At the Washington Education Association’s weekend convention, Secretary of State candidate Kim Wyman became the first Republican statewide candidate to get the teacher’s union’s endorsement this year.
Though it’s among the biggest benefactors of Washington Democrats, the WEA has nonetheless endorsed Republicans, such as current Secretary of State Sam Reed. This year, by picking Thurston County auditor Wyman to be the state’s top elections officer, the union passed over Democratic candidates Kathleen Drew, Greg Nickels and, least surprisingly given his support this year for charter schools and school-employee benefits consolidation, Jim Kastama.
Two other Republicans likewise won the WEA’s backing, Rep. Bruce…
Anderson Island resident Ann Dasch has filed to run against Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson as the District 6 representative on the Pierce County Council.
Dasch, 47, is home-schooling her two children, ages 14 and 11. She has a background in college administration and student services.
Dasch filed as preferring the Democratic Party. Richardson filed as preferring the Republican Party.
“I saw that Mr. Richardson was unopposed,” Dasch said. “I was concerned that this district wouldn’t have any choice. I think I bring a pretty balanced approach of not wanting our government to spend too much money but to still meet …
On Friday the state attorney general’s office responded to an earlier brief by the winners in the landmark school funding case known as McCleary.
This is the last of a series of briefs requested by the court to help it decide how it will keep an eye on how the governor and the Legislature meet the court’s order to fix the school funding system.
The state initially proposed a system where the Legislature would make annual, post-session reports on what it had done to improve the fairness and adequacy of school funding. But lawyers for the winning side responded that …
Marilyn Rasmussen, an Eatonville Democrat who was unseated in 2008 after 22 years as a state legislator, is back for another comeback bid against a familiar foe – only this time for Pierce County Council.
As Rasmussen did two years ago when she ran for the state House in the 2nd Legislative District, she is taking on Republican Rep. Jim McCune of Graham for the District 3 seat being vacated by term-limited Roger Bush.
McCune, who easily beat Rasmussen in 2010 to return to the House, decided to leave the Legislature earlier this year after he was redistricted …
Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Dale Washam filed today for re-election.
Washam decided to run for a second, four-year term, despite a no confidence vote in him by the County Council, an ethics violation committed by him and numerous legal settlements for claims from current and former employees in his office.
Four other candidates form a crowded field, including Billie O’Brien, the administrative manager of the assessor-treasurer’s office.
The other candidates are Pierce County Councilman Tim Farrell and former Tacoma Councilmen Spiro Manthou and Mike Lonergan.
The top-two vote-getters in the Aug. 7 primary will face off in November.
The reform group that endorsed Democrat Chris Gregoire four years ago and endorsed far more Democrats for the state Legislature than Republicans made a little news this morning by endorsing Republican Rob McKenna for governor.
Stand for Children, which describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group, gave the current Washington Attorney General its support over likely Democratic finalist Jay Inslee. Rob McKenna
“As a lifelong Democrat, I’ll admit that I struggled with this decision. The fact is that party labels just aren’t a good enough reason to not endorse the right champion for education,” said Jennifer Vranek, a Stand PAC Board member and founder of the policy firm Education First.
The endorsement resulted partly from what the group called a “blind taste test.” Questionnaires submitted by both McKenna and Inslee were presented to members without identifying the candidate. After reading the answers, 50 percent favored McKenna and 38 percent selected Inslee. The rest did not choose a candidate.
“Stand is an education organization, so of course we use a rubric to grade and rate candidates,” said Shannon Campion. executive director of the Washington chapter of Stand For Children. “McKenna scored exceptionally well on all five of our candidate criteria, led in the survey we emailed to our members, and earned a 9-2 vote from our PAC Board.”
“I was really impressed with McKenna’s depth of knowledge and passion about education,” Vranek said. We’re looking for a change agent, and after the interviews it was clear that Rob McKenna will prioritize education and get better results for our kids.”
Here’s the press release issued this morning Read more »
The president of the union for Pierce County corrections deputies filed today to run against County Executive Pat McCarthy.
Bruce Minker has criticized McCarthy and her staff for their handling of the labor dispute with corrections deputies.
“We’ve been without a contract for 18 months,” said Minker, president of the Pierce County Corrections Guild. “Unacceptable.”
Minker, 52, a corrections deputy at the Pierce County Jail, filed with no party preference. McCarthy, a Democrat, is seeking her second term as county executive.
The Pierce County Corrections Guild has been is in mediation with Pierce County over the county wanting all guild …
