Herrera Beutler endorses Mitt Romney

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler made her choice between Republican presidential hopefuls on Monday by expressing her support for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

“Mitt Romney is the proven leader who has character and the experience to lead this country,” Herrera Beutler said in a statement released by the Romney campaign. “His vision of a ‘Simpler, Smaller, and Smarter’ federal government is what America needs to get back on track.”

Romney has been the on-again, off-again frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Texas Congressman Ron Paul also are still bidding for the Republican nomination.

Mitt Romney made the announcement on Monday that he had the endorsement from Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, who is serving her first term in Congress.

“I’m extraordinarily proud to earn Congresswoman’s Herrera Beutler’s support,” he said in a news release. “She is a rising star in our party and a staunch advocate for creating jobs through conservative economic policies.”

In an email message from her spokesman, Herrera Beutler said the state’s unemployment numbers played a factor in her decision to endorse Romney, who made his fortune in the financial industry and was a mentor to David Nierenberg, a Camas philanthropist, community volunteer and investment fund manager.

“Southwest Washington has struggled with double-digit unemployment for more than three years,” according to the email. “We need a president who will get serious about eliminating roadblocks to job growth, and I believe Governor Romney would provide the kind of steady leadership we need.”