Pelosi appears at Heck fundraiser in Vancouver

U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swept into Vancouver Tuesday afternoon for a fundraiser for former Vancouver resident Denny Heck, who is running for Congress.

The event was at the home of Jane and Dr. Paul Jacobsen.

The fundraiser benefited Heck, who is running for Congress in Thurston County’s District 10, and Suzan DelBene, who is running for the District 1 congressional seat that Jay Inslee vacated to run for governor.

Jacobsen said about $15,000 to $17,000 was raised for the two Democratic candidates.

The attendance?

“Yesterday it was going to be 52. And this morning it was 63. And today it was 80,” Jane Jacobsen said, laughing.

The fundraiser was from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

She said the Heck campaign alerted her that Pelosi, the minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, would be in the area, and she agreed to host the invitation event, saying it would be an honor.

“I did this because Denny Heck is from here. I like Denny because he is moderate.”

Jane Jacobsen is the executive director of the Vancouver-based Confluence Project, a nonprofit organization that honors Northwest heritage through interpretative public art, environmental restoration on public lands and educational programming.

“She (Pelosi) was very policy-oriented. She didn’t say mean things. … She really did not get personal. … She kept it at a very high level,” Jacobsen said.

“There were a lot of older ladies who were emotional about being with a woman who stands for choice,” Jacobsen said. “Several ladies came to me and said, ‘I never thought we’d see the day again that a woman’s right to choose is threatened.'”

Guest included some longtime Clark County Democrats: Craig Pridemore, Ed Cote, Doug Lasher, Dena Horton, Betty Sue Morris.

“I did meet her and I had a lovely visit with her,” said Kelly Punteney, longtime parks and trails advocate.

“She talked for a good 15 to 20 minutes,” Punteney said. “She talked about the candidates, she talked about the situation we’re in, she talked about women’s issues.”

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