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The fate of our state is in your hands. This fall's election has huge implications for our families, our communities, and our state. Our goal is to make smart, informed voting based on progressive values easier for you. So we worked with Washington's leading progressive organizations to produce a Progressive Voters Guide based on their endorsements -- one-stop shopping for highly informed recommendations about the races on your ballot.
The Progressive Voters Guide identifies the candidates with the most progressive track records and the ballot measure positions that will protect or promote progress in Washington.
Please forward this guide to your friends and family, and make sure to mail your ballot in by November 3rd.
Statewide Ballot Measures
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Initiative 1033: Making Tough Times Worse
DON'T MISS THIS. It may be on the lower left of your ballot, below the instructions.
Tim Eyman's latest initiative would hurt our schools, make our health care crisis more severe and threaten our environment and our economy. Eyman claims his plan won't cut basic services, but the non-partisan Office of Financial Management says that I-1033 will reduce revenues for education, health care, the environment and other services by $5.9 billion over the next five years. There's no way we can lose that much funding without hurting our communities and the families who rely on these services. All we have to do is look to Colorado to see the damage I-1033 would do: a similar initiative there forced deep cuts to public schools, roads and highways and children's health care. It did so much damage to the state's economy that in 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law. Vote NO if you care about children's health, schools, public safety, environmental programs, parks, jobs and the future of our state.
Opponents include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Sierra Club, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Local 925, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, Washington State Labor Council, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!, Washington Bus, Fuse Washington, AARP Washington, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Children's Alliance, Climate Solutions, Community Health Network of Washington, Everett Area Chamber of Commerce, Futurewise, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Group Health Cooperative, League of Women Voters of Washington, Municipal League of King County, The Nature Conservancy of Washington, One America, People for Puget Sound, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver Area Chamber of Commerce, Washington Association of Churches, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Washington Educational Association, American Federation of Teachers - Washington, Washington Fire Chiefs, Washington State Hospital Association, Washington State Nurses Association, AFT Washington, Washington State PTA, and League of Education Voters
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Referendum No. 71: Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
Vote Approve on Referendum 71 so that registered domestic partners do not lose vital protections already passed by the legislature.
By voting to Approve Referendum 71 you can ensure that all families in all parts of the state are treated fairly and with the same protections and responsibilities, especially in times of crisis. There are more than 12,000 people across Washington State registered in domestic partnerships. Gay and lesbian families need the domestic partnership law to provide essential protections for their families. Families with children need the protections provided by the domestic partnership law, especially when a parent dies. For seniors, domestic partnerships mean that their hard-earned Social Security, military or pension benefits are not put at risk. Vote APPROVE.
Supporters include: Equal Rights Washington, NOW Washington Chapter, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Fuse Washington, Washington CAN, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, M.L. King County Labor Council, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!, Washington Bus, American Federation of Teachers - Washington, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of King County, Casa Latina, Central Washington Progress, Church Council of Greater Seattle, Human Rights Campaign, Japanese American Citizens League, Washington State Bar Association, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Lutheran Public Policy Network of Washington State, Minority Executive Directors Coalition, OneAmerica, Statewide Poverty Action Network, UAW Local 4121, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Washington State Nurses Association, League of Women Voters of Washington, Washington Association of Churches, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Washington State Senior Citizens' Lobby, Associated Ministries of Pierce County, Washington Education Association, and the League of Education Voters
King County Charter Amendments
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Charter Amendment #1: Been There, Done That
Amendment #1 would remove language regarding government transitions in 1969 and 1992 that have already happened. Vote YES.
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Charter Amendment #2: Budget Housekeeping
Amendment #2 removes obsolete language regarding 1960s-era budgeting and frees officials to enact, by ordinance, systems of fiscal control that respond to current needs and build upon modern budget monitoring methods. Vote YES.
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Charter Amendment #3: Open Charter Amendment Process
Charter Amendment #3 clarifies language so that future Charter Commission appointees must be confirmed by the County Council, and that their proposed charter amendments are required to be considered and acted on in an open public meeting. Vote YES.
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Charter Amendment #4: Protect County Open Space
Amendment #4 enables the County to designate open space as "high conservation value" properties and prohibits selling those properties without a supermajority approval by seven of nine councilmembers. Vote YES.
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Municipal League of King County, Cascade Land Conservancy, Mountains To Sound Greenway Trust, and Futurewise
King County
King County Executive
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The unanimous choice of the progressive community, Dow Constantine has been an outstanding leader and progressive champion as both legislator and King County Councilmember. He has led the fight for mass transit and for policies that protect rural areas from irresponsible development and make cities attractive places to live. He will stand up for the needs of working families and work to improve the security of our most vulnerable populations.
Dow's supporters include: Cascade Bicycle Club, Sierra Club, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Fuse Washington , SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Local 925 , SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW , UFCW Local 21 , M.L. King County Labor Council , NARAL Pro-Choice Washington , Planned Parenthood Votes!, and numerous local unions.
His opponent -- Susan Hutchison -- is a very conservative, anti-choice Republican who is completely unqualified for the job.
