Invitation to Join in Honoring Governor Chris Gregoire - May 29th

Aerospace Machinists DL 751, Nina Carter, Jeanne Cushman, John Cusick, Mark Foutch, Senator Karen Fraser, Representative Tami Green, Denny Heck, Hillary Hunt,, Representative Sam Hunt, Joe Hyer, Jeff Kingsbury, Joan Machlis, Cecille Owens, Tom Rainey, Senator Marilyn Rasmussen and Representative Brendan Williams invite you to join them in honoring Governor Chris Gregoire with a Ranch House BBQ at The Woman’s Club of Olympia.

Thursday, May 29, 2008
5:30 pm
1002 Washington St SE
Olympia, WA 98501

Supporter: $50
Host: $250
Sponsor: $500

Please RSVP to Dayna Lurie at dlurie@chrisgregoire.com or call (206) 382-2008

To RSVP online, go to www.chrisgregoire.com/olympiabbq.com

35th LD Nominating Convention Backs Candidacy of Fred Finn for State Representative

Fred Finn (D) was selected by a better than 2-to-1 margin as the Democratic Party's official nominee for 35th Legislative District State Representative, Position 2, in Belfair on Saturday, May 10. Over half of the Democratic precinct committee officers (PCOs) within the 35th LD turned out to nominate one candidate for the seat being vacated at the end of this term by Rep. Bill Eickmeyer (D).

"It was a great turnout!" commented Finn. "I am honored and delighted to have been given such an encouraging boost for the work ahead of doorbelling in all four of our counties."

With two Democrats and two Republicans vying for the seat, the state's new, top-two primary will eliminate two - but not necessarily one from each political party, as in past primary elections.

Both Fred Finn and Daryl Daugs seek the position for the Democrats. The Party's nominee will not be noted as such on the State's Primary ballot, but the distinction of being the nominee of choice is one each candidate sought.

At the nominating convention, 55 of 97 eligible PCOs were present. Each cast a weighted ballot, equal to the number of delegates allotted for their precinct during the presidential caucus in February. Weighted votes varied from 1 to 13.

Finn was favored by 37 of the PCOs present and voting. The resulting weighted vote was 224 for Finn to 108 for Daugs.

The 35th LD includes all of Mason County, and portions of Kitsap, Thurston and Grays Harbor Counties. Both 35th Representatives Bill Eickmeyer and Kathy Haigh (D) are among the many elected officials who have endorsed Finn, according to his website, found at www.electfredfinn.com.

--LINDA THOMSON, Campaign Advisor, Committee to Elect Fred Finn

Daryl Daugs Campaign Announces Two Upcoming Events - June 4 and 5

Mark your calendars, spread the good news and plan to attend one of these kick off events near you!

The campaign to elect Daryl Daugs as a State Representative for the 35th Legislative District has announced events for June 4 and June 5.

For Mason and Thurston County Kick Off:
June 4, 2008
6:30pm
Lake Limerick Country Club
790 E Saint Andrews Drive
Shelton, Washington

Kitsap and Grays Harbor County Kick Off:
June 5, 2008
6:30pm
Airport Diner
8830 State Highway 3 SW
Port Orchard, Washington

For more information, see the web site at http://www.familiesfordaryldaugs.com/

On the Campaign Trail with Fred Finn

Dear Friends,

I am doorbelling and visiting with voters in the 35th Legislative District, telling them about myself and listening to their concerns. I am also in the process of absorbing the new Democratic Party rules for the "nominating" process, and making personal contact with all our PCOs who are eligible to participate.

In addition to contacting voters, I have been attending political meetings and conventions of the Democratic Party, as well as several community organizations in our area. I co-sponsored fundraisers for Mason General Hospital and for Turning Pointe Domestic Violence Services.

Education – The Washington State Constitution refers to education as the "paramount duty"of the state. We are not living up to that grand phrase, and that is something I pledge to work on as your State Representative. I have a lifelong passion for education. I served three terms on my local school board here in the 35th. I have been part of the foundation board for South Puget Sound Community College. Because no child should be denied an education due to the family’s financial challenges, I started and helped endow the Griffin School Foundation. I helped found the South Sound Reading Foundation. I look forward to working closely with State Representative Kathy Haigh on moving toward fully-funding education for all, preschool to grad school, never forgetting to include our equally important technical and trade schools.

Environment – We live in one of the most spectacular places in the world, yet our own Hood Canal, along with the rest of Puget Sound, is suffering, partially from a lack of careful stewardship over years, and the impact of our own lives. I've put my lifestyle, money and my muscles into this issue. I am an angel-level member of the Washington Conservation Voters, and have done some hands-on volunteer work locally, including planting trees along a stream bank for the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and pulling up old plastic pipe from the tide flats of Hood Canal. I’ve been recycling for years, as well as driving a Prius, both habits of mine before either was popular. I look forward to working on environmental issues in the state legislature.

Family Wage Jobs – Infrastructure is needed to attract businesses that offer family-wage jobs, and workers must have access to affordable housing nearby. We need proper sewage-treatment, transportation (including ferry boats in Kitsap), clean water, electricity, and more. I am a strong supporter of the rights of the laborer. In Olympia, I will support the workers in our state, that they in turn might support their families through their work.

