We’ve had a great time and met a lot of great and committed people who work in all the non-profits that make their home in the Vance Building. However, it’s the end of our three year lease. So, we are getting a little bigger space and moving to a warehouse space in the Sodo district.

The space is a little bigger and should allow us to do more media production including a nice “dead” room to record polls, robocalls and radio ads.

We will miss everybody but we do want to give a shout out to all the neighbors on the 5th floor. The people of Sightline, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition and Distinct Dev all do great work with a great attitude. We will miss you!

Our new address is: 111 S. Lander, Suite 303, Seattle, WA 98134
We should be moved in by early next week!

Why? Because as those areas became more urbanized, they started to be more socially liberal and care more about public schools. At the same time, Speaker Frank Chopp and the House Democratic Campaign Committee did a great job recruiting candidates who fit suburban districts (Larry Springer, Roger Goodman, Ross Hunter, Marcie Maxwell, Deb Eddy, Judy Clibborn, Pat Sullivan, etc…)

Unless the Republicans keep moderating drastically, these inner ring suburbs should continue to lean democratic.

The next battleground is the outer ring suburban districts. Demographics point to some of these districts experiencing the same political shift that occurred in the inner suburban ring. As density increases, these districts become more socially liberal, more concerned about public schools and less willing to identify themselves with the Republican Party (especially the anti-marriage equality, anti-choice version of the GOP).

These districts include the new 1st Congressional District, the 39th, the new 45th, the 5th, the 31st, the 25th, the 2nd, the 26th, and the 17th in Clark County.

My prediction is these districts get better for Democrats as the next ten years unfold. Just like the inner suburbs got better for Democrats between 2000 and 2010.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
John Wyble 206-321-9890

Today, State Representative Chris Reykdal announced he is forming an exploratory committee to consider a possible run for the Office of State Auditor being vacated by five-term State Auditor Bryan Sonntag.

“Bryan Sonntag has redefined the Office of State Auditor. From its traditional role of financial audits, the office has now become a national leader in open government, whistle blower protections, and performance audits.” Said Reykdal. He added, “It is clear that there is an opportunity to elevate the office once more by becoming a national leader in the aggressive examination of tax preferences.”

“Let’s remember why we do this. As a former teacher, school board member, and college finance executive, I am passionate about efficient government so that we can target taxpayer dollars to our education system and the essential public investments that will lead our citizens and our businesses to greater prosperity. The Office of the State Auditor is not about bean counting. It’s about improving the effectiveness of government and highlighting the essential role of the public sector in helping to deliver our highest aspirations as a citizenry.”

“This is exploratory at this time. I will consult with stakeholders across the state including education leaders, local government experts, my closest supporters, legislative colleagues, as well as my family and closest friends. I will also seek direct feedback from State Auditor Sonntag on the critical work that he believes needs to go forward over the next four years. I will take the necessary time to figure out if my experience and background in public sector finance and performance management is the right fit for the Office of State Auditor. I will also challenge potential candidates for this office to speak openly about their commitment to effective tax reform and efficient government that is focused on our highest priorities.”

Washington State has over 500 tax preferences in statute. “Legislators have put these in place often at the behest of special interest groups. Rarely do these tax giveaways come with a clearly stated public policy purpose, and very few tax preferences have a sunset date. Some of these preferences will likely show a substantial public benefit. However, the lack of a comprehensive examination in a timely way is unconscionable while we are making cuts to schools, colleges, and the most vulnerable in our society.”

What is clear to most economists is that Washington State’s fiscal crisis is not merely a function of a national downturn. Rather, State government has continued to shrink as a share of GDP for more than forty years. Taxable transactions have dropped dramatically as Legislators have put more and more tax preferences and giveaways into the tax code. Moreover, State Government used to represent 7% of personal income and today it is 5%. We will never adequately fund our constitutional obligation of basic education or our moral obligation to higher education, the environment, and our most vulnerable citizens until we conduct a comprehensive performance audit of our entire tax code and the hundreds of tax preferences that now make up that code.

“The State Auditor’s Office has a unique opportunity to be an independent voice from the Legislature in examining and recommending a tax code that is adequate, stable, and fair. I believe the Office of the State Auditor will play an essential role in turning Washington around. Staying focused on efficient, open, and effective government, combined with a new activism on tax preferences, will provide Washingtonians with unprecedented access and data to the details of the State budget. They will need this kind of access and honesty if they are to restore their trust in State Government.”

Reykdal has an undergraduate degree from Washington State University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where his emphasis was public sector finance, budget, and performance management. He has been a teacher, county budget officer, planning commissioner, local school board member, revenue analyst for the Senate, finance executive for the State’s community and technical college system and currently represents the citizens of the 22nd Legislative District (Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater, and parts of unincorporated Thurston County) in the State House of Representatives. Reykdal is married to Kim Reykdal a high school counselor. They have two children, a son, Carter age 7, and a daughter, Kennedy age 5.

