MOSES LAKE — Two-time Washington gubernatorial candidate and current 45th Legislative District Republican Senator Dino Rossi will be the featured speaker at the Grant County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Fundraiser Dinner on Saturday.

The event, which will be held at the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel, 3000 Marina Dr. in Moses Lake, is set to kick off at 5 p.m. with a social hour. Dinner and speakers are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Rossi set to take the stage as the keynote speaker. Tickets are $50 each.

Rossi previously served in the Washington State Senate from 1997 to December 2003, when he left to run for governor. He was narrowly defeated by Christine Gregoire in 2004 for governor and again by Gregoire in 2008 for the same position.

In 2010 Rossi decided to run for the U.S. Senate, but lost in the general election to Democratic Sen. Patty Murray. After 5th Legislative District Republican Sen. Cheryl Pflug resigned from her Senate seat in June 2012, Rossi was appointed to fill the position in July 2012. He left the office in November 2012, when Democratic Sen. Mark Mullet was sworn in and assumed the role.

Rossi was appointed to his current role as senator for the 45th Legislative District following the death of Republican Sen. Andy Hill in October 2016.

For more information, contact Dayna Dent at 509-760-0727 or email montysmom2011@hotmail.com.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.