Endorsements - I am proud to have been endorsed by the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, as well as the Fraternal Order of Police – Washington State Lodge. Additionally, the following elected officials have endorsed my candidacy for State Representative:

Jay Inslee, US Congressman, 1st CD
William "Ike" Eickmeyer, State Representative, 35th LD
Kathy Haigh, State Representative, 35th LD
Derek Kilmer, State Senator, 26th LD
Pat Lantz, State Representative, 26th LD
Larry Seaquist, State Representative, 26th LD
Sherry Appleton, State Representative, 23rd LD
Christine Rolfes, State Representative, 23rd LD
Josh Brown, Kitsap County Commissioner
Steve Bauer, Kitsap County Commissioner
David Peterson, Kitsap County Clerk
Daniel Kimball, Thurston County Sheriff
Wes Stockwell, Mason County Coroner
John Tarrant, Shelton Mayor
Doug Mah, Olympia Mayor
Jeff Kingsbury, Olympia City Council Member
Bill Mahan, Port of Bremerton Commissioner

Others, who are no longer serving in office, but know what is required to do the work, have also endorsed me. They include:

Doug Sayan, Former State Representative, 35th LD
Les Eldridge, Former Thurston County Commissioner
John Eager, Former Mason County Commissioner
Marlene Taylor, Former Shelton Port Commissioner
Paul Berendt, Immediate Past Chair, Washington State Democrats

I am grateful to over 300 different contributors to my campaign effort so far.

Contact me - For further information, please see my website at www.electfredfinn.com or contact me at 360-866-2000 or fredfinnforstaterep@hotmail.com.

Sincerely,

Fred Finn, Democrat, Candidate for State Representative, 35th LD, Position 2

Committee to Elect Fred Finn (D)
PO Box 458
Belfair, WA 98528

Meet Fred Finn, Candidate for State Representative, April 2

Representative Kathy Haigh invites you to meet FRED FINN (D) for State Representative, District 35 Pos 2.

Wednesday, April 2
5 to 7PM
Vern's Restaurant, Railroad Ave. in Historic Shelton

"Fred understands the issues and challenges we face in the 35th. I look forward to working with him in the legislature." --Representative Kathy Haigh

RSVP: 360-509-3069

www.ElectFredFinn.com

Event paid for by Committee to Elect Fred Finn (D)
Labor donated

Puget Sound Needs Our Help - Attend A Workshop and Community Discussion in Your Area

The Puget Sound Partnership is sponsoring a series of workshops in communities surrounding Puget Sound. This is our opportunity to get involved in restoring and protecting Puget Sound. Share our local perspective about the status of Puget Sound health and its greatest threats, and help establish priorities for the future. Puget Sound Partnership was formed to help clean up the Sound by 2020.

At the workshops, the overarching goal is to work toward a shared understanding of current status and threats to Puget Sound. Attendees will be invited to add their local knowledge and perspectives to the status and threats assessment of Puget Sound through small and large group discussion. Workshop participants will also have the chance to review a summary of a Sound-wide inventory of current actions and make recommendations.

During the community conversations, members of the public will be invited to review the workshop discussion and share their comments and concerns about the status of Puget Sound’s health and its greatest threats.

For more information on this series of events, click this link.

Puget Sound Partnership, Toll-free: 800.54.SOUND, Phone: 360.725.5444, Email: info@psp.wa.gov

Democrats Ought to Vote in the Primary, Too

Some, like the blog Daily Kos, are saying the mantra before the February 9th caucus was "the primary doesn't count." I don't believe it. Nonetheless, it's worth mentioning that there is a Presidential Primary, this Tuesday, February 19, and Democrats ought to vote in it.

In many districts, there is more on the ballot than merely presidential preference. Levies, fire district bonds, and other important measures are on the ballot, maybe in your district.

Local county election sites have more information on what's on the ballot and how you can return your ballot. Remember to get your ballot returned or postmarked by February 9.

Grays Harbor County Elections
Mason County Elections
Kitsap County Elections
Thurston County Elections

From the Daily Kos, we read:

I have it from reliable sources that the Washington State Superdelegates are going to cast their votes based on the Primary's result (not the caucus) . . . so make sure you [vote in it].

While this rumor was soundly dismissed, the theory has circulated that while there may not be that sort of agreement, a Clinton primary win, thought [sic] it would provide zero real delegates, would give Washington superdelgates an excuse to support establishment-favorite Clinton, without appearing to oppose the will of their state.

Let's hope the whole issue of superdelegates, and how they are used in this year's campaign, doesn't end up biting us Democrats.

Are you voting in the primary? Why or why not? Leave your comments below.

With Half of Their Delegates Left to Be Selected, State GOP Choose to Give Washington a Black Eye

In contrast to the Democrat’s experience with their caucuses, this last weekend, it’s hard to imagine what could possibly compel the Republican Party leadership to make the kinds of decisions it did, with respect to the question of whether to announce a winner in the race between John McCain and Mike Huckabee. After making his bones on seeing “voter fraud” behind every rock and tree, McCain supporter and GOP Chair Luke Esser called the race Saturday night with 87 percent of the precincts counted and with McCain leading by less than 2%. According to the Seattle Times, “At that point, McCain was ahead of Huckabee by 242 delegates out of the 13,000 counted, Esser said. The Huckabee campaign contends there were another 1,500 or so delegates not counted.”

Esser’s rationale for deciding for McCain, when the margin of McCain's lead was 1.8% and the number votes left uncounted exceeded 13%? It was to reward the GOP faithful for participating in the day’s caucuses:

“Maybe it would have been safer if I hadn't said anything. But it was an exciting and historic day for the state and I thought if I was confident about what the outcome would be I should share that with the people who had gone out to their caucuses.”

