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| '''Dino J. Rossi''' (born October 15, 1959) is an ] politician and businessman who has served in the ]. He ran for ] in 2004, losing by 133 votes in what was the closest gubernatorial election in the history of the United States. Four years later, in 2008, he unsuccessfully contested the office a second time. He has also been a candidate for ]. | '''Dino J. Rossi''' (born October 15, 1959) is an ] politician and businessman who has served in the ]. He ran for ] in 2004, losing by 133 votes in what was the closest gubernatorial election in the history of the United States. Four years later, in 2008, he unsuccessfully contested the office a second time. He has also been a candidate for ]. | ||
| Originally from ], Rossi graduated from ] and later pursued a career in commercial real estate. From 1997 to 2003 he sat in the state Senate where, as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, he was widely credited for closing a $2.7 billion budget deficit with bipartisan support. After twice losing election to the ], and once to the United States Senate, Rossi returned to the Washington State Senate, being appointed in 2012, and again in 2016, to fill midterm vacancies. He is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. | Originally from ], Rossi graduated from ] and later pursued a career in commercial real estate. From 1997 to 2003 he sat in the state Senate where, as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, he was widely credited for closing a $2.7 billion budget deficit with bipartisan support. The 2004 election was stolen by Democrats through election fraud. Felons, dead people and illegal aliens were found to have voted for Christine Gregoire who won by less than 150 votes. She then went on to forever destroy Wa State while enrichening herself and her cohorts. After twice losing election to the ], and once to the United States Senate, Rossi returned to the Washington State Senate, being appointed in 2012, and again in 2016, to fill midterm vacancies. He is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. | ||
| ==Early life, education, and career== | ==Early life, education, and career== | ||
Revision as of 15:39, 22 August 2018
| Dino Rossi | |
|---|---|
| File:Dino Rossi Official.jpg | |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 45th district | |
| In office December 5, 2016 – November 29, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Andy Hill |
| Succeeded by | Manka Dhingra |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 5th district | |
| In office July 2012 – November 30, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Cheryl Pflug |
| Succeeded by | Mark Mullet |
| In office January 13, 1997 – December 4, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Drew |
| Succeeded by | Cheryl Pflug |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1959-10-15) October 15, 1959 (age 65) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Terry Rossi |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Seattle University (BA) |
Dino J. Rossi (born October 15, 1959) is an American politician and businessman who has served in the Washington State Senate. He ran for Governor of Washington in 2004, losing by 133 votes in what was the closest gubernatorial election in the history of the United States. Four years later, in 2008, he unsuccessfully contested the office a second time. He has also been a candidate for United States Senate.
Originally from Seattle, Washington, Rossi graduated from Seattle University and later pursued a career in commercial real estate. From 1997 to 2003 he sat in the state Senate where, as chair of the Ways and Means Committee, he was widely credited for closing a $2.7 billion budget deficit with bipartisan support. The 2004 election was stolen by Democrats through election fraud. Felons, dead people and illegal aliens were found to have voted for Christine Gregoire who won by less than 150 votes. She then went on to forever destroy Wa State while enrichening herself and her cohorts. After twice losing election to the governorship, and once to the United States Senate, Rossi returned to the Washington State Senate, being appointed in 2012, and again in 2016, to fill midterm vacancies. He is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in 2018.
Early life, education, and career
Rossi was the youngest of seven children brought up by his mother Eve, a beautician of Irish and Tlingit ancestry, and his father John Rossi, an Italian-American Seattle Public Schools teacher at Viewlands Elementary in North Seattle. Rossi was raised in Mountlake Terrace and graduated from Woodway High School in Edmonds. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management from Seattle University in 1982.
After college, Rossi began in the commercial real estate business, working for Melvin G. Heide at Capretto & Clark. Rossi followed Heide to two more firms as Heide was being investigated for fraud and false statements; Heide later pleaded guilty. Rossi later became a commercial real estate salesman, managing and owning real estate. Rossi was formerly an owner of the Everett Aquasox minor league baseball team. He is co-founder of the Bellevue, Washington-based Eastside Commercial Bank.
Political career
State Senate tenure
In 1992, Rossi ran for a Washington State Senate seat in a district representing suburbs east of Seattle, Washington in the Cascade foothills. After winning a divisive Republican Party primary, he lost the general election. In 1996, Rossi ran again for the State Senate and was elected.
Rossi served in the Washington State Senate from 1997 until December 2003, when he resigned to spend full-time running for governor. During his time as senator, he gained a reputation for being a political consensus builder.