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Bob Rosenberger and Lloyd Hara are both experienced, qualified candidates who would definitely bring progressive values to the job.
Rosenberger is a former Deputy County Assessor. Rosenberger's supporters include: the King County Democrats and numerous Democratic Districts.
Hara is a former Seattle City Treasurer and Port of Seattle Commissioner. Hara's supporters include: many local unions, the King County Democrats and many local Democratic Districts.
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Rob Holland is a port transportation and biofuels expert who will speak up for the health and safety of King County's families and improve the Port of Seattle's effect on our communities, clean air and Elliott Bay. Holland has even developed his own green jobs plan for the Port. He is a former King County Agriculture Commissioner and holds a degree in Seaport Management. He wants to focus his passion for environmental issues and his professional and civic leadership experience on helping the Port become a green jobs leader.
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Progressive Majority, Fuse Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, UFCW Local 21, numerous local unions, and the King County Democrats and many local Democratic districts.
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Max Vekich will help clean up the fraud and waste at the Port of Seattle. As a former state legislator, Vekich passed landmark environmental and labor standards such as the Growth Management Act, Truth in Labeling and farm worker protection legislation. A former longshoreman who has worked at Puget Sound ports, he knows how a port should operate to generate more jobs and protect taxpayer dollars.
Supporters include: SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, UFCW Local 21, M.L. King County Labor Council, and numerous local unions, and the King County Democrats and many local Democratic Districts.
Vekich's opponent, Tom Albro, has a lot of community experience and is endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters. Albro is a moderate (although he makes campaign contributions to very conservative Republicans) and he has decent good-government credentials and solid environmental values. However, his campaign is generally funded and supported by the contractors, developers, and port insiders who created the Port of Seattle's past problems, including waste, fraud and insider dealing.
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Bellevue City Council, Position #2: Vicki Orrico
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!
Bellevue City Council, Position #4: Patsy Bonincontri
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters
Bellevue City Council, Position #6: Michael Marchand
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Bellevue City Council, Position #7: Jennifer Robertson
Both candidates running for position #7 have received endorsements from progressive organizations.
Supporters include: National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Bellevue City Council, Position #7: Betina Finley
Both candidates running for position #7 have endorsements from progressive organizations.
Supporters include: NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
City of Burien
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Burien City Council, Position #1: Jack Block, Jr.
Supporters include: UFCW Local 21
Burien City Council, Position #7: Brian Bennett
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Progressive Majority
Ballot Measures: Burien
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Burien Transportation Benefit District No. 1, Proposition No. 1
The Safe Sidewalks Now plan will add miles of sidewalks and bike lanes to underserved neighborhoods in Burien. This will make getting around the community safer and healthier for all of us, whether we drive, ride transit, walk or bike. The plan will be funded by a $25 fee assessed on cars registered in Burien.
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Futurewise, Transportation Choice Coalition, American Heart Association and the Coalition for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity
City of Kirkland
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Kirkland City Council, Position #1: Joan McBride
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington
Kirkland City Council, Position #3: Penny Sweet
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Kirkland City Council, Position #5: Karen Tennyson
Both candidates running for position #5 have endorsements from progressive organizations.
Supporters include: National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Kirkland City Council, Position #5: Amy Walen
Both candidates running for position #5 have endorsements from progressive organizations.
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters
Other Cities and Jurisdictions
Relatively few progressive organizations evaluate candidates and make endorsements in cities. The candidates listed below have been endorsed by at least one progressive organization.
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Bothell City Council, Position #5: Jennifer Armenta
Supporters include: National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, LPAC, Progressive Majority
Duvall City Council, Position #6: Amy Ockerlander
Supporters include: Progressive Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!
Highline School Board, Position #2: Angelica Alvarez
Supporters include: LPAC, Progressive Majority
Kent City Council, Position #6: Elizabeth Albertson
Supporters include: National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Redmond City Council, Position #4: Kim Allen
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Renton City Council, Position #2: Rich Zwicker
Supporters include: NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Shoreline City Council, Position #5: Cindy Ryu
Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington
Tukwila City Council, Position #7: De'Sean Quinn
Supporters include: Progressive Majority
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King County Assessor
Progressives are split.Port of Seattle
The Port of Seattle operates Sea-Tac Airport; oversees Seattle’s cargo handling facilities, harbors and marinas; and manages significant waterfront real estate. It employs 1200 people, and will collect $75.9 million in property taxes this year. It’s also a major source of pollution, and has become notorious for corruption, waste, fraud and insider dealing.This year’s election offers a unique opportunity to clean up the Port in more ways than one. We could elect a pro-environment, pro-jobs, pro-reform majority.
Port of Seattle Commissioner, Position #3
Port of Seattle Commissioner, Position #4
Progressives tilt strongly towards Vekich.
Suburban Cities
Relatively few progressive organizations evaluate candidates and make endorsements in the suburban cities. The candidates listed below have been endorsed by at least one progressive organization.
City of Bellevue
Orrico, Bonincontri, and Marchand are running against a slate backed by anti-transit, real estate developer Kemper Freeman.