It is true the Republicans are not allocating all their delegates based on caucus results. The results of the February 19 Primary will also be used in to assign delegates. However, it seems possible that, after Huckabee’s wins in Louisiana and Kansas, the McCain supporters who head up the Washington State GOP decided it was time for a press release announcing their man has won, in our state.

Instead, the GOP has managed to give our state, and particularly GOP supporters in this state, a black eye.

What must McCain's campaign think of Luke Esser today?

And to think, there are all those GOP supporters yet to send in their Primary ballots, against which nearly one-half of the GOP’s delegates will be chosen. McCain could yet lose this one, thanks in part to the ineptness of his own party and its Chair, Luke Esser.

On Sunday's "Meet the Press," Huckabee responded to calls for him to step aside and concede the nomination to McCain as "total nonsense."

"The Democrats haven't settled their nominee either, so for us to suddenly act like we have to all step aside and have a coronation instead of an election, that's the antithesis of everything Republicans are supposed to believe," he said on NBC. "We believe competition breeds excellence and the lack of it breeds mediocrity."

Maybe somebody ought to pass that news on to Luke Esser.

The blog “Talking Points Memo,” among other blogs, is having a field day on this one. For particularly lively reading, I recommend this post, in which there’s video of Huckabee being interviewed regarding the handling of GOP caucus results in Washington State.

There is also this post, wherein we read about Luke Esser’s humorous take on voter disenfranchisement, circa 1986. Contrast Esser’s words back then with his “vote fraud” paranoia of today.

Progressive Thinking on the Eve of Precinct Caucuses in Washington

As we approach Saturday's Precinct Caucuses, I am thinking about the possibility that ours could be made a progressive party and our role, as citizens, in making it so.

Progressive action for direct democracy led to the citizen election of Senators, to primaries, to citizen referendum, initiative and recall, to secret balloting and to the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Progressive action will result in publicly-funded campaigns throughout the state.

Progressive action busted up industrial monopolies, regulated corporations, and it will eliminate the notion of "corporate personhood."

Progressive action resulted in the 8-hour work day, the enactment of child labor laws and supported the goals of organized labor. We, in the middle class, must not forget the labor history of the early Twentieth Century.

It was progressive action that created the national parks system.

Progressives believe in maximizing human freedom and helping society, and its individual members, to achieve their full potential. Andrew Fong, of the Center for American Progress, has observed that power, wealth and information must flow freely rather than be concentrated in the hands of a few so that all citizens have the means to contribute.

Conservatives often accuse progressives of rejecting a morality-driven perspective on society and government. Nothing could be further from the truth: Progressives encourage personal and moral responsibility, and promote respect for ethical values.

Compare that with the false and empty chants of compassionate conservatives, who gladly engage in reckless and unjustified war (and not just in Iraq, but by using war in place of diplomacy); deny gays, lesbians and transgendered Americans their rights as citizens; infringe upon the rights of women to control the very functions of their bodies; condemn working families to a cycle of poverty; and err on the side of big business over public health and the health of our very planet. These are the same 'principled' conservatives who whole-heartedly defend what is possibly the most corrupt Administration in our history, that of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney.

What can we do, to act as progressives?

First we must think very carefully about our role in not only today’s political exercise, but our ongoing role as citizens.

To quote Howard Zinn, "When a social movement adopts the compromises of legislators, it has forgotten its role, which is to push and challenge the politicians, not to fall in meekly behind them."

We who protest the Bush War in Iraq are not politicians. We who call for universal healthcare are not politicians. We who call for the strictest curbs on carbon emissions are not politicians. We who call for a restoration of civil liberties and the rule of law in America in order to hold those currently in the White House responsible for their crimes are not politicians. We are citizens. Whatever politicians may do, let them first feel the full force of citizens who speak for what is right, not for what is winnable, in a shamefully apprehensive Congress.

Except for the rare few, our representatives are politicians, and will surrender their integrity, claiming to be "realistic."

As Zinn points out, we are citizens, not politicians. "We have no office to hold on to, only our consciences, which insist on telling the truth. That, history suggests, is the most realistic thing a citizen can do."

We must demand that which may appear to our politicians to be unwinnable. Real change will require that we deny our politicians that which is to them merely expedient.

I greatly regret there are but hints of true, brave progressivism in the two leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. Indeed, so far as purely progressive thinking is concerned, only Mike Gravel – remember? there is a third Democratic candidate still in this race – comes close to claiming that designation. We must make it so that we do not have reason to regret, for the sake of progressive action, the candidates we offer to our fellow Americans, not just for the office of the President, but all our Democratic candidates.

I hope you all will enjoy this Saturday's caucuses and that you will think both about from where we came, and where we want to go.

It feels really good to be Democrats in America in 2008, doesn't it?

Important Campaign Finance Bill Up for House Vote on Jan 25!

Fuse and Washington Public Campaigns are reporting they have been notified the HOUSE WILL VOTE on the Local Choice / Local Option bill, SHB 1551, Friday morning, January 25th. The session begins at 10 AM that day.

This is an important campaign finance reform bill. The bill would allow Washington's cities and counties to set up public financing for local campaigns.

This bill is a critical first step toward restoring sanity to our campaign finance system, but it won't pass without your help. The vote is likely to be very close, and it's also likely that opponents will try to amend and weaken the bill.

Send a message to your Representatives right now and ask them to support a clean version of SHB 1551.

Online, you can use the Fuse web page at
http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/cleancampaigns

Present law prevents local governments from even allowing publicly-financed elections. SHB 1551 gives cities and counties in Washington the option of establishing voluntary public financing for local election campaigns. Why should we publicly finance campaigns?

