Six days before election, GOP's candidate for governor confident in victory

MOSES LAKE — Former state Sen. Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate for governor visited Moses Lake Wednesday night telling supporters that he plans to do something "radical" if elected.

"I plan to be governor of the whole state of Washington," he said during a rally at Michael's on The Lake restaurant.

Rossi used part of his remarks to make a contrast between himself and his opponent, Democratic candidate Christine Gregoire.

"She trusts government," he said. "I trust you."

Terry Rossi introduced her husband to the crowd gathered at Michael's, calling him a man who "can do everything, and he takes out the garbage.

"He is a man who has the respect of Democrats and Republicans," she said. "You need that in a governor."

Rossi thanked his wife for his words, calling her one of the biggest blessings in his life. He then went on to illustrate his plan for the state.

"The same people have been running the show for 20 years," he said, repeating one of his trademark phrases. "I am going on a very different direction."

The direction, he said, includes improving the business climate of the state and getting people back to work, improving the health care system of the state, putting achievement and accountability before money in education, and reviving the state's parks network, what he called "the state's jewel."

Rossi pledged to not have a rule written without the authorization of the Legislature and/of the governor. He also promised to never use the most vulnerable citizens as political pawns.

"You can be fiscally conservative," he said. "And still have a social conscience."

In the area of education, Rossi told the crowd that the Washington Assessment of Student Learning should be reviewed, its standards should not be lowered. He added that teacher pay raises should be based on performance and not on longevity.

Overall, he said that the state had everything it needed to be successful, except the will and courage in Olympia.

He finished his remarks by telling supporters not to believe that their vote would not matter.

"(Former U.S. Sen.) Slade Gorton lost by 2200 votes," he said. "Your vote counts."