No Good Choices
Tony Sandoval
There are no good choices in this race for Yakima City Council, District 4. Democrat Tony Sandoval is a perennial candidate who has had ethical challenges.
There are no good choices in this race for Yakima City Council, District 4. Democrat Tony Sandoval is a perennial candidate who has had ethical challenges.
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Initiative-1366 from Tim Eyman orders the legislature to send a constitutional amendment to the voters next year requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote to close tax loopholes or raise revenue. If legislators refuse, Eyman’s initiative would create an $8 billion hole in our state budget over the next six years by cutting the sales tax by a full 1 percent.
Initiative 1401 seeks to help save endangered animals from extinction by making the selling, purchasing, trading, or distributing of animals threatened with extinction punishable by law. From African Elephants to the Javan Tiger, animals are disappearing from our planet at an alarming rate. Passing Initiative 1401 means that our last remaining elephants, rhinos, tigers, lions, cheetahs, leopards, pangolins, marine turtles, sharks, and rays will at least be somewhat protected from the illegal animal trade here in our home state.
Legislators voted nearly unanimously for new oil train safety regulations, including directing some oil taxes to help pay for oil-train spill response. Senate Bill 1449 passed the legislature 141 to 1 with 5 excused. Thanks to a Tim Eyman initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Vote to "maintain" this measure.
A bipartisan majority of legislators came together earlier this year to clarify that the marijuana excise tax should also apply to medical marijuana sales. There are a number of progressives who disagree with this tax, but unfortunately, the time to lobby against it was during the 2014 legislative session. Senate Bill 5052 passed the legislature 101 to 44 with 2 excused. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote.
A broad majority of legislators voted for a comprehensive transportation bill to improve state and local roads, transit, bike paths, and pedestrian walkways. The package was funded with a small increase in the gas tax. Senate Bill 5987 passed the legislature 91 to 51 with 5 excused. While we were not thrilled with some aspects of the final transportation package, we still recommend a non-binding vote to "maintain" this measure. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote.
A large majority of legislators voted to close $150 million in unnecessary tax loopholes in order to generate revenue for education funding. This legislation, Senate Bill 6138, passed the legislature 95 to 48 with 4 excused. Per Eyman’s initiative, the state legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a non-binding advisory vote. Vote to "maintain" this important measure.
Depending on where you live, you may have the following city races on your ballot.
Dulce Gutiérrez is a Yakima native running for City Council, District 1. The first woman of her family to attend college, Gutiérrez understands the importance of increased access to opportunity for residents of the economically challenged East Yakima.
Dulce Gutiérrez is a Yakima native running for City Council, District 1. The first woman of her family to attend college, Gutiérrez understands the importance of increased access to opportunity for residents of the economically challenged East Yakima.
Avina Gutiérrez is a small business owner running for the newly created Yakima City Council, District 2. She previously worked in the office of a Democratic Senator in Texas, and after returning to Yakima has been involved in the community through the Miss Cinco De Mayo contest.
Avina Gutiérrez is a small business owner running for the newly created Yakima City Council, District 2. She previously worked in the office of a Democratic Senator in Texas, and after returning to Yakima has been involved in the community through the Miss Cinco De Mayo contest.
Carmen Méndez is running for Yakima City Council, District 3. She is the Executive Director of Safe Yakima Valley, a non-profit dedicated to making the Yakima Valley a happy and healthy place to raise a family.
Carmen Méndez is running for Yakima City Council, District 3. She is the Executive Director of Safe Yakima Valley, a non-profit dedicated to making the Yakima Valley a happy and healthy place to raise a family.
There are no good choices in this race for Yakima City Council, District 4. Democrat Tony Sandoval is a perennial candidate who has had ethical challenges.
Kathy Coffey is a moderate Republican incumbent running for Yakima City Council, District 5. Coffey has been a reasonable voice on the council who spoke against appealing the ACLU v. Yakima decision that allowed the city to move forward with district elections.
Kathy Coffey is a moderate Republican incumbent running for Yakima City Council, District 5. Coffey has been a reasonable voice on the council who spoke against appealing the ACLU v. Yakima decision that allowed the city to move forward with district elections.
There are no good choices in this race. The incumbent, Maureen Adkison, has voted to appeal the decision establishing districts, costing Yakima taxpayers even more money. Gavin Keefe is an official with the Libertarian Party of Washington.
Holly Cousens is an instructor at Yakima Valley Community College and is running for Yakima City Council, District 7 to support Yakima small businesses.
Holly Cousens is an instructor at Yakima Valley Community College and is running for Yakima City Council, District 7 to support Yakima small businesses.