• Publicly financed campaigns mean candidates for office can spend less time raising money and more time talking to voters.
• It means that lawmakers are less beholden to special interests and more accountable to constituents.
• It means candidates can win and lose on the quality of their ideas, not the size of their bank account.
• And it means we can begin to restore citizen's trust in their government.

Passing this bill is a small but crucial step in the right direction, and your Representatives need to know that this is a priority for their constituents. Please take a moment right now to send them a message.

If you prefer to call the Legislative Hotline, rather than send an online message, please do so now at 1-800-562-6000. Operators will take down your opinion and your message, for both your local House members, and for the Speaker.

And, please contact our representatives, Kathy Haigh and Bill Eickmeyer directly.

Kathy Haigh at (360) 786-7966 or by email at haigh.kathy@leg.wa.gov

Bill Eickmeyer at (360) 786-7902 or by email at eickmeyer.william@leg.wa.gov

For more information, Read SHB 1551, at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1551

Contact Washington Public Campaigns at
http://www.washclean.org/

UPDATE: The House passed SHB 1551, the Local Options bill, on January 25th. Many thanks, to those of you who showed your support and contacted your representatives.

The fight's not over yet -- now the bill needs to pass in the Senate, where it's been introduced by Senator Rosa Franklin. That bill, SB 5278, is expected to come up for a vote soon.

We are too close to victory to let up now! I've updated the campaign on our website so you can send a message to your State Senator. You can do this online at http://www.fusewashington.org/page/speakout/cleancampaigns

You can also contact Senator Tim Sheldon's office directly at (360) 786-7668 or my email at sheldon.timothy@leg.wa.gov

Real Change in America Will Take Backbone

"With this platform, we declare our commitment to common cause and our desire for clear commitments from our elected officials. This platform is founded in a shared vision of a sustainable and just economy with respect for the environment, human rights, and a culture of peace. It is grounded in the values of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the Earth Charter. Our platform is a bold, uncompromised position on the most fundamental questions of our democracy."

So begins The Backbone Platform, written in mid-2004. What was written then, in a comprehensive platform statement created right here in Washington State, is as worthy of consideration by progressives now, as it was then.

I read a lot about "change" in the recent primaries and caucuses. You want change? Real change is going to take some backbone. The kind of backbone our progressive forebears had and which resulted in the 5-day work week and the rise of the Middle Class in this country.

Read the entire platform here.

Here's a portion of what's included in The Backbone Platform:

• Calls for instant runoff voting, public financing of campaigns, free television and radio time for candidates and guaranteed media access for candidates.
• Rejects the concept of "Corporate Personhood," and support legislation and litigation to challenge this linchpin obstacle to a functional democracy.
• Calls for access to counsel for the accused, writ of habeas corpus, and due process.
• Seeks to guarantee women's agency for their own bodies by repealing the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act," and the partial-birth abortion bill, and providing for universal access to safe, legal abortion, birth control, and sex education.
• Urges a repeal of state and federal "Defense of Marriage" Acts and calls for "civil unions" for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Supports the protection of content diversity and press freedom through promoting the broadest possible diversity of media ownership and opposing concentration and conglomeration as a centermost principle in licensing all modes of broadcast and public media operations.
• Calls for high-quality universal education for all from preschool through college as a critical component of a thriving democracy. Substantially increase financial aid to students and federal support to community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship programs, and colleges.
• Opposes President Bush's "Guest Worker" plan, which would formalize the status of most undocumented immigrants as a permanent underclass, and as economic pawns deprived of any meaningful voice in the decisions and processes that determine their destiny. Instead, there ought to be a safe and sure path to permanent legal status, and ultimately citizenship.
• Supports progressive tax policies which create fairness for the middle class and require the wealthy to pay their proportionate share. The Bush tax cuts for the wealthy must be repealed.
• Declares that “Health care is a fundamental human right and should be guaranteed through a federally funded, single-payer, comprehensive national health care system.”
• Calls for protections of workers' rights to organize, free from fear and intimidation and the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act.
• Calls upon the President to uphold international law, leading by example, and to abandon the doctrine of preemption.
• Redirect farming subsidies to family farms and e iminate all subsidies to corporate farming.
• Expand Renewable Energy Development: Diversify energy sources by promoting existing technologies in solar, biomass, and wind, while setting ambitious but achievable goals for increasing renewable generation and promoting state and local policy innovations that link clean energy and jobs.
• Calls for public ownership of drinking water systems, subject to municipal control.
• Calls for the reinstatement and vigorous enforcement of environmental protections reversed or weakened by the Bush administration, including the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

How does The Backbone Platform match up with your thoughts and dreams for America?

How do your favorite candidates measure up to progressive values reflected in The Backbone Platform? Now, before the February 9th caucuses, would be a good time to get straight about that, with your favorite Presidential candidate.

Read the entire platform here.
For more information, visit the web site at http://www.backbonecampaign.org/

Furniture Drive to Aid Flood Victims - Sat, Jan 12

As you know, December's flooding, particularly in South Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, was catastrophic. The outpouring of assistance, both from volunteers and in donations, has been extraordinarily heartwarming.

Interfaith Works, an effort coordinating the activities of several local faith communities in the Olympia area, held a Furniture Drive, last month, that filled a 57 foot trailer and about three small trucks with over 150 pieces of furniture. They are looking to repeat this success again. If you live in Thurston or southeastern Mason Counties, you may be able to help.

2008 FURNITURE DRIVE TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS

More furniture is needed. Please help.

