State Legislature

For House of Representatives Position #2 in the 11th Legislative District there are two candidates on the ballot. Incumbant Representative Bob Hasegawa is running again against law firm business manager John Potter.

Representative Hasegawa, the incumbant Democrat, took a large majority of the vote in the August Primary (70-30) against Mr. Potter, the Republican who has run unsuccessfully against this incumbant twice before.

Representative Hasegawa lives on Beacon Hill, and has easily won and held this seat in the heavily-Democrat 11th District. He has been an all-but lock for the agenda of the Majority in the State House (as he bucked House leadership in voting against authorizing tolls for 520 & I-90).

For House of Representatives Position #1 in the 11th Legislative District there are two candidates on the ballot. Incumbant Representative Zack Hudgins is running again against David Morris.

Representative Hudgins, the incumbant Democrat, took a large majority of the vote in the August Primary (almost 70-30) against Mr. Morris, the Republican. At least this election cycle there are two candidates running for this office....

Representative Hudgins lives in Tukwila, and like Representative Hasegawa easily holds this seat for his party. He is even more of a lock for voting with his party's leadership than Rep. Hasegawa.

As I am not a fan of the current majority in the State Legislature's House of Representatives I will be voting for the challenger in both House elections in my district.

For State Senator for the 11th Legislative District we are now down to two Democrats running (thanks to the Top Two primary system we now use in this state). Incumbant Senator Margarita Prentice is running against former political staffer and activist Juan Martinez.

Senator Prentice, the powerful incumbant Democrat who chairs the State Senate Ways & Means Committee, nearly took a majority (48%+) in the August Primary over two other Democrats (as the Republican Party has often failed to field a candidate for the Legislature in this Democrat-dominated district). Juan Martinez got nearly 28% of the vote in the same Primary.

I don't think I can put it better than The Stranger did:

Incumbent Margarita Prentice, head of the state senate's powerful Ways and Means Committee, has been in the legislature for 20 years. Now some of her more controversial positions are starting to catch up to her. Senate leadership is reportedly considering ousting Prentice because of her ill-fated efforts to build a $500 million stadium for the Sonics in Renton; because she wants to tap the new state "rainy day fund"; and because she has supported controversial constituencies like payday lenders and casinos. In 2004, just four of Prentice's contributions were from residents of her district—just $175 out of the total $160,000 Prentice raised. It's time for new blood in the 11th. Vote Martinez.

Mr. Martinez's world view is even further to the left than that of Senator Prentice; however, the Senator's extensive tenure in the State Legislature, in my opinion, has superseded any political ideology she may have had with that of establishment power (meaning her own).

While I certainly would not pick a former staffer for Congressman Jim McDermott as my ideal representative in Olympia, his election would mean the overdue retirement of Senator Prentice from elected office.

In what is truly a vote against incumbant Margarita Prentice I am voting for Juan Martinez for the State Senate for the 11th Legislative District.

Uncontested Judgeships

Due to a clause in this state's constitution and state law, if a candidate for state Supreme Court justice or state Court of Appeals judge receives more than 50% of votes cast for the office in the Primary Election their name is placed uncontested on the General Election ballot. Combine this with the fact that most judicial races don't draw two candidates in the first place, and the whole purpose of electing our judges seems irrelivant.

Since the two Court of Appeals and three Supreme Court positions on my ballot are all uncontested I simply register my protest by writing-in a name.

Mark Sidran (former Seattle City Attorney), Mike McKay (former U.S. Attorney) and Jeff Sullivan (former Yakima County Prosecutor and current U.S. Attorney) are all well-qualified potential state justices (and the names I will be writing-in).

Stephen Johnson (former State Senator) and John Groen (a Bellevue property-rights lawyer) are both well qualified potential state appellate judges (that I am writing-in).

Superior Court Position 1

For King County Superior Court Judge Position 01, there are two candidates on the ballot. Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Tim Bradshaw is running against Assistant State Attorney General Sue Parisien.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bradshaw took the August Primary Election with nearly a majority of the vote (over 46%); Assistant Attorney General Parisien received just under 30% of the primary votes.

