Didier opposes new taxes, big government

Clint Didier, a tight end on three Super Bowl teams with the Washington Redskins, is running for office for the third time since 2010, this time for the congressional seat of retiring Rep. Doc Hastings.

Didier, 55, an Eltopia farmer and tea party favorite, has said he will oppose all new taxes and anything that grows the size of government if elected. He also has called Hanford's $2 billion annual cleanup budget too high.

He is one of eight Republicans and 12 candidates overall in the Aug. 5 primary.

Didier declined to be interviewed by the Herald. He referred interview requests to his campaign manager, Larry Stickney, who said Didier was busy cutting alfalfa.

Didier also did not return an issues questionnaire sent to all 12 of the candidates by the Herald editorial board.

He received 13 percent of the statewide primary vote in 2010 when he ran for the seat of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash, finishing in third place. He came in third with 28 percent of the vote in Hastings' 4th Congressional District.

Didier advanced to the general election in the race for public lands commissioner in 2012, losing to Democrat Peter Goldmark 59 percent to 41 percent. Didier received 57 percent of the vote in the 4th District.

In this campaign, he drew the most attention with a gun giveaway, in which he randomly awarded two pistols and a military-style rifle.

His largest donor, as of June 30, is the National Association for Gun Rights Political Action Committee, which has given his campaign $5,000, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Didier had raised $219,174, with $30,000 coming from loans to himself, according to the FEC. That ranks third among the 12 candidates in the race, behind former state agriculture director Dan Newhouse and Kennewick attorney George Cicotte. He is second in fundraising behind Newhouse if candidate loans are not counted.

For a full list of donors to Didier and the other congressional candidates, go to tricityherald.com/donors.

-- Geoff Folsom: 509-582-1543; gfolsom@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @GeoffFolsom

This story was originally published July 22, 2014 at 10:46 PM with the headline "Didier opposes new taxes, big government."