Secretary of State

Secretary of State

Thank goodness there are only 3 candidates.

This is the state’s chief elections officer, so a very important position. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Supervising elections

            filing and verifying initiative and referendums

            producing and distributing voter pamphlets

Registering and licensing private corporations, limited partnerships, and trademarks

Registering non-profits and fundraisers

Administering the Confidentiality Program for survivors of violence

Collecting and preserving historical records

The incumbent has been doing, as far as we can tell, an adequate if not particularly inspired job. Tina Podlodowski, by contrast, is a fireball and I would like to see what she does with this position. I’ll be voting for Tina Podlodowski.

The candidates:

 

Tina Podlodowski   D

info@votersfortina.com          206-419-1364

http://www.votersfortina.com/?page_id=185

Endorsed by Democracy for America, Emily’s List, and a whole slew of other individuals and organizations I support.

Has “spent her life fighting for equality and driving forward progress.” Former Microsoft software engineer. Former Seattle city council member. Committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable voting system. Has worked for environmental justice, women’s health, HIV/AIDS issues, and childhood immunizations. Revitalized two regional non-profits: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Puget Sound and Lifelong AIDS Alliance. Helped form the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility. Works with Citizens for Fairness, the Pride Foundation, The Human Rights Campaign.

Her focus as Secretary of State will be to make voting easier and more inclusive. Her record to date shows that she will accomplish that.

Endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters.

Endorsed by FUSE Progressive Voters

Kim Wyman  R         incumbent

kim@kimwyman.com

http://www.kimwyman.com/

education: Cal State Long Beach, BA, Troy State U  MA in public admin. Military wife, first in Germany and eventually at Fort Lewis. Worked in Thurston Co Auditor’s office, and became county elections manager. Elected as Sect of State 2012.

She seems to be involved in a lot of voting related organizations, which have given her a lot of awards. Check her website for the details. She is endorsed by a long list of county auditors and many R politicos.

I would rate her as competent.

Tim Turner   Libertarian                360-536-5789

tim@electtimturner.com

http://www.electtimturner.com/

Software engineer, Navy veteran, teacher, author of book on economic theory

His single issue appears to be “fix the party system.” He is challenging the perception that we must vote for the lesser evil. He wants to promote independents and smaller parties. He wants to work toward proportional representation. Incidentally, he recognizes that the Secretary of State runs elections. He pledges to work to ensure that every vote is counted.