The 34th District Democrats' official nominated and endorsed candidate Marcee Stone threw a party at West Seattle resident Art Wolfe's photo studio in SODO, 1944 1st Avenue S. on Thursday, June 17 to officially kick off her campaign. She is a Democrat running for 34th District State Representative. She was joined by supporters, including her daughter, Claire Donehue, 22, and 34th District Chair, Tim Nuse, who introduced her.

"She has the strongest roots out of all the candidates," said Donehue, who just graduated Evergreen College. She is referring to her mother's upbringing in White Center and other areas of West Seattle. "She's probably overqualified for the position. I'm just surprised it took her so long to get politically active like this. I'm really happy she's going to be able to get back to the community."

"I can see faces in this crowd who have affected my life all along the way in the past six or seven years and I have to say I feel more blessed in my life right now than I ever have," said Stone. "Art (Wolfe) and I have known each other since 1982. I have sat on the floor in his living room...watching his latest pictures from above the Arctic Circle, Africa, India, just amazing stuff.

"It's not about what the campaign contribution is," Stone added. "It's about what the relationship is between the elected officials and the people they represent... I want a collaboration with the people in my district."

Marcee Stone is running against fellow Democrats Michael Heavey, and Joe Fitzgibbon, and Independent candidate Geoffrey MAC McElroy.