Dale Washam, who has been unsuccessful four times in running for public office in Puyallup, Washington, sued House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the Washington State Republican Party, and its former chairman, Ken Eikenberry, for stealing from him the idea of the "Republican Contract with Washington State," which was soon followed by the national "Contract with America." Mr. Washam contends that as early as 1991, he drafted a "Political Employment Contract," in his bid for school board membership, that guaranteed his constituents a legally binding mechanism for removing him from office if he failed to fulfill his promises. Washam again distributed a contract in 1993 when running for county auditor, which he says came to the attention of Mr. Eikenberry. Washam complained not only that he was not given credit for the idea, but that since the state and national versions of the contract did not specify a device outside of elections for removing office-holders, it was a sham document that, according to Washam, "severely damaged my credibility and will make it difficult for me to use my contract in future attempts at public office."

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