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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.

Snohomish County

Election Info: Snohomish County Auditor

Ballots must be returned by Tuesday, November 3rd.

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Statewide Ballot Measures

Initiative 1033: Making Tough Times Worse
- Campaign Web Site
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

Referendum No. 71: Keep the Domestic Partnership Law
- Campaign Web Site
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

Snohomish County

Snohomish County Council, District #1

Ellen Hiatt Watson

Democrat
- Candidate's Web Site
Ellen Hiatt Watson was born and raised in Snohomish County. If elected, she will be the only woman on the council. Watson worked for the Skagit Valley Herald and the Whidbey News-Times before opening her own writing and design firm. She has been a longtime community leader focused on protecting the county's rural areas, and in 2007 she started 7-Lakes, a nonprofit she formed to help protect rural lands. Watson has represented Snohomish County's rural residents on several county stakeholder committees. Her priorities include creating a more stable economic base for the County and responsible growth.

Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Planned Parenthood Votes!, the Snohomish County Labor Council, numerous local unions and the Snohomish County Democrats

Snohomish County Council, District #4

Dave Gossett

Democrat
- Candidate's Web Site
Dave Gossett is a two-term County Councilmember who also served as the mayor of Mountlake Terrace and has worked a Council analyst and as a teacher. He played an important role in passing new Snohomish County Urban Design Standards, which assist cities when they annex unincorporated areas of the County within urban growth boundaries. The standards also stipulate new tree retention and replacement requirements that give developers incentives for using low-impact development techniques. He can be unreliable when it comes to protecting rural areas but is much better than his opponent.

Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, other unions, and the Snohomish County Democrats

Snohomish County Council, District #5

Dave Somers

Democrat
- Candidate's Web Site
Dave Somers is a true progressive leader who brings a common-sense approach to public safety, sustainable economic development and transportation improvements. He has successfully fought to protect the county's neighborhoods and rural areas from irresponsible overdevelopment. Somers, a former fisheries biologist and small businessman, makes progress happen in the county by bringing together traditional foes to find common ground. Somers has been endorsed by conservation groups and builders alike as the candidate for smart growth, environmental stewardship and economic recovery.

Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, Washington Bus, numerous other labor unions, the Sierra Club and the Snohomish County Democrats

City of Edmonds

Relatively few progressive organizations evaluate candidates and make endorsements in cities. The candidates listed below have been endorsed by at least one progressive organization.