“The citizens of the 22nd District elected me to be a strong voice for tax reform and the essentiality of effective public services. In exploring this opportunity, there is the possibility of elevating their highest values to a statewide platform. I am honored to represent this district and will continue to do so at the will of the people if it turns out that the Office of State Auditor is not something I choose to pursue.”

State Representative Chris Reykdal is available for questions or media inquiries, 360-790-3151.

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1) It’s interesting that the Montlake area went so strong for the tunnel. It’s not usually where we see the strongest precincts for a referendum or tax measure. Maybe they may be hoping the tunnel drys up transportation money that could go to 520.

2) Capitol Hill was the stronghold for the No side but you can see that some of the more working class areas of the city are still concerned about the tax implications.

Legend:
Red = 80%+ Yes Vote
Orange = 70% – 79% Yes Vote
Yellow = 60% – 69% Yes Vote
Green = 50% – 59% Yes Vote
Light Blue = 40% – 49% Yes Vote
Dark Blue = 39% or below Yes Vote

Sometime in the summer of 1986, my college roommate said he was going to go down to Whatcom County Democratic Headquarters to help a woman named Harriet Spanel, who was running for the State House Of Representatives. He asked if I wanted to go, and I did.

My parents weren’t very political but I got interested in 1980 when I was a paperboy on Mercer Island for the Seattle PI. I always had an hour to kill before school so I started reading the paper. The Magnuson-Gorton race was heating up and I started following it (including stories from Joel Connelly).

During my first summer home from college, I got a job canvassing with the Washington Public Interest Research Group. We took on a proposed Puget Power rate increase and stopped it from happening. I got the bug after that. Once I saw you could organize and win, it made me want to do more campaigning.

I got involved in the Washington Student Lobby and helped start a chapter of the Western Washington University Young Democrats and I’ve been going ever since.

Unfortunately, something has changed.

Management’s new anti-worker agenda has included:

WinPower is helping the health care workers at Horizon House with a new website at: http://www.horizonhouseseattle.com/.

You will also see new facebook ads (see graphic) and Google ads urging the retirement center to treat it’s workers fairly. Let’s hope they hear our message.

First, we still don’t know if Governor Gregoire is going to run again so this post is all speculation. Second, I’ve done work for Representative Inslee and I’ve eaten at his Chief Of Staff’s Dad’s sandwich shop in Yakima many times (you can get a great turkey sub there for lunch.) So, I may be biased.

Here’s my point. If Christine Gregoire doesn’t run, I believe Jay Inslee will be the next Governor from Washington State. I know there has been some pontificating about McKenna’s perceived strength.

We have seen two polls in the last few weeks. Survey USA ran a head-to-head between McKenna and Inslee on May 2nd that showed McKenna ahead of Inslee 48 to 41. Public Policy Polling put one out on May 18th that showed McKenna with a 2 point lead (40-38) over Inslee.

There have been a set of articles talking about the dead heat. You can see them here, here, here and here.

I’m not worried.

First, it’s been 15 years since Jay Inslee has run statewide so his name recognition is not where McKenna’s name recognition is. If you look at the crosstabs of the Public Policy Polling Poll (say that three times fast!), you will see that Jay still has inroads he can make with traditional Democrats. I can’t imagine he is well known among Democratic voters in Pierce, Thurston and Clark County. He has plenty of time and he will have plenty of money. This is not a race for dogcatcher. This is a race for Governor. Name ID in a Governors race is not a problem by October of Election Year.

Second, Rob McKenna will have the word Republican in front of his name. Branding is important. Especially when other candidates with the same brand include names like Palin, Bachmann, Walker, and Gingrich. It’s similar to the way Thanksgiving Dinner sounds good. Swanson’s Thanksgiving Dinner not so much.

It’s early. Jay is a great campaigner. We will all have to work hard. But, if he’s the candidate, he will win.

Soda Free Sundays is a community-wide challenge to take a break from soda and other sugary drinks for one day a week for six weeks, April 27—June 7, 2011. Whether you are a resident, business or organization in King County, anyone can sign up by taking the pledge.

You can take the pledge at www.sodafreesundays.org

The turbine will be located 7 miles west and 2 miles north of the town of Vantage, WA on on the southwest corner of Robert “Bud” Smith’s doublewide trailer. The turbine will provide 600 watts of pure, green clean energy. “The turbine can power three 40 watt bulbs and a space heater (as long as it’s kept on low),” said Smith. “Everything helps,” Smith added.

“I’m sure Northwest Passage gets questions about the cruise industry, Argo about Sci-Fi movie production and Moxie about selling nostalgic cola, but the constant confusion was slowing us down,” said WinPower President John Wyble.