Tag Archives: King County Democrats

King County Democrats August 17, 2010 Primary Endorsements

Posted on July 31st, 2010 | Comments Off on King County Democrats August 17, 2010 Primary Endorsements

The following is a list of candidates endorsed by the King County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) for the  August 17, 2010 Primary Election

Position – Candidate

United States Senator – Patty Murray

United States Representatives:

District 1 – Jay Inslee

District 2 – Rick Larsen

District 7 – Jim McDermott

District 8 – Suzan DelBene

District 9 – Adam Smith

Washington State:

Legislative District 1, Position 1 – Derek Stanford

Legislative District 1, Position 2 – Luis Moscoso

Legislative District 5, Position 1 – Gregory Scott Hoover

Legislative District 5, Position 2 – Dean Willard

Legislative District 11, Position 1 – Zack Hudgins

Legislative District 11, Position 2 – Bob Hasegawa

Legislative District 30, Senator – Tracey Eide

Legislative District 30, Position 1 – Mark Miloscia

Legislative District 30, Position 2 – Carol Gregory

Legislative District 31, Senator – Raymond Bunk Dual Endorsement

– Ron Weigelt Dual Endorsement

Legislative District 31, Position 1 – Peggy Levesque

Legislative District 32, Senator – Maralyn Chase

Legislative District 32, Position 1 – Cindy Ryu

Legislative District 32, Position 2 – Ruth Kagi

Legislative District 33, Senator – Karen Keiser

Legislative District 33, Position 1 – Tina Orwall

Legislative District 33, Position 2 – Dave Upthegrove

Legislative District 34, Senator – Sharon Nelson

Legislative District 34, Position 1 – Eileen Cody

Legislative District 34, Position 2 – Marcee Stone

Legislative District 36, Senator – Jeanne Kohl-Welles

Legislative District 36, Position 1 – Reuven Carlyle

Legislative District 36, Position 2 – Mary Lou Dickerson

Legislative District 37, Senator – Adam Kline

Legislative District 37, Position 1 – Sharon Tomiko Santos

Legislative District 37, Position 2 – Eric Pettigrew

Legislative District 39, Position 1 – Eleanor Walters

Legislative District 41, Senator – Randy Gordon

Legislative District 41, Position 1 – Marcie Maxwell

Legislative District 41, Position 2 – Judy Clibborn

Legislative District 43, Senator – Ed Murray

Legislative District 43, Position 1 – Jamie Pedersen

Legislative District 43, Position 2 -Frank Chopp

Legislative District 45, Senator – Eric Oemig

Legislative District 45, Position 1 – Roger Goodman

Legislative District 45. Position 2 – Larry Springer

Legislative District 46, Senator – Scott White

Legislative District 46, Position 1 – David Frockt

Legislative District 46, Position 2 – Phyllis G. Kenney

Legislative District 47, Senator – Claudia Kauffman

Legislative District 47, Position 1 – Geoff Simpson

Legislative District 47, Position 2 – Pat Sullivan

Legislative District 48, Senator – Rodney Tom

Legislative District 48, Position 1 – Ross Hunter

Legislative District 48, Position 2 – Deb Eddy

King County:

County Council District 8 – Joe McDermott

City of Seattle – Municipal Court

Position 1 – Edsonya Charles Postponed 9/28

– Ed McKenna Postponed 9/28

Position 3 – Steve Rosen

Position 5 – Willie Gregory

Position 6 – Karen Donohue

JUDICIAL –

Washington State Supreme Court:

Justice Position 1 – Stan Rumbaugh

Justice Position 5 – Barbara Madsen (Chief Justice)

Justice Position 6 – Charlie Wiggins

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1 – Michael Spearman

Superior Court, Position 36 – Jean Rietschel

King County District Court

Northeast District, Position 6 – Michael Finkle

West District, Position 5 – Anne Harper

Shoreline District, Position 2 – Marcine Anderson

R1 Southeast District, Position 2 – Darrell Phillipson Dual Endorsement

– David Meyer Dual Endorsement

Southwest District, Position 2 – Susan Mahoney

Northeast District, Position 7 – Donna Tucker Triple Endorsement

– Larry Mitchell Triple Endorsement

– Ketu Shah Triple Endorsement

Southeast District, Position 6 – Matt Williams Dual Endorsement

– David Tracy Dual Endorsement

Comments Off on King County Democrats August 17, 2010 Primary Endorsements

Posted in Democrats, Elections, Washington State Legislature

Tagged , , ,

Need to raise $1.7 billion in revenues

Posted on January 7th, 2010 | Comments Off on Need to raise $1.7 billion in revenues

Advocates should be loud and assertive about the need to raise revenues. Governor Gregoire has said she would raise only $700 million of the deficit, about one-third in revenues, and balance the rest with cuts to essential services.

