Always remember what is best for the people, not what is best for a political ideology, congressional candidate Rich Cowan told the ASWSU senate.

Cowan spoke to both senators and senator-elects at the Wednesday night meeting. Cowan is running for the fifth congressional district in the state of Washington, a district that makes up most of Eastern Washington. Cowan is also a WSU alumnus and the founder of North by Northwest Productions located in Spokane.

“The main message is jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs,” Cowan said. “That’s really what we need to work on in this district.” 

He said the jobs he describes are not just family wage jobs but jobs that will give college graduates hope.

Student debt is also out of control and is something the people in society need to work on, he said.

“It’s just not right to give young people this kind of burden,” Cowan said.

He said his experience is a great example for young people to follow. He said society should encourage more young people to start businesses and create jobs. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy.

“I think it’s always good to come back to an alma mater, I’m a Coug here, to come back and share my experience,” Cowan said.

He said students can be successful at starting a small business if they do their homework and market research first.

Senate Pro-Tempore Derrick Skaug invited Cowan to speak at the senate meeting.

“Congress has a huge impact on WSU’s budget, especially the federal side,” Skaug said.

Skaug said there is a standing invitation for the current fifth district congresswoman, but she has declined to speak at the senate meeting. Skaug said Cowan was more than happy to speak when he received the invitation.

“He also brings a great perspective of a Coug succeeding in the private sphere, creating his own business,” Skaug said. “I was really glad I could get some of his insight and some of his vision for this community.”

Skaug said the senate and senate-elect all benefited from hearing Cowan’s speech. He said Cowan is a leader that is invested in his community with the jobs his company has brought to Spokane.

District 1 Sen. James Cockburn reflected on the takeaway of Cowan’s speech.

“I think that if you always know where you come from and if you work hard good things will happen for you,” Cockburn said.