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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.
City of Spokane
Election Info: Spokane County Auditor
Ballots must be returned by Tuesday, November 3rd.
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Voters Guide Partners
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
City of Spokane
This election is a crossroads for the future of Spokane. Voters can round out the Council with qualified and professional leaders who will work well with neighborhoods, business and government to improve our quality of life and move Spokane forward. Or they can send our city government backward for years, solidifying inaction or mistaken directions as standard operating procedure.
Spokane City Council, Position #1
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Amber Waldref is running for an open seat on the Spokane City Council. She is a progressive leader with a track record of standing up for Spokane's citizens and a proven ability to bring communities together to solve problems. While working at The Lands Council, Waldref has been a strong advocate for the Spokane River and efforts to keep us safe from toxins in our environment. As an organizer for Heart of America Northwest, she increased public involvement in the Hanford Nuclear Reservation clean up. She has been the vice chair of her neighborhood council and a founding board member of the Faith and Environment Network. Waldref will be a strong environmental and neighborhood advocate as well as a progressive leader on the city council.
Amber's supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Progressive Majority, Fuse Washington, SEIU Healthcare 775 NW, SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, Spokane Regional Labor Council and numerous local unions, and the Spokane County Democrats.
Her opponent is Mike Fagan, Tim Eyman's extremely conservative sidekick.
Spokane City Council, Position #2
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Jon Synder is a Spokane native and progressive community leader with a long record of civic involvement. He is a small business owner and the founder and publisher of the Spokane-area outdoor magazine Out There Monthly. Snyder previously worked for the Spokane-based Directory for Seniors and Their Families. He cofounded KYRS (Thin Air Community Radio) and volunteered there for six years. He also cofounded the Go Green Directory, the area's first guide to green and sustainable living. Snyder will bring a common-sense and progressive approach to protecting Spokane's quality of life.
Supporters include: Sierra Club, Spokane Regional Labor Council, Firefighters Local 29, Eastern Washington Voters, Agnes Kehoe Progressive Alliance, and the Spokane County Democrats.
Charter Amendments
City of Spokane, Proposition #4
There are progressives on both sides of Proposition 4. Our voter�s guide offers basic information and links to more detailed information rather than a recommendation.
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Proposition 4 - Envision Spokane
Proposition 4 is a controversial proposition that would amend the City Charter to add a Community Bill of Rights, which contains provisions that seek to build a healthy, sustainable and democratic Spokane. The provisions attempt to establish rights to a locally based economy, affordable and renewable energy, affordable preventive healthcare, affordable housing, a healthy environment, and constitutional rights in the workplace, as well as rights to apprenticeship training and a prevailing wage on certain construction projects. The proposition also seeks to give neighborhoods the ability to veto certain development projects.
While Proposition 4 was put together by a great set of folks and is based on an attractive vision, there are also very credible concerns being raised about the details of how its provisions are written and would be implemented. These concerns include the proposition's cost and funding, its legality and enforceability, its potential to generate extensive litigation and its delegation of power to non-elected neighborhood councils.
Pro campaign web site: http://www.envisionspokane.org/
Below is a pro Prop. 4 Op-Ed from the Spokesman Review:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/11/proposition-4-debating-the-community-bill-of/
Below is an anti-Prop. 4 Op-Ed from the Spokesman Review:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/11/con-pipe-dream-discourages-investment-invites/
Here's a link to an article covering both sides on the Inlander website:
http://www.inlander.com/content/newscommentary_envision_spokanes_proposed_bill_rights_or_prop_4
Supporters include: Sierra Club, Eastern Washington Voters, Spokane Regional Labor Council and several local unions, and the Spokane Homeless Coalition