The King County Democrats take the position that we should raise two-thirds in revenues and cut one-third in services. The amount of the revenue goal will determine what kind of revenues are considered. It will be less painful to vote for a few large taxes than many small ones.The Governor has said she wants to address tax breaks. I suggest the legislature start with the largest non-performing tax break. That would be Boeing’s 2003 $3.2 billion (over 20 years) for promising 1,200 additional jobs. Instead, last year alone they laid off over 10,000.

The Seattle Times on Sunday Jan. 4th ran an article about other states rescinding their nonperforming tax breaks and demanding refunds, or “clawbacks.” We want to see that here, too. We don’t appreciate being played for fools.

Extending the sales tax to all services, not just professional services, would do the most to fill the deficit gap. It would also be, in effect, progressive tax, since low-income people tend to hire few lawyers, accountants and financial advisers. I’ll bet most moderate-income people would prefer to pay sales tax on haircuts, rather than see 65,000 people lose Basic Health plans. According to the Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition, a recent poll showed that–after hearing how deep the cuts in services would be–65% of Washingtonians supported increasing revenues.

Legislators should also use this crisis as an opportunity to take needed steps toward an income tax for high-earners, couples making over $500,000. This 1% tax would be constitutional if Washington law defined income as different from property. Sens. Adam Kline and Rosa Franklin’s SJB 8205  addresses this and should be given an early hearing.

Most of all, Democrats should take courage, and note that Seattle passed the Seattle Housing Levy in a time of economic downturn by its biggest margin ever, 68%. Trust the voters to know that you’re doing the right thing.
(This post first appeared as a comment on the Northwest Progressive Institute blog.)

Comments Off on Need to raise $1.7 billion in revenues

Posted in Elections, Tax Exemptions, Washington State Legislature

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Democrats Ask Murray and Cantwell to Support Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure

Posted on October 29th, 2009 | Comments Off on Democrats Ask Murray and Cantwell to Support Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure

Last night the King County Democrats unanimously passed a resolution asking Washington State’s two Senators to become co-sponsors of  legislation requiring US Senate candidates to join the electronic filing era of campaign disclosure.  Below is the text of the resolution:

Resolution in Support of S 482 requiring electronic filing of campaign disclosure information by U.S. Senate candidates

WHEREAS the U.S. Senate still does not require filing its campaign finance forms electronically; and

WHEREAS this hinders and delays the ability of the public to have timely access to important campaign finance data; and

WHEREAS the transfer of data to electronic form for filing would save taxpayers $250,000 a year according to the Campaign Finance Institute; and

WHEREAS S 482 – the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act has been introduced by Senator Feingold in February 2009 to require that all Senate candidates file designations, statements and reports in electronic form; and

WHEREAS candidates for the House of Representatives, President and Political Action Committees already file electronically; and

WHEREAS 41 other Senators are currently co-sponsors of this legislation; and

WHEREAS Washington State has been a leader in campaign finance disclosure statewide and nationally with the passage of I-276 in 1972; and
WHEREAS Washington State requires electronic filing for all candidates raising over $10,000; and

WHEREAS candidates filing for President who raise over $100,000 are already required to file monthly reports

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the King County Democrats urge Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell to become co-sponsors and work for passage of S 482 in time for next year’s U.S. Senate elections and that they sponsor an amendment requiring monthly reporting as is done for Presidential candidates and in Washington State.

