Hamilton takes a seat with Todd Ortloff in Port Angeles for an interview about the campaign.
Segment 1: State Candidate Aiden Hamilton
Todd Ortloff: Good afternoon, you’re listening to the Todd Ortloff Show on KONP. We are joined in studio today by a young man making some waves in the local political scene. Aiden Hamilton is a local teen, but he is also a candidate for the Washington State House of Representatives, District 24, Position 2. Aiden, thanks for being here.
Aiden Hamilton: Thank you for having me, Todd. I appreciate the opportunity to talk to the community.
Todd Ortloff: Now, the first thing people are going to notice—and we’ve talked about this a bit off-air—is your age. You are nineteen years old?
Aiden Hamilton: That’s correct. I’m nineteen. I graduated from Port Angeles High School recently, and I’ve spent my life here in the North Olympic Peninsula.
Todd Ortloff: What makes a nineteen-year-old look at the current state of politics and say, “I want to go to Olympia”?
Aiden Hamilton: Honestly, it’s because I feel like my generation’s future is being spent before we even get a chance to live it. When I look at the cost of housing in Clallam County, the price of gas, and the regulations hitting our small businesses and farmers, I don’t see a sustainable path for people my age to stay here. If we don’t have young voices in the room who are actually going to have to live with the consequences of these bills for the next fifty or sixty years, then we aren’t getting the full picture.
Todd Ortloff: You’re running as a Republican for the seat currently held by Steve Tharinger. What are the main pillars of your campaign?
Aiden Hamilton: My three big focuses are affordability, accountability, and local control.
Affordability: We need to address the hidden taxes, like the CO2 tax that has spiked our fuel prices.
Accountability: I want to see more transparency in how our state agencies spend money.
Local Control: A lot of the mandates coming out of Olympia don’t fit a rural district like ours. What works for Seattle or Bellevue usually doesn’t work for Forks or Port Angeles. I want to bring that common-sense, rural perspective back to the House.
Todd Ortloff: You’ve been active in the community outside of politics as well. How has that shaped your run?
Aiden Hamilton: Being involved in 4-H and local community service showed me the value of hard work and the importance of our agricultural roots. I’ve talked to neighbors who are struggling just to keep the family farm or the small shop open. That’s why I’m running—to be a representative for the people who feel like Olympia has forgotten them.
Todd Ortloff: Well, it’s going to be an interesting election cycle. Aiden Hamilton, running for State Representative, District 24. We’ll be right back after this break with Business Bits.
Segment 2: Business Bits with Kevin Hoult
Todd Ortloff: Welcome back. It’s time for “Business Bits” with our resident small business advisor, Kevin Hoult. Kevin, good to see you.
Kevin Hoult: Good to be here, Todd.
Todd Ortloff: What are we focusing on today?
Kevin Hoult: Today I want to talk about the “Three-Legged Stool” of business stability. Many small business owners in our area are feeling the pinch of inflation and shifting consumer habits. To stay upright, you need three things:
Cash Flow Management: You have to know where every dollar is going.
Customer Retention: It is five times cheaper to keep an existing customer than to find a new one.
Adaptability: If your business model hasn’t changed since 2019, you’re likely falling behind.
Todd Ortloff: We see a lot of local businesses struggling with staffing right now. Does that fit into your “Adaptability” leg?
Kevin Hoult: Absolutely. Adaptability isn’t just about what you sell; it’s about how you manage. Small businesses in Clallam County have to get creative with benefits—not just pay, but flexibility and culture—to compete with the bigger players.
Todd Ortloff: Great advice as always, Kevin. You can find more from Kevin Hoult at the Small Business Development Center. That’s our show for today. Join us tomorrow.
