state offices

WA Secretary of State

√  Kathleen Drew, D, former state senator, endorsed by Progressive Voter, NOW, labor, Washington Environmental Council. Wrote the state’s Ethics in Public Service law, works on fair elections. pro-choice.  top message: ensure impartial and fair elections, streamline services to business and charitable organizations, increase community and civic engagement. Supports a ‘high earners’ income tax.

Kim Wyman, R, Thurston Co Auditor,  opposes same-day voter registration, wants to modernize elections to improve accuracy and efficiency, make archives and documents more accessible. Not awful. Just not as good as Drew.

WA State Treasurer

√  Jim McIntire, D. endorsed by Progressive Voters. intends to protect the long term interests of taxpayers and encourage investment in the future. Dares to say we need a state income tax. Supports single payer nationally as a way to save money, believes in raising taxes to pay for essential services such as health care and education.

Sharon Hanek, R, write-in candidate. The platform looked good, but then I got to the endorsements: Citizens Alliance for Property Rights, North Olympic Counties Farm Bureau, We Believe - We Vote, a whole slew of far right candidates and electeds, including Barbara Bailey, John Koster, and Clint Didier. With friends like these, I don’t think I want her handling our state’s treasury.

WA State Auditor

√  Troy Kelley, D, conservative, moderate on social issues. He has been accused by his R opponent of all manner of financial wrongdoing. This caused me some concern, so I looked into it. Seems Mr Watkins did the same thing to Jay Inslee. Political mudslinging of the lowest order. Under other circumstances I would have sat out this race, but I don’t believe in enabling this kind of disgusting behavior, so am voting for Kelley to send a message to the mudslingers.

James Watkins, R, business consultant, As mentioned above, Watkins made some pretty serious allegations of financial misconduct against Troy Kelley. The Tacoma News-Tribune investigated and found that Watkins had done the same to Jay Inslee, and found the accusations baseless mudslinging.

WA state Attorney General

√  Bob Ferguson, D, endorsed by Progressive Voter and a whole list of others. progressive on criminal justice, government transparency, environmental protection, limits on greenhouse gases, and support for veterans. As an attorney he successfully challenged one of Tim Eyman’s initiatives. He’s pro-choice and pro women’s rights. Described by associates as nerdy and earnest. Top 3 campaign messages: 1. consumer protection. 2. public safety. 3. environmental protection. Focus on veterans, foreclosure fairness act. Supports Obamacare. Wants to close tax loopholes enjoyed by out of state banks & use proceeds to fund schools. This was actually passed by the legislature and is now on the ballot. You’ll see it below.

Reagan Dunn, R, King Co council member, typical R on most issues,  Focus seems to be on being a top cop. Lied during debate, claiming 2 more years in civil practice than the reality. Seattle P-I has documented this tendency to exaggerate. Claims to have helped prosecute the 20^th hijacker and been victim of a hit order by an international gang. Trust fund baby, named for Ronald Reagan. Contemporaries describe him as a partying frat boy with a rich and famous mom (Jennifer Dunn). Shows up for roll call, then leaves before actual public testimony, debate, and vote.

Commissioner of Public Lands

√  Peter Goldmark, D, incumbent, has been picking up pieces and cleaning up after his ‘log it all now’ predecessor. Has reinstated reasonable limits on logging public lands, has been trying to put people to work cleaning up Puget Sound. principles: manage state lands sustainably, make decisions based on sound science, transparency. Increased logging permit fees to make administering logging pay for itself.

Clint Didier, R, former NFL football player, worries about UN black helicopters, out to stop ‘big time assault on private property rights.’ Accuses Goldmark of allegiance to the UN. Ran against Dino Rossi in 2010. Lost badly.

WA Superintendent of Public Instruction

Randy Dorn (incumbent) says he has improved student testing, holding all parties responsible for student learning, improved ability to remove or improve poor teachers, partnered with Microsoft and Boeing, has led fight for funding. wants to continue. Its so  non-specific as to leave me wondering. I’m not at all clear why he is on the ballot all by himself, but there he is.

WA Insurance Commissioner

√  Mike Kreidler, D - (incumbent), campaign messages: continue to implement health care reform (Obamacare), continue to fight for lower health insurance premiums, continue to fight for insurance consumers. Strong civil rights proponent. He’s been doing a good job, which we know because we hear the complaints of the insurance industry. http://www.insurance.wa.gov/   This is where you go to ask questions or file complaints about insurance companies.

John R Adams, R, proposes to audit the Insurance Commissioner’s office, reduce over-regulation, reform unfair underwriting practices, tort reform, claims payment reform - all the corporate agenda code words. Reduce over-regulation = giving insurance companies free rein. Reform unfair underwriting practices = let insurance companies discriminate against women, people with ‘existing conditions’, etc. Tort reform = limiting lawsuits against insurance companies (and others) by limiting maximum judgments, disallowing class action lawsuits, etc. Claims payment reform = if plaintiffs actually get a favorable judgment out of a court, not having to actually pay. This is not someone we want representing us.