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Voters in the 2010 primary may have a choice of several candidates with Mid-Columbia ties as alternatives to incumbent Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, including a former professional football player.
Candidates who want to block a fourth Murray term include Seattle chiropractor Sean Salazar, who has family in Pasco and Kennewick, and former Tri-Citian Craig Williams, who ran for Congress against Democrat Jay Inslee in 1994 while Inslee represented central Washington and the Tri-Cities.
Add to the mix Clint Didier, a native of Eltopia and current Connell High School football coach, who announced at a recent Tea Party event that he's forming an exploratory committee to study the feasibility of running against Murray.
A fourth opponent, Rodney Rieger, is from Marysville.
Salazar, Williams and Rieger are running as Republicans, according to the Federal Election Commission, although Williams and Rieger described themselves on their campaign websites as "independent conservatives."
Didier did not identify a party affiliation in his speech, which was recorded and provided to the Herald after the event. In fact, he called for removal of all incumbents of any party within the next six years, from President Obama to members of Congress.
"Today, I can honestly say I do not trust my government," Didier said. "We are witnessing abuse of power by our elected representatives. I have to ask you, were they elected to represent the people or their own agendas?"
He also called upon the audience in John Dam Plaza to step up and serve their country, adding he was heeding that call by challenging Murray.
"I, Clint Didier, want to answer the call to service," he said. "I want to work toward a return to the Constitution and its precepts."
Didier is a former tight end for the Washington Redskins and Green Bay Packers, who played in three Super Bowls in the 1980s, earning two championship rings.
He grew up in Eltopia, and also played for Connell High School, Columbia Basin College and Portland State University before going to the National Football League.
In addition to coaching in Connell, Didier runs an alfalfa hay farm and an earth-moving business.
Neither Rieger nor Williams has reported any fundraising, but Salazar gained a leg up on other Murray opponents by starting his campaign in October 2008.
Thus far, Salazar has raised $22,060, mostly from individual contributions.
But that's a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly $2.6 million in contributions Murray has reported to the FEC. About $1.7 million came from individual contributions, while more than $800,000 came from political action committees and $42,600 from party contributions.
Salazar said he's focusing his campaign on trying to bring a conservative message to black and Hispanic voters, as he has ties to both groups.
Salazar said his family is half black and half Hispanic, and he grew up in the Holly Park projects in Seattle.
He thinks of the Republican party as one that once championed the rights of blacks, but since has lost its purpose as Democrats have swayed black voters to their side.
"My job is to regain that message," Salazar said. "My job is to go in and re-educate and re-educate and not give up. If we can pull this election off, we will have a good model for the rest of the country. We want to spread the message to the people who need it the most."
-- On the net: www.pattymurray.com; sean4senate.com; rodrieger.com; www.votewilliams2010.com
-- Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com