Saturday, January 12, 2008
9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Please bring furniture to the parking lot of:
Olympia Christian Reformed Church
2121 Log Cabin Rd SE
Olympia

Furniture will be collected at the Harbor Wholesale Grocery trailer.

Donated furniture must be GENTLY USED – clean, no stains, no rips, no peeling paint and no odors. We are accepting beds, dressers, sofas, chairs, dining tables and dining chairs.

If you have any questions please call Donna Kelly at The Furniture Bank of Thurston County - 705-1756.

Please spread the word among members of your community. Thank you!

Interfaith Works
360-357-7224

About Daryl Daugs: Candidate for the State House, 35th LD

Daryl and Leslie Daugs are parents to three children: Leane (25), Gwen (16) and Daryl III (14). They have also had more then fifty-four foster children since 1993. They are proud to say, "Most of our foster children have been able to return to their families through support and mentorship of the whole family."

He spent the first ten years of his adult life working for large corporations in the business world. He ultimately found it to be unfulfilling and made a drastic career change to serve families and children in need. Daryl served for six years as the statewide director of Families for Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the support and education of foster and adoptive parents.

He is currently a Lead Organizer for the Washington Federation of State Employees in Olympia focusing on system reform of Child Protective Services. He also serves on the board of the Foster Parent Association of Washington State. Daugs has authored legislation to support system reform that has been sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats.

Daugs comes from a longstanding family tradition of "service to families."

Daryl says that Service to Families is the foundation to public service. "We need politicians that support our families with education, access to health care and a safe environment," explained Daugs. "I have and will walk the walk – not just talk the talk."

There isn’t any person running for office in America that is going to tell you they don’t support families or the environment. However, do they have a track record of personally working with families who are struggling? Do they have a history of giving families a voice in government?

"Every day that I am in office I will serve the working families of our community. My primary concerns are that our children grow up in a safe environment with parents who have the tools they need: good schools, healthcare, a stable economy and common sense based social programs that support families, not break them down.

Every day I will work to give our families the tools they need to raise their children. Every day I will work to give our families a voice for change in Olympia."

-- DARYL DAUGS, Candidate, Position 2

For more information, see Families for Daryl Daugs.
The Olympian ran an article, "Foster-parent activist Daryl Daugs running for 35th district" on October 8th.

Caucus on Feb 9 - Do You Know Your Caucus Location?

The 2008 Precinct Caucus is Saturday, February 9, 2008, 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Caucus locations are now set. Do you know your precinct caucus location?

For precincts within the 35th Legislative District:

In Grays Harbor County

Elma Senior Citizen Center, 100 Main St., Elma

In Kitsap County

Precincts 007, 013, 029, 031, 052, 054, 071, 084, 099: Bremerton High School, 1500 - 13th Street, Bremerton.

Precincts 032, 037, 083, 086, 110, 111, 113, 130, 162, 163, 164, 293, 294, 297: Bremerton School District Administrative Office, 1324 Marion Avenue, Bremerton.

Precincts 085, 087, 088, 104, 151, 152, 155, 156, 157, 205, 206, 216, 219, 230, 275, 296: West Hills Elementary School, 520 National Avenue, Bremerton.

Precincts 280, 281, 282, 285, 286: Marcus Whitman Junior High School, 1887 Madrona Drive SE.

In Mason County

View an entire list of precinct locations at http://www.masoncountydemocrats.com/caucus2008.htm

In Thurston County

Precincts 044, 094, 131, 191: Prosperity Grange, 3701 Steamboat Island Road, Olympia

Precincts 061, 144, 164, 190: Black Hills High School, 7741 Littlerock Rd, Tumwater

Precincts 086, 099, 141, 173: McLane Elementary School, 200 Delphi Rd NW, Olympia

Precincts 095, 096, 132, 133, 140: Griffin School, 6530 33rd Ave NW, Olympia

Precinct Lookup and Precinct Maps

Unsure of your precinct? We have online precinct lookup pages for Grays Harbor, Kitsap and Thurston County:

Grays Harbor County

Kitsap County

Thurston County

UPDATED: The Washington State Democrats also have provided this handy online precinct lookup page at http://www.wa-democrats.org/caucusfinder

For precinct maps, visit our web page at http://www.35thdemocrats.org/precincts.htm

NYT Editorial Hits the Mark With Holiday Travelers

Patrick Smith, the airline pilot who co-writes the New York Times's Jet Lagged blog, has written a heck of an editorial railing against the "security" procedures that the Transportation Security Administration has put into place. The piece is bound to hit the mark with most anyone who travels this holiday season by air. And, it's particularly thought-provoking in terms of the upcoming election season. What is it we want, as Americans, and what are we willing to exchange for even a facade of security?

Smith's piece, which can be read in its entirety here, ends with:

"How we got to this point is an interesting study in reactionary politics, fear-mongering and a disconcerting willingness of the American public to accept almost anything in the name of “security.” Conned and frightened, our nation demands not actual security, but security spectacle. And although a reasonable percentage of passengers, along with most security experts, would concur such theater serves no useful purpose, there has been surprisingly little outrage. In that regard, maybe we’ve gotten exactly the system we deserve."

Washington State Democrats to Caucus on February 9

The 2008 Democratic Precinct Caucuses to be held on Saturday, February 9, are the initial step in choosing a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. Each Precinct elects delegates and alternates proportional to the amount of support each presidential candidate has among those attending the caucus. Those delegates chosen at the Caucuses will go on to the next level of the caucus/convention process, the County Convention/LD Caucus to be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008.

