GO DOWN AND FLIP (the ballot)

At the Carol Ronken Memorial BBQ Oct 6th Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (far right)   expressed her appreciation for Carol and Susan Ronken’s leadership of the Stanwood Democrats.

The Stanwood Democrats held a Memorial BBQ in honor of Carol Ronken at the Floyd Norgaar Cultural Center Saturday October 6th.    Carol founded the Stanwood Democrats in 2004.  Carol passed earlier this year.  We sorely miss her leadership.   Fortunately her daughter, Susan,  is continuing her mothers efforts for the Democratic Party.  

At this and other  events this Fall,  Senator Haugen has emphasized the importance of our vote not only for the governor, US congress and State senators but also local candidates like State Rep, County and PUD Commissioner.   So we had many local candidates address the crowd after the Salmon BBQ.   The candidates seeking reelection impressed me with how they work together to improve conditions in the North Sound.   Whidbey Island Commissioners Helen Price Johnson and Angie Homola worked with Transportation Committee Chair - Mary Margaret Haugen - to have Vigor Industrials subcontract the construction of the new ferries' superstructure to Nichols Brothers in South Whidbey Island.  The new ferries will replace the aging Steel Electrics operating on Puget Sound. The insourcing of State funds will allow steady work for Nichols employees and allow the company to hire 100 more workers on the Island.

Lt. Governor Brad Owen advocated for the reelection of Mike Kreidler for insurance Commission.  Because of Kreidler’s foresight Washington State is ahead of other States in setting up health insurance exchanges so WA citizens can benefit from the Affordable Care Act passed by the US legislature in 2010.   In case you are worried about your health insurance rates going up, Commission Kreidler has proposed legislation to give his staff the ability to consider revenue surpluses when approving rate increases.  So far the legislature has turned him down.  Kreidler claims: “Over the past several years, the three major health insurers in the state – all non-profits – have accumulated large surpluses while continuing to raise consumers’ health insurance premiums. The combined surplus of these companies is now more than $2.4 billion. These surpluses are in addition to the amount they are required to hold in reserves to pay future claims.” WOW!  Lt. Gov. Owens reiterated the importance of having Senator Haugen and other Democrats in office to support Commissioner Kreidler’s efforts.

Nick Petrish (http://nicklovesskagit.org) is running for District 1 Skagit County Commissioner.  Erick Teegarden  http://ericteegarden.com is running for Snohomish PUD Commissioner.  Both candidates support the development of alternative energy sources. Petrish is excited about the Saphon Zero Blade Wind technology because it is more efficient and less expensive than current wind turbines.  Saphon is now looking for a manufacturing partner.  For this technology Petrish believes “In Skagit County we have the talent, the skilled workforce and the need”.  We all know Skagit County certainly has the wind.  Much to my surprise I learned from Candidate Eric Teegarden that the North Sound also has enough sun for solar energy.  He should know.  He has been a systems engineer designing and implementing solar, wind and geothermal projects for the major utilities in Western Washington.   He is strongly opposed to the county spending over 150 million on building a hydro-electric dam at Sunset Falls on the Skykomish River.  He believes there are other less costly, more reliable and less environmentally destructive alternatives.   Teegarden elaborates his alternative to the dam @ http://ericteegarden.com/eric-teegarden-for-snohomish-pud-commissioner/my-platform/  I asked him afterwards why the current PUD wanted the Dam instead of the newer technologies.  He answered that is was faster to install the dam.  After learning more about the possibilities for alternative energy from Candidates Petrish and Teegarden,  I was less skeptical of Gubernatorial Candidate  Jay Inslee’s optimism expressed in his campaign for an energy hi-tech future. 

Gubernatorial  Candidate Jay Inslee outlined his ideas for high tech energy industries in WA to a crowd gathered at the Swinomish Lodge near Anacortes on Sept 22. The event was sponsored by the Swinomish Tribal Community and the Skagit County Democrates.  

 When I went to hear Inslee  last month at the Swinomish Lodge near Anacortes, his major concern was ensuring that WA students would have the STEM education to met the challenging demands these new industries would bring.  To do this we need to keep faith in these possibilities and go down the ballot and flip the page to make sure we vote in the best leadership for ourselves and especially our children’s future. 

Fidalgo Democrates Debate Fall Ballot issues

Former Chief of the SPD - Norman Stamper -
advocates for I 502 legalizing marijuana use.

Related links:

 I 1240 (charter schools)

I 502 (marijuana legalization) 

 

R 74 (marriage equality) 

Both those debating "for" and "against" these  ballot issues were well informed, passionate and effective in their presentations.   Although I was pretty sure how I would vote,  the debates  made me question my assumptions.

