PORT ANGELES – An army veteran, former border patrol agent and president of a non-profit helping homeless veterans is running for the state house to represent the 24th District.
Matthew Rainwater announced Monday he will run as a Republican to unseat incumbent Democrat Mike Chapman.
Rainwater is the second challenger to announce. Clallam GOP chair Sue Forde earlier said she plans to run for the seat. Chapman says he plans to seek re-election.
Rainwater says he felt it was a good time to make the announcement, even before election year arrives.
“But now, it’s just the right time. There’s no time like the present to start addressing issues that are facing our state, our district, and I just couldn’t wait.”
Rainwater says he’s running because he’s frustrated with a lack of response on many issues that affect the local area.
“The entire time I’ve been living up here on the Olympic Peninsula, I’ve noticed that there have been issues that extend past the peninsula, in our district, that need strong effective leadership to help get them resolved. We’re just not getting that with Chapman. So I feel that I would be in a better position to help resolve some of the issues.”
Rainwater is president of the non-profit “Pennies for Quarters” which seeks to build a tiny-home community with services for Clallam County homeless veterans. He is also the former chair of the Republican Party in Clallam County.
Official filing for office comes next May.