A lot of people have a real disdain for politics because for years, disagreements have divided households, ended relationships and caused chasms in cities and states.

The divisiveness makes what Sydney Swor and Dezy Lindgren — founders of Grays Harbor Young Professionals — did Wednesday night that much more impactful. They brought in political candidates from across the state to speak to Grays Harbor Young Professionals about the issues they’re fighting for and to have a meet-and-greet so their fellow Grays Harbor Young Professionals members could mingle with politicians and have conversations with them.

Election day is Nov. 5.

While Swor invited 38 candidates, the fact so many attended the get together at Tinderbox Coffee Roasters impressed Mike Coverdale. Coverdale is running for state Representative District 19’s Position 1 against incumbent Jim Walsh. Swor, who is also Aberdeen City Council president, posted the list on the Grays Harbor Young Professionals Facebook page for transparency purposes.

“Of all the events I’ve attended, this one has the most politicians,” Coverdale said.

Along with spreading their messages in conversations with Grays Harbor Young Professionals members over cups of coffee drinks and tea, each of the candidates were allowed to give a one-minute “elevator pitch.”

“We wanted to give them all an opportunity to come talk to the people in Grays Harbor who are the most passionate about this place,” Swor said. “And the most dedicated to being part of the efforts that they are going to pursue should they be elected.”

While a few went over, they were respectful of the time allowed and minimized any overtime. Swor said the order was decided by the order in which she reached out to each candidate.

Sharon Hanek, running for Washington state Treasurer

“(The position) handles all the monies of Washington state,” Hanek said. “It handles all the money that’s coming in and all the money that’s going out and making sure that it’s managed correctly. They also manage investments and they manage lending activities. … I don’t know if you’ve read headlines of the audit reports. But this one here, $1.1 billion of COVID money is being mismanaged. One of the things that I have is experience of being a CPA, understanding checks and balances, footing and cross-footing and making sure that record-keeping is correct and processes are being followed to ensure the security of the flow of money. It could be from you as an individual to the state, or it could be from the state to the counties, to the cities.”

Hanek said the question was “who is managing that money.” She also said the state has never had a CPA from the private sector ever in charge of the money.

Search sharonhanek.com for more information.

Andi Day, running for 19th Legislative District, Senate

“I grew up in a commercial fishing family, with close ties to oystering and timber,” Day said. “I worked in the business for many years. I shifted over and was an entrepreneur for many years. I’ve been working in public services and on development. So now I’m at a point in my life where I’d love to put this unique combination of experience and skills to work for our district. I feel like we need, we desperately need a voice for our rural communities in Olympia right now. The 19th needs someone on the natural resources committee. I feel like our team, our legislative team in the 19th has been so caustic, that they’ve been kind of boxed out and kind of become a meaningless ‘no’ vote in a minority caucus. And … it’s the constituents who pay the price. It might be good for getting YouTube clicks, or maybe advancing up the party ladder, but it’s not good for our constituents. It’s not serving for our communities. That’s why I’m running. I’m running because I want to give back to the communities that have given so much to me and my family, and I want to help make our communities resilient.”

For more information, search VoteAndiDay.com

Terry Carlson, running for state Representative District 19 Pos. 1

“I am a labor leader, I’m the vice president of the Cowlitz County Labor Council and a labor organizer,” Carlson said. “The big issues I’m looking at for the 19th District is housing security for seniors, some more affordable priced housing and infrastructure. We need infrastructure to attract business in the 19th. We have a lot of business areas that are not being utilized because of lack of infrastructure.”

Search electterrycarlson.com, or Elect Terry Carlson on Facebook for more information.

Mike Chapman, the state representative for the 24th Legislative District, is running for the open senate seat

“Prior to that, I served 16 years as Clallam County Commissioner … prior to that I served for 10 years as a law enforcement officer,” Chapman said. “Three things I think we really try to work with my seat-mate Steve Tharinger and (Congressman) Derek Kilmer, we’ve seen a huge investment from the federal government and state government in your flood control district, … your port improvement project so that the port expands and creates more jobs. And also we put a significant amount of funds into building childcare centers here in Grays Harbor — one specifically in Elma, one being built in Montesano, and then the Quinault Indian Reservation as well, plus the health clinic here in Aberdeen. We’re changing people’s lives, keeping the services they need. It’s been an honor to serve.”