When the Senate Republicans gained the majority in 2002, Rossi became chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee that writes the state's two year operating budget. As Ways and Means chairman, Rossi helped to close a $2.7 billion budget deficit without raising taxes. He passed this budget with bipartisan support, gaining praise from members of both parties, including the ranking Democrat on the budget committee. The budget chief for Democratic Governor Gary Locke said of Rossi in 2003, “The really good legislators move from one side to the other really effortlessly, and I think Dino did that.”
Rossi sponsored a number of bills as a state senator prior to his role as chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, including the Two Strikes bill that puts child molesters away for life after a second conviction.
In 1998, he sponsored the Mary Johnsen Act, named for a Sammamish resident who was killed by a drunk driver. The bill required ignition interlock devices for certain convicted drunk drivers in the state of Washington. Rossi received the national finalist award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for his work. He also sponsored the Dane Rempfer bill which boosted penalties for those who left the scene of a fatal accident, named after a 15-year-old boy from his district who was killed in a hit-and-run. It was his work on the 2003 budget that spurred others to recruit Rossi to run for governor.
2004 gubernatorial campaign
Main article: Washington gubernatorial election, 2004Rossi decided to run in November 2003, but was already facing an uphill battle in terms of money raised, low name identification with voters and trends established by the two prior GOP candidates for governor. The sitting Washington State Attorney General and Rossi’s eventual opponent in the general election, Christine Gregoire, had already raised $1.15 million by December, only weeks after Rossi officially kicked off his campaign. Furthermore, the previous two GOP candidates for governor had lost their campaign bids by 16% and 18.7% in 1996 and 2000.
In the November 2 election, over 2.8 million votes were cast for governor. After the initial vote count, Rossi led Democrat Christine Gregoire by 261 votes.
Washington State law required a recount because of the small margin. After the second count, Rossi again led, but by a smaller margin of 42 votes. After a third count, done by hand, Gregoire took a 129-vote lead (expanded to a 133-vote lead after Justice Bridges' decision threw out 4 votes for Rossi).
King County's election department was sued by the Rossi campaign for its handling of ballots, including untracked use of a "ballot-on-demand" printing machine. Even before the election date, the U.S. Department of Justice threatened to sue Washington State for failing to mail military ballots overseas, generally assumed to be Republican votes.
Republican leaders in Washington claimed there were enough disputed votes to change the outcome of the election and sued. On May 25, 2005 the judge hearing the lawsuit ruled that the Party did not provide enough evidence that the disputed votes were ineligible, or for whom they were cast, to enable the court to overturn the election. Rossi did not appeal to the state Supreme Court.
The election is notable as the closest gubernatorial race in the history of the United States and was the subject of the Trova Heffernan book, An Election for the Ages.
Between 2004 and 2008
After the election and the ensuing court battle, Rossi returned to his work in real estate and wrote a book, Dino Rossi: Lessons in Leadership, Business, Politics and Life. Along with former Seattle Mariner baseball star Jay Buhner, he also purchased a minority share in the Seattle Mariners' single A minor league baseball team, the Everett Aquasox. Rossi also established Forward Washington Foundation, a 501(c)(4) non-profit lobbying entity dedicated to promoting changes to Washington's small business climate.
In 2007, the state Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Washington Public Disclosure Committee (PDC) asserting that the Forward Washington Foundation was too similar to a campaign to be exempt from campaign finance laws. Prior to her party's formal complaint, Gregoire stated to donors that she was “campaigning aggressively". The PDC dismissed in totality the allegations made by the Washington State Democrats, deeming each accusatory claim as “insufficient” and stating that the organization was indeed acting consistent with its mission statement, making it “a social welfare organization ... and not a political committee”.
2008 gubernatorial campaign
Main article: Washington gubernatorial election, 2008On October 25, 2007, Dino Rossi announced his intention to seek the office of Governor of Washington in 2008. Rossi's campaign was centered on many of the same issues he ran under in the 2004 election, namely controlling the spending of the state's legislature, tax cuts, and improving the business environment within the state. He was endorsed by The Seattle Times.
On October 7, a lawsuit was filed against the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW), for allegedly coordinating fundraising activities with Rossi in violation of Washington's public finance laws. Rossi's campaign spokeswoman dismissed the suit as a desperate attempt by Gregoire's supporters to win an election through frivolous legal maneuvering, a claim that was denied by the lawyer that filed the suit. In 2010 the lawsuit was dismissed "with prejudice".
Dino Rossi was defeated by Governor Christine Gregoire in the 2008 election and formally conceded at noon on November 5, 2008. Her margin of victory was 53.2% to 46.8%.
Between 2008 and 2010
Following his defeat in the 2008 gubernatorial election, Rossi "unplugged from almost everything political" and became a principal at a commercial real estate firm called Coast Equity Partners in Everett, Washington. Rossi's role at the firm is to find investors for income producing properties in Washington and four other Western U.S. states.