Join with the King County Democrats and urge Senator Cantwell and Senator Murray to co-sponsor S 482 and work for its passage. You can e-mail them here:

Senator Maria Cantwell

Senator Patty Murray

Comments Off on Democrats Ask Murray and Cantwell to Support Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure

Posted in Congress, Democrats, Elections

Tagged , , , ,

King County Democrats Make Primary Endorsements

Posted on June 24th, 2009 | Comments Off on King County Democrats Make Primary Endorsements

The King County Democrats met last night to endorse candidates for the August 18, 2009 Primary. Many candidates were voted by acclimation following the recommendations of the endorsement committee. The most fought over races were those for Seattle City Council and Seattle Mayor. A 2/3 vote was required for endorsement.

No candidate was endorsed for Seattle Mayor. A series of single and dual endorsement votes failed to find any combination with the necessary 2/3 vote needed for endorsement. Despite Mayor Nickels being a strong Democrat, he could not muster enough support among Party Democrats, a number of who voiced their opinion that he is out of touch with neighborhood issues and the public. One gets the feeling that Nickels is taking local Democrats for granted – he certainly is not out hustling on the campaign trail or showing any significant grassroots organizing in the districts.

Joe Mallahan – the T-Mobile Vice-President got the most votes of any candidate.

Here are some of the votes taken in the Mayor’s race:

Joe Mallahan – single endorsement 31/21 failed
Greg Nickels – single endorsement 21/31 failed
Mallahan and Nickels – dual endorsement 27/24 failed
Mallahan/McGinn – dual endorsement 33/20 failed

Seattle City Attorney:

Tom Carr – single endorsement 23/21 failed
Pete Holmes – single endorsement 33/12 endorsed

Seattle City Council Position 2

Richard Conlin – endorsed
David Ginsberg – endorsed

Seattle City Council Position 4

David Bloom – endorsed
Dorsal Palnts – endorsed

Seattle City Council Position 6

Nick Licata – endorsed

Seattle City Council Position 8

David Miller – endorsed
Bobby Forch – endorsed

Seattle School Board District 5

Mary Bass – endorsed

Seattle School Board District 7

Charlie Mas – endorsed

King County Executive

Dow Constantine – endorsed
Larry Phillips – endorsed

The following candidates were all endorsed by acclamation on the recommendation of the endorsement committee based on interviews and their questionnaires.

Anne Ellington – Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 1, Position 3
Bob Ferguson – King County Council Position 1
Julia Patterson – King County Council Position 5
John Creighton – Port of Seattle Position 1
Max Vekich – Port of Seattle Position 4
Michael Marchand – City of Bellevue
Jack Block Jr – City of Burien Position 3
Brian Bennett – City of Burien Position 7
Jennifer Armenta – City of Bothell Council Position 6
Ava Mac D Frisinger – City of Issaquah Mayor
Mqaureen McCarry – City of Issquah Position 5
Tola Marts – City of issaquah Position 7
Jamie Danielson – City of Kent Position 3
Dennis Higgins – City of Kent Position 4
Elizabeth Albertson – City of Kent Position 8
Brad Larssen – City of Kirkland Position 3
Karen Tennyson – City of Kirkland Position 5
Jean Thomas – City of Lake Forest Park Position 3
Bill Erxleben – City of Newcastle Position 6
Kimberly Allen – City of Redmond Position 4
Jim Flynn – City of Renton Position 2
Janet Way – City of Shoreline Position 3
Chris Roberts – City of Shoreline Position 7
Susan Boundy-Sanders City of Woodinville Position 5
Tim Clark – Kent School Board Position 5
Julia Lacey – Northshore School District

previously endorsed in February:

Rob Holland – Port of Seattle Position 3
Cindy Ryu – City of Shoreline Mayor

The King County Democrats also voted on 2 ballot measures with the following recommendations:

Yes on Measure-Proposition No. 1 North Highline South Annexation Area (proposed annexation to the City of Burien)

No on Initiative 1033 proposed by Tim Eyman for the Nov. Ballot
(This measure would limit the growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not including voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies.)

A third ballot measure – City of Seattle – Referendum 1 received a vote of 24/16 to support it but failed to receive the necessary 2/3 vote for endorsement. A simple majority is needed on the August 18, 2009 ballot by Seattle voters to pass this measure.

