Nice, inexpensive, right-leaning area (Seattle, Spokane: sales, homes, community college)

[racechick73]

Being a strong Republican, I don't feel like I "have to have everyone around me agree without descent". I just desire to be around people who have the same morals and values as me. I can get along with just about anyone- I might not agree with them but if they are willing to hear my opinion, I can be friends with them.
Some of us just choose to be around other like-minded people, instead of being the minority. It makes life more enjoyable, in my opinion.

[lovethewest]

Thanks a lot Evlevo and racechick! Your comments are very encouraging!

[mlv311]

Originally Posted by lovethewest

The general attitude that I'm getting is that if you're Republican, you probably won't be happy. That's a real shame that people of only one political group can live happily in a beautiful city such as Seattle.

A few days ago, I deleted my post regarding my experiences in Seattle as a person with traditional values, but since the topic comes up again, I'll share just as a FYI. I've lived in many cities, including NYC, and I've never experienced the "hostility" that I experienced in Seattle. For example, one day during lunchtime I was approached by a man regarding a pro-choice cause, I said "No, thank you, I'm pro-life." He followed me half-way down the block yelling obscenities. During the election, I got tired of cleaning eggs off our car because we had a Republican bumper sticker.

Yes, on a day-to-day basis, you won't face any problems, particularly if you stay quiet about your personal beliefs. But when you realize that no matter how you vote, what causes you support, or how much you pay in taxes that your priorities won't be represented by your elected officials, it gets discouraging. You probably know we came close to having a Republican governor and after three recounts (two in his favor), you know how the story ends.

[racechick73]

What?! A Republican in Seattle?!

[nhyrnut]

Scary huh. This might help you Washington State Republican Party :: Calendar (broken link) there are more than you think. they are just quiet about it.

[Alcon]

Originally Posted by lovethewest

The general attitude that I'm getting is that if you're Republican, you probably won't be happy. That's a real shame that people of only one political group can live happily in a beautiful city such as Seattle. Like I said earlier, I am only too happy to look past politics, but if my neighbors can't do that, then I don't know if I can live there. Still, how do Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane compare? I know Tacoma is a lot less liberal, an I have heard a lot of negative things about it (maybe for that very reason!), and I know that Spokane is very conservative. Any additional info on climate, people, econmy, etc. would be great!

Tacoma is "less liberal" in the loosest sense. There's no place in Tacoma where you are likely to live on a block without a single Republican neighbor, but it's still a very Democratic town. The northeast is the most marginal part of town; precinct results I have indicate Kerry got about 52%. The north end is nice but heavily Democratic. The west end is similar, although less strongly liberal. The rest of town is not really "nice," honestly.

Spokane is not "very conservative." The city of Spokane has a slightly Democratic lean. The suburban areas of Spokane, and the city of Spokane Valley, are pretty solidly Republican.

The Tri-Cities is probably your best bet - everywhere there is pretty solidly GOP. Houses are affordable, incomes are surprisingly high, and Republicanism is pretty much 2-to-1 everywhere. But the Tri-Cities are an acquired taste to some.

If you're looking for a nice, Republican area in the immediate Seattle area, either you're going to have to move way out into the sticks (Maple Valley at the minimum, and that's hardly overwhelmingly Republican) or move to some place that is so "nice," you'll probably have to sell your body for a few years to afford it. And even then, about 60-40 Republican is the best you're going to get.

The Tacoma exurbs around Graham are probably the closest affordable areas to Seattle that lean Republican by a 3:2 or greater clip. Yeah. Really. That far.

If Dutch calvinist conservativism is your thing, there's Lynden, east of Bellingham. It's Republican - as in, almost as Republican as Seattle is Democratic - and not quite as isolated as a random farm town in the East. Lewis County (Centralia-Chehalis) also is affordable and staunchly GOP, but lacking in culture. Exurban parts of northern Clark County are similarly conservative, but are too far from Portland to justify bothering, to me.

There is also one Republican part of Seattle - Broadmoor Golf and Country Club. Bush didn't quite win it 40-love, but he almot sort of flirted with 60%. Other Republicans (without folksy drawls) often fare even better. That's the best you're going to do in Seattle, end of story.

Good luck from a swing voter.

[lovethewest]

Thanks for all the info Alcon! Looks like I've got some deciding to do!

[Alcon]

Any time.

I forgot to mention a good possibility - suburban Clark County around Battle Ground and the new developments thereabout. That's really the only suburban W. Washington area to be reliably Republican without having helipad roofs.

[aullori]

Originally Posted by racechick73

That's a great way to describe us "redneck gun-totin' flag-wavin' truck-drivin' bible thumpin' hillbilly" Republicans! So how did you like Seattle, aullori?

Actually I didn't describe anyone that way.. (ummm but I think just you did tho) I'm not sure how you jumped from "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" into that discription. Your's sounds kind of like the old old south or something - it certianally isn't what I meant - not by a long shot.

Seattle honestly was okay, not my paradise but that's cool - it's someones. I'm not really a big city person.

[UmbrellasYearRound]

Just as a general comment, I'd agree with others who have expressed the sentiments that unless you engage others in 'hot button' conversations - i.e. abortion, gay marriage, etc ... - it is quite possible that you can know someone for quite a while without even being aware of his or her political leanings. I'm a die-hard left of center person here, and I worked in a small firm with several other attorneys at one point, and it took me at least 8 months to realize that I worked with several right-of-center attorneys.

I've been thinking about where there is a "nice" and "conservative" area that is in Western Washington. I've lived in WA for a while, and I've resided in Seattle, Kitsap County, Cowlitz County (very briefly), and Tacoma.

My personal take on it is that Kitsap is more conservative than Seattle (except Bainbridge which seems to have adopted more of a Seattle culture than the rest of Kitsap County). I would think that Poulsbo or Silverdale might be of interest to you - though I don't think either are overwhelmingly conservative and you might find more liberals than what you're comfortable with. This link here is very interesting - Kitsap County, Washington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - That link suggests that Silverdale is a little bit conservative and Port Orchard is fairly evenly split. During the brief period of time that I lived in Kitsap, I rented in Port Orchard, and indeed, it felt very evenly split to me. By the way, I would definitely consider Port Orchard to be a very liveable place - it qualifies as "nice" in my book. Quite charming place.

Cowlitz County is a bizarre place. I only lived down there for a few months and I hated the extremely conservative environment. I went to some Cowlitz County Democrats meeting just for the fun of it, and believe it or not, I realized that for being a hick nothing place, it was shockingly liberal for it's tiny size. It still is extremely conservative compared to Seattle but if you look at the 2006 election results, it voted for Cantwell over McGavick, 55% to 40% !

I found this pic which helps somewhat:
http://www.varmintal.com/county.gif
^ I wish Washington showed up better but it basically suggests that the only right-leaning counties in Western Washington are Lewis County, Jefferson, Whatcom and Skagit, if I'm looking at that correctly ...

I found the 2006 election result info on the Secretary of State website - link is here - Again, the only right-leaning western Washington places are Lewis County, Clallam County, and a few other areas?

I found this entry in Wiki which is quite interesting:
Washington gubernatorial election, 2004 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
^ Comparing this with the 2006 election information it would suggest that western washington is getting bluer??? But again Lewis County, and Clallam County are republican strongholds.

Given that information above, I would think you'd want to look at Port Angeles, Centralia, or Chehalis, Washington.

Don't know if any of this helps! I realize that some of it is duplicative of what you've already heard. Good luck!