Saturday, July 15, 2006

Candidate Forum in the 43rd District

In addition to the SABR convention, and replacing it as my principal concern, what’s occupying my time and attention these days is the 2006 electoral season.  Now, this is a national “off-year” election cycle, during which we elect all members of the federal House of Representatives as well as one-third of Senators.  And, as you surely know, our own one-term Senator Maria Cantwell holds a less-than-comfortable lead over her GOP opponent.

But neither Maria nor Darcy Burner, the exciting Democratic challenger in the neighboring 8th Congressional District, is what I’m really busy with these days.  What’s on my mind, and taking up a lot of my time and effort, is Washington State’s 43rd Legislative District.  For the first time in over ten years, my LD will have an open seat in the state legislature this fall, and as a member of the Executive Board of the 43rd District Democrats, I’m very much part of the process by which a new State Representative will be chosen.

This opening came about because Representative Ed Murray decided to run for the District’s Senate seat.  With the retirement of incumbent Senator Pat Thibaudeau, Ed is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the Senate.  The same cannot be said, however, of the House seat he’s leaving.

Let me pause for a moment here to state that in the 43rd, winning the Democratic nomination is tantamount to being elected to office.  This is the most Democratic Legislative District in Washington—Kerry beat Dubya 85% to 13% in 2004, and in that year Murray received 87% of the vote while fellow Representative Frank Chopp (the Speaker of the House) took 85%.

With Murray leaving his seat, six Democrats—all strong progressives, all with solid credentials and good-to-excellent experience, all worthy people—have filed for the position.  The primary election will take place on September 19, and whichever one of them wins a plurality of the votes in the primary (even if it’s just 20% of the total) will be the Democratic nominee.  And, to reiterate, the Democratic nominee will be elected to office in November, and, once elected, will in all likelihood retain the seat for as long as he or she wants it.

Here’s the roster of candidates for House Position #1 (listed in alphabetical order by first name):

• Bill Sherman (www.billsherman.org/), deputy prosecutor for King County and Clinton-era Interior Department official
• Dick Kelley (kelleyin2006.org/), political scientist, former DHHS Regional Administrator, Seattle deputy mayor, and policy analyst for the House Democratic caucus
• Jamie Pedersen (www.peopleforpedersen.org/), attorney at Preston Gates & Ellis
• Jim Street (www.jimstreet.org/), director of Reinvesting in Youth, former King County judge and City Councilmember
• Lynne Dodson (lynnetowin.org/), community college professor, president of AFT Local 1789, former chair of Washington State Jobs with Justice
• Stephanie Pure (www.peopleforpure.com/), legislative aide to Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck

Thus, we’re in for a very exciting competition in the 43rd District.  That’s why the 43rd District Democrats are organizing a Candidate Forum this coming Tuesday.  Following a “meet-and-greet” reception, during which attendees can talk to any and all of the candidates, we’ll find out how the candidates respond to a number of questions on issues of importance to our District.  We’re hoping for a big crowd, big enough to fill the Great Hall of Seattle’s Town Hall.

I’ve been very heavily involved in putting together the Forum, from contacting the media to keeping the candidates informed to coordinating the composition and selection of the questions that will be asked.  Right now, I’m collecting candidate brochures to be included in the press kits we’ll be providing to reporters, radio and TV stations, bloggers, et al.  I’m also responsible for supplying such items as the bottles of water that will be available for the candidates in the backstage “green rooms” at Town Hall, as well as the pens and pads of paper that will be available to the candidates for note-taking during the Forum.  Jack of all trades, indeed.  I keep thinking we’re forgetting something vital, but what I’m hearing from the candidates is that we’re taking good care of them and keeping them more than adequately informed about our plans. 

The Candidate Forum is, of course, open to the public.  So come on down to Town Hall, located at 8th Avenue and Seneca Street in downtown Seattle (here is a map and driving directions) on Tuesday, July 18.  The event begins with the meet-and-greet at 6:00pm, followed by the formal Candidate Forum in the Great Hall starting at 7:30.  We want this to be a festive and exciting evening, during which we’ll learn something about the people who want to represent us in Olympia.

I intend to post additional entries about the 43rd’s House Position #1 primary election as the race continues.  I have a favorite candidate, but I don’t think it’s fair to put up a button or graphic displaying that support until after the Candidate Forum.