South Bend. County Republicans will be giving a warm welcome to State Senator Michael Baumgartner, the keynote speaker for their annual Republican Dinner held in South Bend on Friday, March 30^th.  Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and Kirby Wilbur, State Republican Chair, are among the VIP guests and candidates expected to join county conservatives for the prime rib dinner and silent auction.

Baumgartner is running this year to replace Maria Cantwell in the ‘other’ Senate in Washington DC.  A fresh face in Washington politics, he surprised many by returning the 6^th District (Spokane) Senate seat to Republican hands in 2010, winning in his first try at elected politics.  Defeating an extremely well-funded incumbent, Baumgartner won a very hard fought campaign for his Senate seat in the most expensive state legislative political election in Washington history, by a healthy margin of over 7%.  Serving on the Ways & Means Committee, Baumgartner has already made a big impact in Olympia, helping craft last year’s bipartisan budget, as well as an important bill that reformed state government.  

“We kept the price at $25 this year, so that everyone can enjoy the food, fellowship and excellent speakers”, said Brett Malin, Pacific County Republican Chairman.  “Michael Baumgartner took part in passing another bipartisan budget in the Senate this year.  This sustainable budget was supported by three Democrat Senators who refused to back the irresponsible budget proposed by members of their own party. Michael is a very impressive young man, and I know Pacific County will be as impressed by him as well.”

The Lincoln Dinner will be held at the Willapa Harbor Community Building in South Bend. The Social Hour and Silent Auction begin at 5pm and Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. To reserve your $25 ticket, call Brett Malin 360-642-2444 or email chairman@pacificgop.com.  More information can be found at www.pacificgop.com.