Know your county chairs: Spokane Republican Curt Fackler

This interview is the second in a new weekly series on PolitickerWA.com that puts the spotlight on one of the state's county party chairs.

Today meet Spokane Republican Party Chair Curt Fackler, who is also running for state Insurance Comissioner and an independent.

PolitickerWA.com: How did you get started as County Chair?

Curt Fackler: Basically the need was there and the person that was going to do it was a sitting county commissioner and some people thought that would be conflict of interest to have a sitting county commissioner also be party chair, so I basically took over to do it.

PolitickerWA.com: What have been some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in that role?

CF: I think it is getting volunteers, and getting people to help out. You have the same people doing stuff over and over and I like to spread the wealth out and I don't like to wear people out.

PolitickerWA.com: What have been some of the things that you have been most successful at?

CF: I would say running the caucuses and the country convention. We had record turnout at the caucuses and we had over 600 people at our county convention, which is the most that anybody can remember for over 20 or 30 years. The turnout was great. We held two Lincoln Day Dinners, both had over 400 people in attendance, and those would be record numbers for the last twenty years.

PolitickerWA.com: How do you feel about the candidates that you have here in the county?

CF: I am excited. I think we are in great shape in the 6th District We've got great candidates running against Don Barlow. Out in the 4th District we have two great longtime Republicans running to take Lynn Schindler's seat, which should stay in our hands no problem.

PolitickerWA.com: What are the issues that matter most to Republicans in Spokane Co?

CF: Probably roads and transportation is one, and I would say HC is the other. It was in the Seattle Times today that Regence is increasing their rates by, I think, 19 percent again so health care is just a huge issue for everybody here.

PolitickerWA.com: Who is your favorite American politician not from Washington and who is not running for President?

CF: Newt Gingrich.

PolitickerWA.com: Huskies or Cougars?

CF: Cougars.