Ex-Seattle sportscaster: Give campaign donations to charity

After a surprise rise to the general election for 8th Congressional District, Tony Ventrella is taking a novel approach: rather than raise campaign donations, he wants his supporters to donate to charity.

“People are going to say, ‘You’re crazy, how are you going to do this, you can’t run a campaign.’ You’re right,” Ventrella told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson. “So I’m not running a campaign. I’m running a campaign to ask people to support the folks who really need the money. Campaigns don’t need any more. They have millions, just go look at the senate and governor’s races.”

Results: Washington state’s key primary election races

Tony Ventrella, who spent decades on KING-TV as a sports anchor, pulled in 17 percent of the primary votes counted as of Tuesday night, despite dropping out of the race last month. He had urged voters to not check his name on their ballots.

Ventrella, who spent decades on KING-TV as a sports anchor, urged voters to not check his name on their ballots.

That didn’t seem to matter.

Ventrella pulled ahead of fellow Democrat Santiago Ramos but fell well behind incumbent Republican Dave Reichert. Reichert has thus far blown away the competition with 57 percent of the vote.

“Apparently the message didn’t get out or some people decided, ‘What the heck, let’s do this anyway, Reichert’s going to win.’ Who knows what the reasons are,” Ventrella said. “Even if you add up all the Democrat percentage points, it still comes to about 43 or 44 to his 56, so it’s a tough race anyway for a Democrat. But that’s not why I got out. I got out just because I just didn’t feel right being in.”

Ventrella told Dori he dropped out June 30 after rising about $20,000, a good chunk of which came from relatives.

“I decided at that point, this is not how I want to do this, and there are only two things to do,” he said. “Either I had to step out or start calling 400-500 people who give to campaigns all the time bugging the daylights out of them for a race that maybe I win, maybe I don’t win. And I just did not have the appetite to do it. And from what I’d seen from the endorsement meetings and some of the committee meetings I went to, I was not impressed – even with my own party, to be honest with you – and I decided this is not for me. I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t tried it for six, seven or eight weeks. But I knew at that point and, frankly, I still know. The difference is, by law in Washington, I’m on the ballot in Washington no matter what.”

Ventrella’s proposal is to have his 8th congressional district supporters give to the many needy organizations.

“I’m on the ballot, there’s nothing I can do about that,” he said. “If I get more votes and need to serve the 8^th District in Congress I will be happy to do it and I’ll work my tail off for two years. But, first of all, that’s unlikely. Secondly, even if it doesn’t happen that’s fine. But what I will do, instead of campaigning, instead of raising money, I’m going to suggest that people, yes vote for me if you want, but even more important, give to the nonprofit of your choice – not in my name, but in your own name. Let’s, as citizens, support some of these groups that are getting no government support anyway and let’s do it. Because I think, as citizens, we need to do the work that government either can’t do or is unable to do because congress, as you know, hasn’t done a thing in the last four to eight years. And part of it is because they’re spending all their time raising money.”

Ventrella said he won’t be knocking on doors but will likely keep his website up in order to answer policy questions.

“I’m going to use this as a statement against big money and politics,” he said.

He said he would be happy to debate Reichert, but that the Republican probably wouldn’t agree to it.

“He’s got a pretty good lead, there’s no reason for him to want to or need to debate at this point,” he said.

Dori asked if the major Democrat shareholders will be ticked off at Ventrella for not actively campaigning. Ventrella said it was possible, but noted that neither the King County nor the Pierce County Democrats endorsed his campaign.

“I don’t know what to say at this point,” he said. “They weren’t supporting me in the first place, so I don’t know why this would make a difference.

Still, Ventrella said he would support it if there were a way for King County Elections to change the law to allow one of his two opponents who came within four or five points of him to move forward.

“No! Absolutely not!” Dori responded. “I want everybody to write in your name. Or, wait, you’re on the ballot. They don’t even need to write it in. I want everyone to vote for you in the General now.”

Dori noted that Reichert is the classic rags-to-riches story: He received no support from the party, raised little money for the campaign and had dropped out of the race but still finished second.

“You’re Rocky, that’s what you are,” Dori said. “You’re Rocky Balboa in the first movie.”

“Of course, he did go the full 15 and lose in decision,” Reichert responded. “I’m not sure how close this decision was – 57 to 17. I don’t think that was a split decision, to be honest with you.”

Follow @https://twitter.com/mynorthwest