Nettles Happily Surprised With Votes

WAITSBURG - For a Waitsburg City Council- man Scott Nettles to take on a 12-year senator, Nettles knew he was fac- ing uphill battle.

Nettles is challenging incumbent Sen. Mike Hewitt for the District 16 seat and after the Primary Election results rolled in last week, Nettles was pretty happy with him- self.

Nettles reaped in 4,495 votes in District 16 in the primaries, or 30.31 percent. Hewitt earned 10,333 votes, or 69.69 percent.

"I don't think that's too bad," Nettles said two days after the prima- ries. "Now's the time to turn everything on."

Nettles, who calls himself an "unknown candidate," is known to Waitsburg residents as their city councilman and as a corrections offi cer at the state peniten- tiary in Walla Walla.

He announced his candidacy for the senate seat in May to run against Hewitt on the Democrat- ic ticket. Nettles in May said he had been thinking about running for some time because he wants to be a voice for the con- stituents in the district.

In addition to working at the penitentiary, Net- tles is steward of the lo- cal union Teamsters 117 and this is his third year serving on the Waitsburg City Council.

District 16 is large and has about 154,830 residents, according to the 2010 census. It includes residents in Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Klickitat, Walla Walla, Whitman and Ya- kima counties.

Hewitt, who has held the District 16 Senate seat since 2000, said he isn't too worried about Nettles' competition.

"I'm pretty happy with the numbers," Hewitt said after the primaries.

Hewitt said he has worked hard for the dis- trict and the primary votes for him reflect that.

Hewitt owned a small business, Hewitt Distrib- uting, for 23 years and was the chairman of the Walla Walla Planning Commission before becoming senator.

His legislative resume boasts positions as Senate Republican Leader, 2005- 12; Senate Re- publican Whip, 2005; Majority Whip, 2003-04 and Republican Assistant Whip, 2001-02.

As for his strategy go- ing into the November General Election, Hewitt said he won't change what he has done in the past for campaigning as it has seemed to work.

"This is my fourth time," he added.

He plans to meet with people and get more political signs out after Labor Day.

" I'm just happy to represent the 16th District," Hewitt said. "I've enjoyed the last 12 years and I'm looking forward to another four."

Inspired by all of the votes Nettles received in the primaries, he will be changing gears for the General Election in November.

"I wanted to see how the primaries went before I set up a hard-andfast plan," Nettles said.

He said he is planning on getting his name out there more by hosting meet and greets with local organizations, mak- ing phone calls, distrib- uting fliers and purchas- ing newspaper advertise- ments.

He plans to target Bur- bank and Prosser, two areas where he may be more unknown, he said.

Nettles plans to make more contacts through the local unions and hold question and answer, town hall style events for the voters to get to know his face and his ideas.

With hope, his hard work might create more surprising results in November's election, just like the primaries.

"I did better than I thought I was going to," Nettles said of the primaries. "I was surprised."