City of Eatonville
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Welcome to the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide to the 2021 general election! The Progressive Voters Guide compiles the information that allows you to make informed decisions about the races on your ballot, based on your values. You can learn about our partners and decision-making process here. Please share this guide with your friends and family!
Statewide Ballot Measures
Because of a Tim Eyman initiative, the Legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a nonbinding advisory vote. The Legislature had a historically productive 2021 session, resulting in several advisory votes appearing on the ballot. We hope the Legislature will change the law to remove these meaningless measures in the future.
This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.
Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.
Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
This spring, lawmakers passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1477 to expand the state’s crisis response system to include a new hotline dealing exclusively with mental health emergencies.
Sponsored by Democratic legislators, the law will divert some calls away from 911 so that Washingtonians can get more specialized crisis responses. In addition, law enforcement officers no longer need to take on responsibilities associated with social workers. This will be funded by a tax of 30 cents a month on most phone services in October 2021 until a bump to 75 cents a month starting in July 2024. All revenue generated by the tax will go to crisis line-related expenses, including expanding hotline personnel during the community mental health crisis associated with the pandemic.
Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 36.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By The Stranger
Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.
This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.
We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.
Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Washingtonians deserve an economy that works for us all. An essential part of that is a balanced tax code where everyone pays their share. Yet, Washington boasts the most upside-down system in the nation, where the state’s lowest-income earners pay 17% of their income in taxes while the wealthiest few pay just 3% of their income.
This legislative session, Democratic lawmakers wrote and passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096, which created a 7% capital gains tax on the sale of assets like stocks valued above $250,000. The tax is estimated to raise about $415 million primarily for child care and early learning - both services that became clearly essential to Washingtonians during the coronavirus pandemic.
We know that good public schools, beautiful parks, and strong social services make Washington a great place to live. This long-overdue capital gains tax will go towards making sure that all Washingtonians pay their share in taxes and have the opportunity to thrive.
Vote "Maintained" on State Advisory Vote 37.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By The Stranger
In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.
SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.
Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5315, which creates a 2% tax on certain insurance premiums. In effect, the law would close a tax loophole for corporations with their own insurance policies, known as captive insurers, so that all insurance companies pay premiums taxes. It is estimated to generate around $53 million over the next decade.
SB 5315 had bipartisan sponsorship and was passed nearly unanimously with only one vote of opposition between both houses. The legislation was requested by Democratic Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler, who wants to make sure that all insurance companies pay their share of taxes.
Ensuring big corporations pay their share is an important step toward balancing our state's tax code. Vote “Maintained” on State Advisory Vote 38.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Endorsed By The Stranger
Pierce County Ballot Measures
Pierce County Charter Amendment 51 concerns Section 4.10 in the county charter which lists prosecuting attorney as a partisan office. If passed, this amendment would instead change the elected prosecuting attorney position to a nonpartisan office where candidates can't list a party affiliation.
Support for this amendment doesn't fall along traditional partisan lines, with both Democrats and Republicans on each side.
Supporters say making the office nonpartisan reflects the office’s role to administer justice fairly for all.
Opponents say maintaining partisan labels provides greater transparency in elections and - given the stark, far-right trends in today’s Republican party - helps voters make an informed choice based on their values.
While not clear-cut, we lean against this ballot measure to maximize transparency on the ballot.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Pierce County Charter Amendment 51 concerns Section 4.10 in the county charter which lists prosecuting attorney as a partisan office. If passed, this amendment would instead change the elected prosecuting attorney position to a nonpartisan office where candidates can't list a party affiliation.
Support for this amendment doesn't fall along traditional partisan lines, with both Democrats and Republicans on each side.
Supporters say making the office nonpartisan reflects the office’s role to administer justice fairly for all.
Opponents say maintaining partisan labels provides greater transparency in elections and - given the stark, far-right trends in today’s Republican party - helps voters make an informed choice based on their values.
While not clear-cut, we lean against this ballot measure to maximize transparency on the ballot.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Eatonville Mayor
Bob Walter is an Eatonville Town Council member who has a track record of supporting animal rights issues since joining in 2014. He previously served as the education director for the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County for nearly three decades. Walter wants to reinvest in Eatonville to help the city recover from the worst of the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn to become stronger than ever. In this race, he has committed to redirecting $200 of the mayor’s salary to community causes every month. As a collaborator with previous elected experience on the city council, Walter is well-positioned to follow through on his campaign vision, continue building community, and help Eatonville and its residents thrive.
Also in this race is David Baublits, a conservative former school board member and CEO in the aerospace industry. Baublits is running to divert public funds from community programs to investments in Eatonville’s private sector. He also wants to restructure the local government and minimize its services by rewriting local codes.
While more of a moderate, we recommend Bob Walter for Eatonville mayor due to his strong community focus and positive track record in municipal leadership.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Bob Walter is an Eatonville Town Council member who has a track record of supporting animal rights issues since joining in 2014. He previously served as the education director for the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County for nearly three decades. Walter wants to reinvest in Eatonville to help the city recover from the worst of the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn to become stronger than ever. In this race, he has committed to redirecting $200 of the mayor’s salary to community causes every month. As a collaborator with previous elected experience on the city council, Walter is well-positioned to follow through on his campaign vision, continue building community, and help Eatonville and its residents thrive.
Also in this race is David Baublits, a conservative former school board member and CEO in the aerospace industry. Baublits is running to divert public funds from community programs to investments in Eatonville’s private sector. He also wants to restructure the local government and minimize its services by rewriting local codes.
While more of a moderate, we recommend Bob Walter for Eatonville mayor due to his strong community focus and positive track record in municipal leadership.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Bob Walter is an Eatonville Town Council member who has a track record of supporting animal rights issues since joining in 2014. He previously served as the education director for the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County for nearly three decades. Walter wants to reinvest in Eatonville to help the city recover from the worst of the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn to become stronger than ever. In this race, he has committed to redirecting $200 of the mayor’s salary to community causes every month. As a collaborator with previous elected experience on the city council, Walter is well-positioned to follow through on his campaign vision, continue building community, and help Eatonville and its residents thrive.
Also in this race is David Baublits, a conservative former school board member and CEO in the aerospace industry. Baublits is running to divert public funds from community programs to investments in Eatonville’s private sector. He also wants to restructure the local government and minimize its services by rewriting local codes.
While more of a moderate, we recommend Bob Walter for Eatonville mayor due to his strong community focus and positive track record in municipal leadership.
Last updated: 2023-04-05
Because of a Tim Eyman initiative, the Legislature is required to submit any bill it passes that closes tax loopholes or raises revenue to a nonbinding advisory vote. The Legislature had a historically productive 2021 session, resulting in several advisory votes appearing on the ballot. We hope the Legislature will change the law to remove these meaningless measures in the future.