Initiative 502 - Legalization of Marijuana 

Former Seattle Police Chief Norman Stamper made a formidable case for legalizing and regulating marijuana claiming it would:
     -free police to spend more time on violent crimes.
    - increase tax revenues by as much as 5 billion.
    - weaken the Mexican drug cartels.
Stamper proposed that some of the increase in tax revenues should be spent on educating youth about drug use.  He reported that "kids are responsive to education that is honest about health risks to brain development".

NOT SO FAST warned our local Skagit County Sheriff Will Reichardt.  The Sheriff found devils in the details of I 502.  The law is legally problematic.  The State Attoney General and Governor will not support  legalization because it conflicts with Federal laws.  Likewise neither Gubernatorial Candidate Jay Inslee nor Matt McKenna support the law.   Reichardt questioned the effects of the law on drug cartels.  Since the regulated outlets would charge $350/oz  for marijuana +  45% in taxes the cost to marijuana user of $507/oz would be well above the street prices ranging between $250 - $300/oz.   Reichardt spoofed the idea that at those prices the State stores could compete with the current black market.   One high school teacher was concerned about Students being derailed by a criminal record after experimenting with marijuana.    I asked how many people in Skagit county were arrested for marijuana possession last year.   Sheriff Reichardt cited 265 arrested on misdemeanor charges - most of which did not go to court.

These two law officers cited conflicting examples of what effects marijuana legalization would have on usage.  Since  there are 300,000 in the State of WA that take marijuana in some form, we seem to need more information on this subject.

Initiative 1240 - Authorization of Charter Schools

     The Executive Director  of Seattle based Partnership for Learning  - Jana Carlisle - endorsed the creation of charter schools in our State.   She addressed some of the common criticism of Charter Schools.  The Charter Schools would be tuition free and open to all.   Financial support would follow the child not the school.   Charter School teachers would have the same certification requirements as traditional public school teachers.  There would be oversight to ensure academic standards.  She believes Charter Schools would provide more options especially for low achieving student as they did in Harlem.   However, an article in the Sept 2nd New York Times gave the Harlem Charter Schools very mixed reviews.    Carlisle argued that Charter Schools for minority students were a civil right, but I think that is a bit of a stretch.  Children have a right to a good education not necessarily a certain form. 

Anacortes' long time School Board member Mike Stark opposed the formation of Charter Schools.  Mr Stark was named Anacortes' Patron of the Arts for his years of support of art education for children.   He warned that Charter schools start out as non-profit entities and then turn to private sources for funding.   With support from a religious organizations the Charter School could promote religion rather than the secular education normally provided by the State.  Mr Stark did not find anything in the Charter Schools that would help special needs kids for whom the WA school system is responsible.   Most in the audience agreed with Mr. Stark's concern that charter schools would adversely impact the public schools revenues. 

Referendum 74  - Defending Marriage Equality.

Stephani Couturo, a social worker from Bellingham,  asked the audience to support marriage equality by voting FOR  R74 because Domestic Partnership legal rights do not hold up in other States or Countries.   She assured us that the Clergy and those involved in the wedding business will still have the choice whether or not to participate in a wedding ceremony.   Most in the audience were sympathetic.   

Josheph Kebble, a libertarian, had an unusual reason for opposing R74.   He felt marriage should not be defined by the government.  Government should only enforce contracts.  It should not force you to recognize his marriage nor he to recognize yours. 

  Because I believe in separation of Church and State,  I too wish marriages could be left to the churches - all of whom would have different requirements according to their custom - some supporting same sex marriage, some not.  Concordantly  the Government would just provide civil unions for everyone.  My GLBT friends said that would be good if it were possible but that our legal code includes thousands  of rights that are embedded with the word "marriage".   So my plan B is to vote for R 74. 

Tenth District Democrats at the State Fair 2012

 Tenth  District Democrats Stan Mason (left)  and Phillis DeSoto
greeted visitors to the Snohomish County Democrats booth at the
 WA State Fair in Monroe.

It was Senior's day at the Fair.  We had a stack of literature about the national, state and local candidates but we were really kept busy selling a variety of OBAMA buttons.  People also bought bumper stickers and signs.  It was my first experience at retail sales but my advanced degrees in Math got me through.    The sales were encouraging.  It was also fun to met so many friendly people who shared our political passion.

 Gay couples stopping by the booth were happy to see signs endorsing R74 in support of marriage equality.

 Some of the men asked in jest what "legitimate rape" was.   Told them I didn't know.  One man  was really hung up on the concept.   So I expressed hope no-one in our families learns first hand.

Later in the afternoon young adults came by to register to vote - a good sign for the future.