2010 U.S. Senate campaign
Main article: United States Senate election in Washington, 2010In early 2010, Washington State Republicans began courting various conservatives to challenge incumbent Senator Patty Murray in a year that was seen by many as a vulnerable year for Democrats. On May 26, 2010, Dino Rossi officially announced his candidacy. In the Republican primary, Rossi defeated Tea Party favorite Clint Didier 33.98% - 11.99%. Rossi went on to lose the general Election on November 4, after two days' worth of ballot counting indicated that he would not have enough votes to defeat Sen. Murray. In the final tally Murray received 1,314,930 votes (52.4%) to Rossi's 1,196,164 (47.6%).
The National Rifle Association spent $414,100 supporting Rossi and opposing Murray in the 2010 senatorial contest.
2012 and 2016 appointments to the State Senate
On July 11, 2012, Rossi was appointed to fill the term of Senator Cheryl Pflug. Rossi left office in November 2012, when Mark Mullet was sworn in.
After 2012 redistricting and the 2016 death of State Senator Andy Hill, Dino Rossi was appointed to the 45th District State Senate Seat. The Republican Party chose him over Kirkland City Councilman Toby Nixon and Joel Hussey from the King County Council. Democrat Manka Dhingra defeated Republican Jinyoung England to take the seat in the November 7, 2017 election.
2018 U.S. House campaign
On September 19, 2017, Rossi announced that he would run for Congress in the 8th Congressional District. The seat is currently held by Dave Reichert, who had decided not to run for reelection.
Personal life
Rossi is married, with four children, and lives in Sammamish, Washington.
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 8,598 | 36.21 | |
| Republican | Dino J. Rossi | 6,563 | 24.64 | |
| Republican | Dick Welsh | 3,215 | 13.54 | |
| Republican | Bob Brady | 2,788 | 11.74 | |
| Republican | Gwenn Escher | 2,581 | 10.87 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 26,042 | 52.10 | |
| Republican | Dino J. Rossi | 23,942 | 47.90 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 10,331 | 40.16 | |
| Republican | Dino J. Rossi | 8,291 | 32.33 | |
| Republican | Dave Irons | 7,100 | 27.60 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 28,286 | 53.20 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew | 24,882 | 46.80 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 20,318 | 77.93 | |
| Democratic | Azziem Hassan Underwood | 5,754 | 22.07 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 40,460 | 69.58 | |
| Democratic | Azziem Hassan Underwood | 17,686 | 30.42 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christine Gregoire | 1,373,361 | 48.8730 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 1,373,232 | 48.8717 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Christine Gregoire | 1,598,738 | 53.24 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 1,404,124 | 46.76 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Murray (Incumbent) | 433,211 | 46.04 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 319,708 | 33.98 | |
| Republican | Clint Didier | 112,774 | 11.99 | |
| Republican | Paul Akers | 23,889 | 2.54 | |
| N/A | Others | 49,292 | 5.46 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Patty Murray | 1,314,930 | 52.36 | |
| Republican | Dino Rossi | 1,196,164 | 47.64 | |
References
- Ralph Thomas (2004-09-28). "Family's struggles early in life forged Rossi's political identity". Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
- Galloway, Angela (2004-10-27). "Rossi hopes his American Dream takes him further". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved October 28, 2004.
- Kelleher, Susan (2004-10-27). "As young salesman, Rossi stuck with his boss amid fraud scandal". Seattle Times. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- Kaushik, Sandeep (2004-09-30). "No Sale: Rossi's Rags-to-Riches Story Includes a Convicted Felon". The Stranger. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- Galloway, Angela (2004-09-28). "Campaign 2004: Rossi clarifies professional status". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
- "It Turns Out Rossi Has a History of Piling Up Earmarks Too". Publicola News. 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- "Rossi linked to troubled commercial bank". Politico. 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
- Paul Queary (December 6, 2003). "Rossi quits Senate for governor's race". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. Retrieved December 6, 2003.
- ^ Ralph Thomas (May 12, 2003). "Budget writer thrives in legislative hothouse". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 12, 2003.
- James Harwood (March 31, 2004). "Presidential Politics Overshadow Rise of State Level Stars". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- David Ammons. "Senate GOP pushes budget through without new taxes". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. Retrieved April 3, 2003.
- "Senate Bill 5509". 1997.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - James Vesley (December 29, 1997). "Take A Deep Breath Now, And Try To Start Your Car". The Seattle Times.
- Jim Brunner (March 31, 2000). "Crime laws bear names of young victims". The Seattle Times.
- Ralph Thomas. "GOP finds candidate for governor: Dino Rossi". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 4, 2003.