Chapman also spoke about being at Tinderbox for the meet-and-greet with Grays Harbor Young Professionals.

“And it’s really cool to be here with all this energy,” Chapman said. “I’m kind of one of the older guys here now. It’s really great to see all of you building your lives and careers. So go get ‘em. You’re gonna change the world and leave us in the dust. So good job.”

Marcia Kelbon, running for state Senate

“My background is engineering, law, specifically patent law,” Kelbon said. “I helped a lot of companies start and grow over my career. I joined one of them. I was in-house biotech for 19 years and grew it up. That’s my focus here, is economic development. We need more industry. We need more business. I’m thrilled to see young people involved because you’re going to be leading us out of the kind of economic mess we’re in. Also I want to address overall cost of living, housing, schools and public safety. (I want to) partner with the police to help our homeless population out.”

For more information, search electmarciakelbon.com, or Elect Marcia Kelbon on Facebook.

Matthew Roberson, running for state Representative District 24’s Pos. 1

“I’m a deputy prosecutor in Clallam County, I work in the felony division there,” Roberson said. “I’m running because I want to make sure future Washingtonians can have the same or greater opportunities than I had. I’m just a guy who grew up in Tacoma, living in motels with a mom struggling with a Percoset addiction, who was able to live the American dream and raise my own family with a young child. I’m really focused on economic development, affordable housing, making public safety a priority again, as well as better schools so our students have those opportunities. If you like business as usual, with the same group in charge for over 20 years, I’m not your guy. But if you’re ready for a change. If you’re tired of blighted buildings like across the street (then) I’m you’re candidate.”

For more information, search robersonforwa.com.

Adam Bernbaum, running for state Representative District 24

“I grew up in unincorporated Spokane County in a home that had two things: My dad had a union job as a high school councilor and my mom struggled with alcoholism and a gambling addiction,” Bernbaum said. “I saw my dad’s union job provided stability for my family. And over the last several years working as a legislative assistant for Sen. (Kevin) Van De Wege and an organizer for Derek Kilmer, I’ve seen how the absence of those jobs, the absence of well-paying jobs with benefits affects people in this community. I’ve talked to young families who are having a hard time affording their first homes, young people who want to have their first kids but they can’t afford to and somebody has to quit their job, senior citizens who are getting priced out of manufactured home parks and assisted living facilities. I’m running for office because I think we can do better. I think there is a vision for the future here that I believe in. It’s one where we recreate well-paying jobs, building bridges, repairing roads and fixing marinas. It’s one where we invest in our environment, where we send people back to work in forests, not just… for corporate profit, but to protect them for a changing climate. Thank you so much for being here, I appreciate it.”

Chris Thomas, running for Grays Harbor County Commissioner

“I’m running to help make changes on the issues that face this county,” Thomas said. “You can look right out on (Wishkah) Street and see issues with the unhoused, with homelessness, with behavioral health issues. Those are things that are going to be top priorities with me.”

Thomas spoke about his experience and how he’ll be able to help with economic vitality.

“I’m a former economic analyst,” Thomas said. “I’ve worked on boards. I’ve brought infrastructure projects to the Harbor. Economic vitality’s key and that would be another priority as county commissioner. I’m also running to make sure your services are provided in an efficient and effective way. I’m running to bring you my experience. I’m a former city council person. I was on the council of governments, I chaired it. I’m a former school board member. I’m a current hospital district commissioner, where I improved healthcare. And I’m a former county auditor, where I helped improve services there. I had a track record full of success there. I like to bring thoughtful leadership experience and values.”