Stanwood Democrats Endorse Candidates for the Fall Elections

               The Stanwood Democrats met this morning to endorse the following candidates for the Fall election.  We are providing links to each Candidate's Web site to help voters to become better informed.  Just click on the name of the Candidate.

FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Barack Obama, President of the United States

Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator

Rick Larsen, U.S. Representative, 2^nd Congressional District

FOR OUR STATE GOVERNMENT

Jay Inslee, Governor

Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor

Kathleen Drew, Secretary of State

Jim McIntire, Treasurer

Troy Kelley, Auditor

Bob Ferguson, Attorney General

Peter J. Goldmark, Commissioner of Public Lands

Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Mike Kreidler, Insurance Commissioner

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, 10^th District

Aaron Simpson, Representative, Position 1, 10^th District

Tom Riggs, Representative, Position 2, 10^th District

Sheryl Gordon McCloud, State Supreme Court, Position 9

Millie Judg, Superior Court Judge Position 11

Eric Teegarden, PUD Commissioner, District 2

State Treasure Jim McIntire claims he is running for reelection to the most important job few are aware of - State Treasurer.  Nonetheless he reminds us of what the State Government accomplished  under the his leadership along with that of the Democrats and moderate Republicans in the legislature during these tough times. 

"When I took office in 2009, banks were failing fast, the stock market was in free-fall, and the bond market was nearly frozen.  Now, three and a half years later:

• Despite the failure of 19 community banks in Washington, no public deposits were lost, public banking laws were reformed, and $5 billion of local public funds in community banks are now safer.

• We have financed $7 billion of job-creating new construction in public infrastructure.  We also refinanced $3.6 billion of existing state debt with the lowest interest rates in 50 years.
•  We saved taxpayers $1.3 billion in interest costs on state debt by squeezing lower interest rates from Wall Street using market competition and creating opportunities for Main Street Washington investors.
• The State Investment Board is now the nation’s top performing pension fund.  We have recovered all of the value lost in the 2008-09 financial crisis, making Washington’s pension system the 3^rd best-funded pension system in the country.
• And finally, we are doing more with less – financing more infrastructure investments and investing more short-term cash for local governments with 7 percent fewer funds and personnel."

Candidate Aaron Simpson Addresses Stanwood Democrats

  Tenth Legislative District Candidate Aaron Simpson (standing)  addressed the Stanwood Democrats at their monthly meeting July 14th in their beautiful new headquarters just west of the Stanwood Country Store.

  Tenth Legislative District Candidate  Aaron Simpson  outlined several issues motivating his candidacy.   He believes that current taxes and regulations favor large agribusinesses at the expense of our local family farms.  Likewise we need to evaluate tax incentives and State regulations as they affect local businesses.  He would support State funding of education  through the entire legislative process often neglected by Republicans. There ensued a lively discussion among the Stanwood Democrats about the proposal to introduce Charter Schools to the State of WA.   Most members believed that charter schools would be a drain on the public schools with no proven benefit.  It did not make sense that Tax money would go to corporate profits instead of teachers and students.   

The Democratic candidates for office in November have left information about their candidacy at the Stanwood Headquarter.   The public in encouraged to drop by to ask questions and get the information they need.  The location is: 27116 90TH AVE NW, 

Whatcom Democrats Endorse Darcy Burner

It was a drizzly evening on Thursday June 21 when the Whatcom County Democrats assembled for their monthly meeting at the Sons of Norway Hall off State & Champion Street in Bellingham.  Walking into the room the mood was frenzied as candidates swarmed around voters to garner support for their campaigns.  Many of the volunteers phone-banked for weeks prior to the meeting to remind Democrats to come and vote for a candidate to endorse.  Phone and Email blasts reached over 7,000 voters, I personally received at least 3 phone calls to request my support. 

In the front of the hall were tables of literature, buttons and enthusiastic greeters.  BBQ dinner was served and the atmosphere in the Norway Hall was one of a rock concert -  loud and stiffling hot making the audience feel a bit restless and uncomfortable.  Discomfort aside, the impassioned speeches of the candidates seeking endorsement enveloped the room. 

Darcy Burner won the nomination by a 75% vote.

Whatcom Women Democrats host Judicial Candidate

On a warm and sunny Monday afternoon May 14th   the Whatcom Women Democrats met for their monthly lunch meeting  at the Super Buffet off the Guide Meridian in Bellingham .  Sunny weather meant a lighter than average turnout of 12 members. Judicial candidate Debora Garrett was the honored guest.

Ms. Garrett gave an update on her campaign progress.  She reported that over 40 people turned out at the Whatcom County Courthouse in support of her filing for candidacy.  Reaching out to the community, Garrett is attending at least 2 events per week around the county.  Yard signs are ready and doorbelling will commence shortly.