Democratic candidate for House sets event

Congressional candidate Elizabeth Uelmen plans to host a campaign kickoff event March 20 at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site’s Artillery Barracks Building.

Uelmen, a career educator who is running as a Democrat, is challenging first-term U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, for the 3rd District seat.

The two-hour campaign event begins at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but Uelmen’s campaign is also accepting donations. Suggesting donation amounts range from $35 to $100.

Uelmen is associate principal at Frontier Middle School in Vancouver and has worked in the education field since 1993. Her husband is Vancouver firefighters’ union President Mark Johnston.

The Artillery Barracks Building is located at 600 East Hathaway Road in Vancouver. Those wishing to attend Uelmen’s campaign kickoff are asked to RSVP for the event by contacting campaign volunteer Marsha Manning at 360-609-3527 or marsha@elizabethuelmen.com.

Jon T. Haugen, a former Navy pilot who ran for state Senate in 2008, also is challenging Herrera Beutler. Haugen is also running as a Democrat.

Two others mentioned as possible Democratic candidates, Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt and County Commissioner Steve Stuart, have said they will not run for Congress this year.