How is business conducted at a Precinct Caucus?

Each Precinct location is called to order by a CONVENER (who was appointed by the County Chair) at 1:00 PM (they are not to start earlier). Those eligible (residents of the precinct who are Democrats and will be 18 years of age or older by November 4, 2008) sign in, indicating which presidential candidate they support. The Convener welcomes the group and reads the official rules governing the meeting. All those at the Caucus location then break up into individual meetings by precinct, where the first order of business for those precincts without an official Precinct Committee Officers (PCO) is electing a Chair. All precincts elect a recording secretary to keep official minutes.

The Chair tallies the support for each presidential candidate and announces the results. Discussion of candidates occurs if desired, and a chance to change candidate support is offered. A final allocation of delegates and alternates to each candidate is announced. Delegate selection may not begin until at least 1:30 PM.

The Precinct Caucus then breaks up into groups by each presidential candidate (including “uncommitted”). Each group then elects the number of delegates and alternates to the County Convention/LD Caucus allocated for its candidate. The groups come back together, submitting the names of the delegates and alternates elected to the Precinct Caucus Chair. Platform issues are considered and resolutions passed as necessary to reflect the precinct’s views. Finally the recording secretary’s minutes are approved.

The Precinct Caucus cannot conclude before 2:00 PM. The Chair of the Precinct Caucus reports the delegates and alternates elected, resolutions passed, and turns over the official minutes to the Precinct Location Convener.

What happens next?

Elected delegates and alternates represent their Precinct at the County Convention/LD Caucus on April 19, 2008 where each delegate/alternate signs in again by presidential preference. A County Democratic Party Platform is debated and voted upon. Delegates and alternates are elected by legislative district to represent their presidential candidates at the Congressional District Caucus and at the State Convention. At the Congressional Caucus held May 17, delegates to the National Democratic Convention are chosen. At the State Convention on June 14 in Spokane, the State Party Platform is considered and ratified.

Washington State Democratic Party
2008 Precinct Caucus
February 9, 2008
1:00 – 4:00 PM

Dave Peterson
Jim Sommerhauser

For more information about the caucuses, visit the web site of the Washington State Democrats.

Upcoming "Meet Your Candidates" Events

On Saturday, February 16th the 35thLD is hosting a "Meet Your Candidates" event at the Westside Improvement Center off National Blvd. in Bremerton. That is the Saturday following the Feb. 9th caucuses so we are hoping to continue to tap into people’s excitement for the forthcoming huge Democratic year.

At 5PM we will provide precinct committee officer training for an hour, at 6PM we will serve a spaghetti dinner with all the fixings, at 7PM we will host all the declared Kitsap County Commissioner candidates and the 35th Legislative District candidates.

Anyone from the 35thLD is invited to attend. However, we will be holding similar events throughout our district in the coming months. These will be informational as well as enjoyable ways to visit with like-minded Democrats and listen to and question your candidates. It will cost $20/person for the food, entertainment (Raging Grannies) and the main event, the candidates.

The Westside Improvement Center is a perfect place for just such an event. It has separate meeting rooms for the training and eating and a large great room complete with stage for the candidate’s speeches and Q&A.

Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown has graciously agreed to be the MC for the evening and Kitsap County Clerk Dave Peterson has agreed to be the co-emcee.

We want to include all those interested in becoming active in our party to come to those sessions. The sessions will not just be directed to the precinct committee officers alone, because they all will require help from others within their precincts to help out. We will have Kitsap County Elections guides and PCO handbooks available to all. We will provide a list of all the "Strong Democrats" (so named in the Washington State voter file) within each precinct to help everyone get started. Our job is to make your transition from a "wanna be but don't know how to be", to a "doer" and having fun and meeting terrific people while doing so. Becoming a member of the 35thLD is a separate $20/person/year fee and I encourage all of you to save your pennies for both. It is a commitment to becoming a member of an outstanding organization.

As fundraising chair of the 35thLD, I know that we must be financially and organizationally prepared to help our candidates in the upcoming election process. What better way than to break bread with others with the same values and interests as we listen to our candidates and ask them the important questions of the day to help us make wise choices.

Kitsap "Meet Your Candidates"
Saturday, February 16
Westside Improvement Center in Bremerton
5PM: PCO Training
6PM: Spaghetti dinner
7PM: Kitsap County Commissioner and the 35th Legislative District candidates

-- FRAN MOYER, Fundraising Chair, 35thLD

35th Legislative District News from the Chair

The next quarterly meeting of the 35th L.D. Democrats will be on Saturday January 12 at the Shelton Library. There will be lunch available from 12:00 to 1 PM for a $5 donation. Business meeting will begin at 1 PM. The upcoming caucuses (Saturday February 9) will be the main topic on the agenda.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

The 35th LD Democrats will sponsor a “Meet your Candidates” forum on Saturday February 16th at the West Side Improvement Club, 4109 W. “E” Street in Bremerton.

This is one week after the caucuses and an opportune time for attendees to get together for party building, socializing and discussions of candidates and issues.

There will be PCO training beginning at 5 PM followed by a spaghetti dinner at 6 PM. The dinner will be offered at a donation fee of $20 and will include all the fixings. The “Raging Grannies” will entertain during dinner with their political renditions of familiar tunes.

We are expecting candidates for the Kitsap County Commissioner positions and candidates for 35th Legislative District Representatives positions to be on hand for a forum to begin around 7 PM. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet your candidates and voice your opinions. Do not miss it.