- KOMO Staff & News Services (November 3, 2003). "State Senator Dino Rossi To Run For Governor". KOMO News. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
- Brad Shannon (December 16, 2003). "Gregoire leads money race". The Olympian. Retrieved December 16, 2003.
- "Washington State General Election Results, 1996, 2000". Office of Washington State Secretary of State.
- Staff (November 18, 2004). "It's Rossi by 261; recount is next". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 23, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2006.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Thomas, Ralph (2008-07-27). "Governor's Race | Dino Rossi's four years of political exile". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-28. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Seattle Times staff (April 26, 2005). "More mistakes revealed in ballot counting". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
- Seattle Times staff (January 10, 2005). "Feds threatened suit over military ballots". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
- Postman, David (June 6, 2005). "Rossi will not appeal election ruling". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2006.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Postman, David (June 7, 2005). "Rossi loses in court, won't appeal ruling". Seattle Times. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- "An Election for the Ages: Rossi vs. Gregoire, 2004 by Trova Heffernan". Office of the Secretary of State. State of Washington. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- David Ammons (2005-10-05). "In between campaigns, Rossi turns writer". KGW. Archived from the original on February 23, 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
- Ralph Thomas (2008-09-18). "Dino Rossi's four years of political exile". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Greg Bell (2007-04-09). "Buhner, Rossi buy into Aquasox". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- Steven Gardner (2007-05-10). "Rossi Stumps in Kitsap – for Budget Responsibility". The Kitsap Sun. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - David Ammons (2007-06-26). "Democrats Submit Complaint Over Rossi's Foundation". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Joel Connelly (2006-07-26). "Dino Rossi Circles over Gregoire's head". The Seattle P-I. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- "Draft letter to Dwight Pelz, Chair of the Washington State Democrats" (PDF). Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. 2007-11-28. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Joel Connelly (2007-10-28). "Gregoire's rematch with Rossi shapes up as a doozy". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
- "The Times recommends Dino Rossi for governor". The Seattle Times. 2008-10-18. Archived from the original on 2008-10-18. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - McGann, Chris (2008-10-07). "Lawsuit targets Rossi's relationship with builders". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- Smith, Erik (July 7, 2010). "At Long Last, BIAW Beats Legal Attack That Aimed to Break It – Caused Huge Embarrassment for Dino Rossi in 2008". Washington State Wire. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
- Andrew Garber (2008-11-05). "Rossi concedes defeat to Gregoire". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Oldham, Kit (2009-01-21). "historylink.org". historylink.org. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
- "Dino Rossi, 2-time gubernatorial candidate, has a new job". The Seattle Times. May 3, 2009. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Josh Feit (2010-05-26). "Dino Rossi Announces Candidacy for U.S. Senate". Publicola.net. Archived from the original on 2010-06-22. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "United States Senate election in Washington, 2010". Misplaced Pages. 2017-12-15.
- "Campaign cash: National Rifle Association (washingtonpost.com)". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
- Dino Rossi appointed to be state senator again
- Kagarise, Warren. "Issaquah Democrat Mark Mullet joins state Senate". issaquahpress.com. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- Gutman, David. "Dino Rossi chosen to fill vacant 45th District state Senate seat". The Seattle Times.
- Manka Dhingra leading Jinyoung Englund in pivotal 45th District Senate race, Seattle Times, Joseph O’Sullivan, November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
- Brunner, Jim. "State Sen. Dino Rossi says he's running for 8th District seat vacated by Reichert". The Seattle Times.
- Brunner, Jim. "U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert's retirement plans put his 8th district seat up for grabs". The Seattle Times.
- "Election 2004 voters guide". Spokane Spokesman Review. 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
External links
- Dino Rossi for Congress
- Washington State Senate Republican Caucus website
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
| Washington State Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byKathleen Drew | Member of the Washington Senate from the 5th district 1997–2003 |
Succeeded byCheryl Pflug |
| Preceded byCheryl Pflug | Member of the Washington Senate from the 5th district 2012 |
Succeeded byMark Mullet |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded byJohn Carlson | Republican nominee for Governor of Washington 2004, 2008 |
Succeeded byRob McKenna |
| Preceded byGeorge Nethercutt | Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Washington (Class 3) 2010 |
Succeeded byChris Vance |
- 1959 births
- 21st-century American politicians
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Italian descent
- Articles with inconsistent citation formats
- Candidates in United States elections, 2004
- Candidates in United States elections, 2008
- Candidates in United States elections, 2010
- Living people
- Native American state legislators
- People from Issaquah, Washington
- People from Sammamish, Washington
- Businesspeople from Seattle
- Politicians from Seattle
- Seattle University alumni
- Tlingit people
- Washington (state) Republicans
- Washington (state) State Senators