Rep. Jim Dunn casts embarrassing vote against Washington farms and children

Olympia, WA. 

Representative Jim Dunn was the only vote in the House of Representatives to vote against Local Farms-Healthy Kids (HB 2798). One of four environmental community Priorities, this bill that will bring produce from Washington farms into schools and has been hailed on either side of the aisle as great for Washington’s economy and children. With Rep. Bill Hinkle (R-13) and Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-37) cosponsoring the legislation, and allies including everyone from the Washington State Farm Bureau and the Washington State PTA, Dunn’s opposition raises serious questions about who he’s representing; his votes certainly are not in alignment with his constituents, nor his party.

“Rep. Jim Dunn should be ashamed of voting against a bill that is good for our farms and our children,” said Kurt Fritts, executive director of Washington Conservation Voters. “When every member of the house votes for a bill like this one, and Jim Dunn doesn’t, he makes clear that his votes are cast without thought or reason. He owes an explanation to everyone about this vote.”

“I can’t help but wonder if Rep. Dunn was even paying attention when Local Farms-Healthy Kids was brought to vote,” said Heather Melton, a Clark County resident and member of the Clark County chapter of Washington Conservation Voters. “If he had taken a moment to actually listen to his constituents, he would know that we whole heartedly support efforts to bolster our agricultural economy and give our children access to healthy produce.”

Rep. Dunn’s out of step vote is another example in a long pattern of votes against the interests and desires of his Clark County constituents. As the only representative against Local Farms-Healthy Kids, Rep. Dunn has once again shown that his votes don’t match with his district, or any other part of Washington, and his politics have no place in Olympia.