Georgia Miller, running for Grays Harbor County Commissioner, Pos. 1

“I have a career I love and I don’t care about titles,” Miller said. “I’m running because much like you I am passionate about Grays Harbor. I love it here and I want a future for my children and my grandchildren. We need jobs here, we absolutely need jobs. I will work very hard. I am currently working on a plan to do exactly that. And we also need people who will build relationships, who will bridge the divide that we currently have. And so oftentimes people play party politics, that is not me. We all have to get along to move things forward. I will work really hard. We have a lot of issues that need tackled here in Grays Harbor and I’m not scared of tackling those issues. I have a reputation of hard work and plan to continue to do that. I appreciate your vote and I appreciate you having this forum tonight.”

For more information, search gmforgh.com.

Rick Hole, running for Grays Harbor County Commissioner, Pos. 2

“It seems like we have issues of capital formation and affordable housing,” Hole said. “My dad gave his eight children “The Richest Men in Babylon” book for accumulating capital and I’ll give that to you. I was talking to a lady, Mariah Parker at New Horizons Credit Union. She was explaining to me ways to get into housing with … and that she was gonna roll around and that was gonna become the loan. She has some solutions and you should talk to her about it. … I’m Rick Hole, I’m here to help you grow this community and I think you professionals are the ones to do it.”

For more information, search electrickhole.com.

Steven Jackson, running for Grays Harbor Superior Court Judge

“I’ve been a lawyer for 27 years, I’ve been a prosecutor for 17 years, I have been a public defender for that, so I bring a balance of being on both sides,” Jackson said. “I’m also balanced in this non-partisan race, but I have both parties endorsing me. You don’t see that very often. I certainly appreciate both parties stepping forward and being willing to do that. (I have) several endorsements, including the two other sitting judges in Superior Court, Judges (Katherine) Svoboda and (Vini) Samuel against the incumbent. So it’s just the three of them up there now. And the two I’m not running against are endorsing me.”

For more information, search jacksonforjudge.org and Jackson for Judge on Facebook.

Matt Hawkins, running for state auditor

“The audit function, as I’ve already shared with a lot of you, deals with the idea of auditing finances …” Hawkins said. “Processes controls or systems within government, and then auditing compliance issues with regards to the laws. Most recently, if you go to my website mchawkins.org, you’ll find we had a press release just yesterday where we were talking about a lack of controls within the election system. I’m here to tell you I’m here to be a voice for all the people. The role of auditor should be more of a non-partisan position. … I’m doing it because we have systems that are failing us in the election system. Read my reports and you’ll get an idea of where I’m coming from. There’s more that we can do. We don’t have a finance problem in the state … education. We have a problem in the state with regard to education that deals with processing controls on how we teach our children.”

For more information, search mchawkins.org.

Steve Tharinger, incumbent running for state Representative in the 24th District

“We’re talking about economic development,” Tharinger said. “The key to economic development in my view is your inherent strengths. That’s why the port with its quick access to the ocean and the link to the rail is such a strong part of what you’re doing. … As a legislator and capital budget chair, I’ve initiated a lot of cross-laminated timber, trying to get more product, more value out of the woods. I am excited to see so many young folks. That is an inherent strength, right? That you folks have chosen to come back after going for education or have stayed here. That is really going to be the key to changing the vision here in the Harbor. I just want to say as your state rep., I’m here to help. As capital budget chair I’m here to help. As Mike (Chapman) listed as we’ve been doing over the last 14 years. So I really appreciate your vote to build the Harbor. Thank you.”

For more information, search https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/tharinger.

Daniel Crocker, owner of Tinderbox, said the event was “better than we thought.”

“More people turned out than I think even what they were thinking. It was great actually,” Crocker said. “We learned about the candidates and what they’re going for in their election. We were hosting it and being, I guess, neutral. That’s what we wanted to do. We didn’t want to pick a party in here. They did a really good job.”

The shop, which normally closes at 4 p.m., was serving up drinks.

“It definitely helped the day, for sure,” Crocker said.

Crocker also applauded Swor and Lindgren for their efforts to bring everybody together.

“They doing a great job, I’m glad they asked us to host it and I would gladly do it again,” Crocker said.