The West Side Improvement Club is a large facility and will accommodate a large gathering. It has separate rooms for training and one can be set up for the younger Democrats so bring the kids along for an evening of fun and politics.

-- JIM CHAPIN, Chair 35th LD Democrats

Progressive Campaign Calls for Thoughful Property Tax Reform

Fuse, an organization based in Seattle and working for progressive issues, is calling Washingtonians to "Say No to Tim Eyman's Tax Plan."

Chris McCullough, Political Director of Fuse, writes in a recent email that "Reenacting I-747 would be a terrible mistake. I-747's 1% blanket cap preserves the worst inequities of our current property tax system while slowly bleeding local governments of their ability to provide essential services."

Send a Message to the State Legislature: We Want Real Property Tax Reform, Not a Tim Eyman Stunt

McCullough's email continues:

The Legislature has a real opportunity to enact thoughtful, fair property tax reform in our state. We can reduce the tax burden on those who can least afford it while ensuring local governments can pay for schools, roads, police, and fire protection.

Please sign our petition today - we have to send the Legislature a powerful message demanding real property tax reform in Washington State, not a Tim Eyman stunt.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/proptaxreform

Our property tax system is broken. I-747's 1% cap is lower than the rate of inflation, which means local governments can collect fewer dollars in real terms every year. At the same time, seniors and low-income people are being taxed out of their homes as property values rise.

There are better options. One proposal from the Washington State Budget & Policy Center is a property tax "circuit breaker", which would offer tax credits to lower and moderate income homeowners who are paying more than a certain threshold of income in property taxes. Eighteen states have successfully enacted similar proposals.

There are other potential solutions as well, but the Legislature is focused on Tim Eyman's approach, and won't seriously consider anything else without a powerful message from their constituents. Sign our petition today, and let them know that you demand thoughtful property tax reform.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/proptaxreform

The Legislature should not reenact a thoughtless law for the sake of political expediency. We can do better than Tim Eyman's vision of the future . Please sign our petition asking them to do the job we elected them to do -- enact thoughtful property tax reform.

Thank you,

Chris McCullough, Fuse

Fuse is bringing people like you together to make our state more progressive. Fuse offers busy but concerned people fast, easy and fun ways to make your voice and values heard and make a difference.

Support our member-driven organization: Fuse depends on the support of our members. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:

http://www.fusewashington.org/donate

Publicly-Funded Campaigs Update: Tell Your Representatives You Support Local Option Public Funding of Campaigns

Here's an update, from WashClean, regarding Local Option Public Funding of Campaigns for Cities and Local Jurisdictions:

Why Local Option?

Campaigns for local office are too expensive! The result? Too few candidates can afford to run. Voters are denied basic democracy: a wide choice of candidates and views.

Public funding of campaigns levels the financial playing field and allows anyone to run – so that elections are about voters and issues, not about who can raise the most money.

Should local government be for sale?

Increasingly, candidates for local office must raise campaign cash from special interests that expect access and political favors in return: quid pro quo, in decisions affecting land use, development, and priorities for use of local public resources. Advocates for human services, for environmental sensitivity, for good government – cannot match the campaign resources of developers, who often seek short-term profit rather than long-term community stability.

Not a Mandate!

Under the Local Option proposal, the state legislature simply removes an inappropriate ban, so that local voters and councils can establish local programs – and only if they choose to! Why prevent local control? Local jurisdictions - cities, counties, PUDs, and ports – should be allowed to provide public financing for campaigns, at their option, for local elections.

What Would It Cost?

At the state level – nothing! Any public financing for local campaigns would be up to local jurisdictions and voters. And it is affordable: Seattle’s program cost [$1-- ] per voter, a pittance, compared to the cost of local government giving favors to special interests.

History of Public Financing for local jurisdictions in Washington State

The City of Seattle had the first-in-the nation program, approved in 1978, providing public matching funds, one-to-one, for the first $50 raised by any candidate for city council. The program was challenged in court, and in --- the State Supreme Court approved the program.

However, in 1992, statewide Initiative 134 was enacted, prohibiting local public financing programs. Portrayed as “campaign finance reform,” I-134 contained a little-known provision that prohibited using public funds for state or local campaigns. This provision wiped out Seattle’s public matching program and a program offered by King County – and ever since has prevented local jurisdictions from enacting a program of public financing for local races.

Meanwhile, the cities of Portland, Oregon, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, have successful and popular programs of public financing for local office. These programs provide full public funding of campaigns for candidates who qualify by gathering signatures of local voter support.

Legislative Proposals (introduced in January, 2007)

Companion bills SB 5278 / HB 1551 were introduced by Senator Rosa Franklin and Representative Joe McDermott, to restore permission to localities to design and enact public financing of campaigns for local office, at their option. Neither bill was approved in the Senate or the House before the cutoff date.

What Can You Do?

If you're like me, you believe the time to get money out of our political election campaigns has come. Last year as you may remember five different bills on this topic were introduced into the Washington State Legislature. Unfortunately none passed.

But a new session of the Legislature begins in January. This year we hope to concentrate on just one bill that will permit local jurisdictions to enact their own public financing measures. Please take this opportunity to contact all three of our 35th District legislators now, well before the new session opens to let them know you support this effort.

As you know, the best way to contact them is in face to face meetings. But in event that is not possible, below are office phone numbers and email addresses for all three of them.

