While I was on vacation, state Rep. Tom Cambell, R-Roy, announced that he had changed his mind about running against U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Tacoma, in the 9th Congressional District and would, instead, seek re-election to his state House seat.

Problem is, only a few days earlier, former Wilcox Farms executive JT Wilcox had announced he was running for what appeared to be the 2nd Legislative District seat that Campbell was leaving vacant.

Well, I just got off the phone with Wilcox and he’s staying in the race. Folks out in the district consider Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham, a more vulnerable candidate because he doesn’t have roots as deep as Campbell. But Wilcox says he thinks some of Campbell’s votes show he’s vulnerable. Some think that Campbell is too cozy with organized labor, for a Republican, anyway. But that cuts both ways.

In any case, official candidate filing is not until June of 2010, (the first week, I think) and a lot can happen by then. But Wilcox is having a Thurston County campaign kickoff today. He says it’s mainly an organizational meeting. His public campaign kickoff will be Oct. 3, he said.

(Note to my editor and other reporters: JT Wilcox says he just uses the initials J and T with no periods, and I told him I will use whatever name he puts on his yard signs. And that’s what his campaign signs will say.)