the heck has he been in regard to the total distruction of approx 57 acres of prime smolt habitat on the Columbia River? NorthernStar will destroy that much of an area in the columbia Estuary where Salmon pause to metamorphose from fresh water breathers to salt water breathers before taking off for the Ocean. That spot has been a generational habitat for smolt salmon for eons, and for some deep pocket enterpranuers it will now become a turn around for LNG tankers????? This conservative will vote for the lesser of two evils this time around. At least our governor has finally acknowledged that FERCs Environmental Impact Statement is totally flawed. The only FERC board member who voted against FERC's favorable LNG decision was the man who came to The Columbia River and saw the truth. I believe that every vote counts and should be cast where it will do the most good , not just support a party nominee. After umpteen letters, telephone calls and public requests Mr. Rossi has not made one statement about LNG on the Columbia River, even though the Cowlitz County Republican Party mandated against Bradwood Landing and LNG on the Columbia River. Go Figure. "

mole wrote on Oct 14, 2008 10:02 AM:

" looks like most bloggers see the real reasons for no salmon,DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT,NO WATER,NO HATCHERIES AND A STATE THAT DOESN'T CARE!!!! "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:27 AM:

" Hey Cheney, how come Da Tax Queen hasn't removed the nets? She doesn't care about Southwest Washington. The only environmental program she has worked on is the Puget Sound issue? Why because that area is her Liberal base. Without the Liberals loonies from the Puget Sound, she wouldn't have had a chance to steal the election in 2004. This time she won't get that chance. Vote Rossi, vote for a better Washington than we've had the past 20 years of Liberal lunacy. "

biasmedia wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:27 AM:

" wow Rural Citizen you figured it all out the rep are against fish i think it was part of there campaign slogan same with that kool-aid your drinking guss we just need more good dem like frank barns god know how he help us all in the stock market mess up by helping it crash
lol well the truth in the matter is if you want to help the fish it will take community groups to do it not a politician
good knows they cant so anything just look at what all the tax queen done i know it wont take long its a short list "

nexus wrote on Oct 14, 2008 11:51 AM:

" I'm all for a fare swing at things. Dems have had Olympia for quite awhile now and things aren't doing so hot. So lets give a republican a shot and see how it turns out. Seems fair, I know one party does not have all the answers so I'd like to see what they bring to the table for once. "

novoselic wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:14 PM:

" I think we need more salmon in our rivers, streams and frying pans!! Good Luck with the summit - it won't be easy. Salmon recovery is a complex mix of property rights - like the interests of home / farm owners, timberland holders and public works like dams. Who owns the salmon? The fish are public property while at the same time, hard working fisherman catch the salmon so I can enjoy it with a nice chutney glaze with a side of potato. If elected, maybe Mr. Rossi could convene the summit at Grays River in western Wahkiakum county. The discussion will be in the trenches of controversy and perhaps he could find a way to move forward. "

CRFisherman wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:25 PM:

" An easy solution to the low numbers of salmon in our rivers....cancel all netting on the Columbia. The numbers of fish you'd see return would amaze all. It's a joke that the legislature has let it go as far as it has. Time to wrap it up and leave the rivers to the fish and people that actually put real dollars into the economy, sportfishermen. "

Mr. Bastinado wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:31 PM:

" WOW-TDN BAD BOY...You ask why she hasn't removed the nets??? And put how many commercial fishermen out of business?????You, the consumate Republican (Stay out of the way of business). Your argument is a contradiction of your own previous statements regarding how she's killing businesses. Obviously, if she yanked all the nets out of the river you'd rail against her for that. WOW "

Simple Man wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:46 PM:

" Ive got to admit it. Rossi sounds like a good choice for Wa. And Cheney do you just plain hate repubs or what. And where does an eye for an eye come from? "

Atrucker wrote on Oct 14, 2008 12:54 PM:

" If Dino is in to real estate then talking fish was just a sound bite to lure people in to vote for him . He knows fish mean some thing down here , so why not target that crowd .
You do not have to be the brightest light in the box to figure this out .
Rossi , you would be fighting the feds. Oregon, Idaho, and any river user that thinks he is being screwed for the fishes sake .
Science says we need to breach the dams in Idaho . Will you get that done MR Rossi ? I tend to think No.
Hatcheries are being closed for two reasons , no money , and help wild fish recover , which I call B>S> to . It is Trout unlimited trying to run the show. How that happened I have no clue .
Same reason they thow good steelhead into lakes so they can die each winter.
They call it added opportunity, I call it horrible waste . "

nimby wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:36 PM:

" More importantly, did the Kelso High band show up? "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:45 PM:

" Hey Bastinado, I wasn't the one saying take the nets out. Cheney did. All I did was aks the Liberal supporter of Da Tax Queen if he thinks that is a better solution than what Rossi is proposing then why didn't she do it in her first four years. Cheney is the one who said take the nets out, not me. I know what jobs will be lost. Apparently it is Cheney and you other Liberals who support Da Tax Queen who doesn't. "

Billy Hill wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:49 PM:

" cheney....I dare you to say one good thing on this blog about anyting. Pick the fish subject and say one good thing the dems have done to further the salmon stocks to this point. With your vast knowledge and advanced Progressive thought this should be a simple task. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:49 PM:

" ATrucker, you don't THINK Rossi can get it done. Well that means there is a possibility he will. We already KNOW that Da Tax Queen can't get it done. So why waste four more years? Wake up buddy. Your blind partisan faith doesn't make any sense. Give Rossi a chance. Da Tax Queen already had 4 years and did nothing except run this state into a hole. Vote Rossi for a better Washington. "

somedude wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:03 PM:

" I just hope that She doens't cheat again! I also hope that WE don't allow her to get away with cheating again! We should have kicked down the doors of the State Capitol and charged her!!! In my humble opinion "

pangborn wrote on Oct 14, 2008 2:57 PM:

" The way one can tell when a Republican candidate is lying... they move their lips. "

cheney119 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:12 PM:

" I'll say one good thing, I caught a 33" silver on the Kalama this morning, she resisted the procedure vigorously. I love living in a place where I can catch a fish 365 days a year then go for a bike ride or hike. Cowlitz County is way to good for most of you disgusting low lifes, here's a suggestion get out from behind you pathetic computers and DO SOMETHING besides bitch and moan!!! "

Nintendo fan180 wrote on Oct 14, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Well I know Rossi has my rents vote. I really hate how Southwest Washington is disrespected by Da Tax Queen. "

Mr. Bastinado wrote on Oct 14, 2008 5:56 PM:

" "TDN BAD BOY". For once, I must agree with you when you said, "Cheney said, ""take all the nets outta the river"". Obviously you must have been referring to when Dick (Darth Vader) Cheney came to Washington State to personally HELP AND ADVISE Dino Rossi on how to run (Inject) his campaign with his, and(Carl Rove's)best direction. Yes Sir, you are totally correct. Dick Cheney and Carl Rove, YOUR TOTAL HEROS. Yes indeed sir, you're a winner. "

Atrucker wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:15 PM:

" To : TDN Bad Boy, first you assume I vote .lmaorof . No politician has done any thing other than for their own interest as far as dams and fish go.
You on the other hand republicans can do no wrong . Hum , Bush worst President ever, Nixon, Watergate , Regan, star wars , Hoover, Great depression, need I say more about GOP screw ups.
It took a democrat to fix the depression . Toot your horn all you want but history does not lie . And if you think a land developer is for fish wrong again.
Chrissie is trying to plug the holes in the dike and that is about all she can do , with the mess our government is in . There ia a lot more to this than what you see . You are only allowed to see what they want you to see , remember that . Have a nice day . "

DestinyN wrote on Oct 14, 2008 7:35 PM:

" Rossi seems to have some good ideas, but honestly, I don't believe the taxes in Washington are really that terrible and I've seen a lot of progress there that has yet to surface in many other states. For instance, Washington has excellent medical care that I haven't found in any other states I've lived in. It's got the highest minimum wage in the country, which really benefits single-parent-trying-to-save-for-college-degree and I-just-lost-my-job-at-the-plant families. Rossi wants to actually DECREASE the minimum wage, which would help business (big and small) while causing EXTREME hurt to the families busting their behinds to keep the lights on. Education there, though it has many faults, is actually very good compared to other schools and at least you don't hear about another Washington school closing every other week. In my opinion, Gov. Gregoire has done an excellent job. I definitely wouldn't change *my* vote for some fish. "

Sea-Gal wrote on Oct 14, 2008 9:46 PM:

" You honestly believe Rossi cares about you once he has your vote? Take a wild guess where he lives. King County! "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:55 AM:

" I worked a time marking fish (salmon) for hatcheries under a private contractor. We (the markers) were told of a tanker full of little guys with a death sentance cause there were too many born! TOO MANY?? If we are trying to bring them back how can there be too many born? There were a few of us that thought if we could get up to that little hatchery and turn them little guys loose... we would be helping them. We were not able to... but the fact that these were not released just shows how our government thinks. They could have been released elsewhere in areas that didn't have such a high hatch rate... or areas of california where the salmon are just gone! I am not sure which of these people would do the best, I have heard good and bad on Rossi, I won't vote for our current governor, she don't listen to anyone with a lower income bracket than herself... as they are beneath her. "

faninthestands wrote on Oct 15, 2008 2:23 PM:

" There are alot of issues surrounding fish and the State of WA. The first place to start would be to get rid of WDFW director Jeff Koenings. This guy doesn't care about sportsfishermen, he's a pro-gillnet guy and it's frustrating to go to public hearings and listen to him "fish politic." We need someone running WDFW who listens to the masses, not the few special interest groups. "

mole wrote on Oct 15, 2008 4:11 PM:

" one hundred fifty gillnetters against one hundred fifty thousand sports anglers thats about fair usage,one gillnet to one thousand poles lets see,who catches more!!!! IF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH CANDY FOR THE WHOLE CLASS NOBODY SHOULD GET ANY !!!! STOP ALL FISHING. "

novoselic wrote on Oct 15, 2008 4:29 PM:

" Again, good luck on the summit. If comments on this article are any indication - get ready for a lot of partisan politics - fish or no fish. Salmon recovery is a complex issue and there are many conflicting interests. There should be a high level summit regardless of who is governor. The Grays River Grange would be happy to host such an event. If you want a glimpse into this controversy, here's an article from 2006 that I wrote about the issues in Grays River - http://graysriver.grange.wahkiakum.info/2006/03/index.html "

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