TIM SHELDON Sheldon_ti@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7668
KATHY HAIGH haigh_ka@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7966
BILL EICKMEYER eickmeye_bi@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7902

For more information on publicly-funded campaigns, visit http://www.washclean.org/

-- MARK MESSINGER

Nov 29 Special Legislative Session to Deal With Property Tax Limits

As reported in The Olympian this last November 8, "A sharply divided state Supreme Court has struck down a six-year-old citizen initiative that capped yearly increases in property taxes to 1 percent." The 5-4 court decision said that Initiative 747 was unconstitutional because it amended a law that didn't exist any longer in the form the initiative stated. According to The Olympian, "I-747 limited yearly increases in local governments' property taxes to 1 percent, unless voters approved more. An exception was made to allow additional collections for new construction."

To make matters more interesting, local governments are to tell county taxing agencies by November 30 what their tax requests will be for 2008.

Tim Eyman, whose organization created I-747, wrote in an e-mail following the court's decision, that local governments "will be like pigs at the trough."

"Taxpayers now face the nightmare scenario," he said. "We're in for absolute chaos."

In the couple of weeks that have followed, it seems likely the nightmare scenario he described was the product merely of political posturing. What is equally clear, though, is that those of us particularly in Thurston County have a front-row seat to important events - events we can influence.

Once State Attorney General Rob McKenna decided that an appeal was unlikely to produce a different result, Governor Gregoire called a special session of the Legislature. The date she chose was one when representatives were already going to be in town, preparing the the normal session beginning in January. That special session begins this Thursday, November 29.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

PUBLIC HEARING - NOV 29
The House Finance Committee will have a public hearing at 8:15 AM November 29 in Hearing Room B of the O’Brien Building. The Senate Ways & Means Committee has not yet announced its hearing time. Stick around and watch the House and Senate from the galleries.

Click this link for information about visiting the Capitol campus.

WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES - Tell them whether you support a cap or what kind of cap, what limits and what exceptions.
Senator Tim Sheldon
Representative Kathy Haigh
Representative William "Ike" Eickmeyer

Here in Thurston County (where I live), we have already read reports the Olympia City Council has made it known they might seek an increase in property taxes. Tumwater and Lacey have both announced they will hold to the 1 percent cap.

The Olympian recently reported, "The general Thurston County property tax rate will drop from $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed value this year to $1.04 per $1,000 next year, under a preliminary $269.3 million 2008 budget set for unveiling Monday [Nov 19]." The general property tax affects all county residents. It does not include city, school or road taxes in unincorporated areas of the county.

A lot of us Thurston County homeowners were stunned, earlier this Fall, when our property assessments arrived. Some of us were able to file appeals. For most of us, though, the bottom line is what the tax impact of those assessments will now be. Participating in this week's special session may prove to be very good tonic.

-- MARK MESSINGER

Those readers in Mason, Kitsap or Grays Harbor Counties: What have you heard about how your municipal and county governments are reacting to the court's decision on I-747? Where do you stand on a 1% cap? Post your comments below!

Is Dino Rossi Confused or Does He Hope to Confuse Voters, to Curry Votes?

As reported in The Olympian today, a campaign spokesperson for Dino Rossi thinks pharmacists should have a right not to fill prescriptions, sending patients elsewhere. Brad Shannon, of The Olympian, writes in the article "The disagreement foreshadows future campaign clashes over the more politically charged abortion issue." Herein lies an important point: What can we say about a candidate who deliberately seeks to confuse in order to curry favor with a certain block of voters?

Of course, we know Plan B has nothing to do with abortion. Plan B a two pill high dose regimen of the oral contraceptive levonorgestrel, 90% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. In September 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the emergency contraceptive Plan B for sale over the counter to women aged 18 or over.

That's right. Plan B is a contraceptive. You know, like a condom. Ah, but condoms are for men and Plan B is for women. Could this be why some who easily identify a condom as contraception, but believe Plan B is abortion?

Candidates who confuse Plan B with abortion are either easily confused or believe that voters can be easily confused. Which, do you suppose, is Dino Rossi?

This is not merely an issue which affects women. They are certainly the most immediate victims of the twisted logic which defines contraception as abortion. However, if pharmacists are permitted to make dispensing decisions based on this sort of muddled thinking, one is justified in wondering in what ways might pharmacists choose to intervene against against the medical treatment decisions made on behalf of a patient by a medical doctor.

If members of government are permitted to made decisions based on this sort of muddled thinking, more than the health of only one person may be placed in jeopardy.

Policymakers must be clear in their thinking. Dino Rossi is pandering for votes and is willing to play with the health of all Washingtonians in order to get those votes.

Let's not confuse Plan B with abortion. Let's not confuse a pharmacist with a doctor. Let's also not confuse Dino Rossi with a responsible member of government.

- MARK MESSINGER

"Hi, I'm a Progressive."

The Center for American Progress has posted a series of videos on its web site and on YouTube which, for me, crystallize what the upcoming election cycle is all about. In local, state and national races, we need to ask ourselves, "What does it mean to be a progressive American?" We need to ask candidates, "What have you done (or what will you do) which you can describe as 'progressive'? Be specific. What legislation have you sponsored or will sponsor which you feel especially champions the common good over narrow self-interest, harnesses the strength of our diversity, and secures the rights and safety of our people?"

We need to make the Democratic Party an effective progressive political party. Nothing will make the distinction between Democrats and the Republicans more clear.

Enjoy these videos, visit the web site of The Center for American Progress. Learn more about our progressive roots, talk to your friends and neighbors about how they've benefited from our American history of progressive government, and then hold our candidate's feet to the progressive fire.

I'm proud to be called "a progressive." Let's begin by asking that of our Democratic candidates, too.











-- MARK MESSINGER