Auburn chamber holds ‘Jobs for Main Street’ rally

If the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Washington's recent "Jobs for Main Street" rally in downtown Auburn was small in numbers, it packed a big message.

By Robert Whale • October 28, 2010 4:49 pm

If the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Washington’s recent “Jobs for Main Street” rally in downtown Auburn was small in numbers, it packed a big message.

Even if one candidate for state office needed only three words to express said message.

“Private-sector jobs,” declared Republican Joe Fain, candidate for State Senate in the 47th Legislative District. Then, after delivering must have been the most compact speech he ever gave, Fain stepped from the microphone drawing laughter for his Calvin Coolidge like economy with words.

Fourteen people, including Fain and two other Republican candidates for state office, Shawn Sullivan and Rodrigo Yanez, showed up to wave small, plastic flags and listen to speeches in front of the 1 Main Professional Building.

Fain is running for the seat now held by State Sen. Claudia Kauffman. Sullivan hopes to unseat Democrat Mark Miloscia. Rodrigo Yanez is running for the 47th District State Representative Position No. 2. now held by Demcoratic incumbent Rep. Pat Sullivan.

The rally’s purpose was to raise awareness of issues facing the state’s business community in the Nov. 2 mid-term elections and give employers and employees a chance to talk about what the business community is up against.

Organizers hoped also to give voters a chance to show their support for the candidates whom they believe will focus on improving Washington’s business climate.

“We want to educate people and raise awareness about the impact of their vote and to get them to vote” said Kathleen Keator, director of the Auburn Downtown Association.

Nancy Wyatt, president and COO of the Auburn-Area Chamber of Commerce and Mark Johnson, vice president of Government Affairs for the Washington Retail Association,addressed the small crowd. Johnson described what government officials have to do to help local business grow and to create new, private-sector jobs.

“It’s so vitally important that we participate this year,” Wyatt said. “Our economy is very, very slow to recovery, and it’s been so doggone hard for businesses.”