Referendum 1 was placed on the ballot after the plastics industry paid signature gatherers to collect signatures. The Referendum is on Seattle City Council passed Ordinance No. 122752 concerning imposing a 20-cent fee on disposable shopping bags.

“This ordinance would require grocery stores, drug and convenience stores to collect the fee for every disposable shopping bag provided to customers. Stores with annual gross sales of under $1,000,000 could keep all the fees they collected, to cover their costs. Other stores could keep 25% of the fees they collected, and would send the remainder to the city to support garbage reduction and recycling programs. The stores would get a business-tax deduction for the fees they collected.”

Comments Off on King County Democrats Make Primary Endorsements

Posted in Democrats, Elections, Initiatives

Tagged , , ,

Is Governor Gregoire Providing the Leadership We Need Now?

Posted on March 18th, 2009 | Comments Off on Is Governor Gregoire Providing the Leadership We Need Now?

Below is a letter sent today to Governor Gregoire by the King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee. What do you think?

Dear Governor Gregoire:

The King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee is disappointed with your leadership on resolving our state budget crisis by not considering revenue increases as a necessary option. We are one of only two states (along with Louisiana!) where revenue increases are not on the table. Certainly circumstances have changed since your campaign last year. Leadership requires adapting to changed circumstances. The changed economic reality and the magnitude of the budget shortfall should provide a sufficient rationale to the public to explain why you have changed your mind as to how to deal with the current situation.

“An all-cuts budget doesn’t cut it.” We should not sacrifice the well-being and the very lives of our most sick and vulnerable citizens. Please support revenue increases to maintain our state’s safety net as well as provide for the educational needs of our children.

We believe a reasonable starting point should be that program cuts and revenue increases should be given equal weight in dealing with the budget shortfall. That means no more than 50% of the deficit should be program cuts. And a revenue package to make up the other 50% of the budget shortfall should be put on the ballot for voters to vote on.

Letting the voters decide is what they said they wanted. Give them the option. Let them make the final decision.

Sarajane Siegfriedt & Steve Zemke
King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee Co-Chairs

Suzie Sheary
King County Democrats Chair

Add your name to the letter. A copy of the letter as a petition to sign is available at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/20090318/petition-sign.html

Comments Off on Is Governor Gregoire Providing the Leadership We Need Now?

Posted in Democrats, Economy, Washington State Legislature

Tagged , , ,

Some Democratic Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 12th, 2006 | Comments Off on Some Democratic Holiday Cheer

One of the highlights of the recent King County Democratic Reorganiztion Meeting in Seattle was a speech by King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson in which she regaled the crowd with the following rendition of a popular story rewritten for present day Democrats:

Twas the First Day of Congress –
By King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson & staff

“Twas the first day of Congress when all thru the House (and Senate)
Not a Republican was happy….They just sat and groused.
‘Cause Democrats had planned an election with care.
In hopes that a majority soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of health care FINALLY danced in their heads
And Condoleezza in her kerchif and Bush in his cap
Had just settled down for their election night nap.
When on CNN there arose such a clatter,
Bush sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to his TV he flew like a flash,
Turned up the volume and watched with a gasp.
When what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But poor Denny Hastert with a great look of fear.
‘Cause the new House Speaker was lively and noisy.
He knew in a moment it must be Pelosi.

And here in King County, victories came.
We can whistle and shout and call them by name;
Gone Steve Johnson. Gone Shabro. Gone Esser and Nixon.
Gone Finkbeiner. Gone Schmidt. Gone Roach (we were wishin’)
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!

And then, in a twinkling, I heard at the door.
The prancing of a man who helped even the score.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around.
Thru the door, Frank Chopp, came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of battle scars showed on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes- how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was turned up like a bow,
And the size of his grin did certainly show.
He was happy and dancing, a right jolly old Speaker,
And I laughed when I saw him, ’cause the GOP is now weaker.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
Making each Republican look like a jerk.
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, he put on clean clothes.
He sprang to his feet, to his team gave a whistle,
And to Olympia they flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight,
Thanks to you all, our country is all right. “

A special thank you to Councilwoman Julia Patterson and staff for allowing us to share this with our readers.

Comments Off on Some Democratic Holiday Cheer

Posted in Democrats

Tagged , ,