The Voting for Judges website (of course) has more information on the two candidates than I could find anywhere else. This race really seems much easier to decide on than the two other contested Superior Court races on my ballot. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bradshaw has been a prosecutor for over 20 years, has participated in 125 jury trails in Superior Court, and has extensive experience in both criminal and civil law. Assistant Attorney General Parisien has worked in the state Attorney General's Office on-and-off for 10 years (with time away working as an in-house counsel for Nordstroms and as an opposition researcher for Christine Gregiore's 2004 campaign). Parisien lists just 11 jury trials worth of experience in Superior Court.

I find that Tim Bradshaw's vast experience serving in the Superior Courts makes him the clear choice.

I am voting for Tim Bradshaw for King County Superior Court Judge Position 1.

Superior Court Position 22

For King County Superior Court Judge Position 22, there are two qualified candidates on the ballot. Juvenile Court Commissioner Julia Garratt is running against former UW Law School Adjunct Professor Holly Hill.

Garratt took the August Primary Election with a plurality just over 36%, Hill got just under 4% less of the vote.

The Voting for Judges website has more information on the two candidates than I could find anywhere else. Again for me this race boils down to which candidate's experience will likely make for a better Superior Court Judge. Julia Garratt has been a Judge Pro Tem in King County Superior Court for the past 10 years. Holly Hill was an Adjunct Professor at the UW Law School for 20 years.

Neither of these candidates has much courtroom experience in Superior Court. Julia Garratt lists 50 trials in Superior Court (although its not clear if this is just the number of trials at that level in which she participated as an attorney or both as an attorney and as a Judge Pro Tem) while Holly Hill lists just 15 trails in Superior Court. Garratt has presided more than 1ooo days in Superior Court as a Judge Pro Tem.

I personally find that Julia Garratt's more extensive experience working in the Superior Courts gives her the edge.

I am voting for Julia Garratt for King County Superior Court Judge Position 22.

Superior Court Position 37

Even though Sound Transit Prop One (Mass Transit Expansion) is actually the final entry on my ballot I am going to skip it for now and get back to it when I go into the rest of the Measures & Propositions on my ballot.

For King County Superior Court Judge Position 37, there are two highly qualified candidates on the ballot. Seattle Municipal Court Judge Jean Rietschel is running against Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Barbara Mack.

Judge Rietschel took the August Primary Election with a plurality of almost 40%, while Deputy Prosecutor Mack got just under 3% less of the vote.

The Voting for Judges website has as much information on the two candidates as I could find elsewhere (and more). For me this race boils down to which candidate's experience will likely make for a better Superior Court Judge. Judge Rietschel was a public defender for eight years, practiced in a firm for eight years, and has been a city court judge for the past twelve years (including a stint as the Presiding Judge). Deputy Prosecutor Mack served as Deputy Under Secretary of the (U.S.) Interior, a legal & policy consultant, and has been a prosecutor for the past 22 years.

I personally find that Barbara Mack's 22 years in the King County Prosecutor's Office, dealing virtually exclusively with the King County Superior Court (virtually in as much as she also dealt with higher courts) gives her the edge. I find that a Judge Mack would be better prepared (although by a matter of degree) to preside over felony jury trials from the start.

I am voting for Barbara Mack for King County Superior Court Judge Position 37.

Changing Focus

For the past several weeks I've been starting (but not finishing) various blog posts on things like the second McCain-Obama debate, Hannity's interview with both Senator McCain and Governor Palin, Charlie Gibson's interview with Senator Obama, deeper research on the Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn connections to Barak and Michelle Obama, the final McCain-Obama debate, the two candidates' humorous roasts at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, and Secretary Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Obama. Unfortunately I have done a very poor job of keeping up.

In lieu of waxing politic on a daily reactive basis I will begin going over my General Election absentee ballot which I received in the mail two days ago.

I will start in reverse order of what is on my ballot and ultimately explain why I'll be voting the way I am this election.

Perhaps this will generate discussion. I almost wrote 'more discussion', but as nobody is posting any comments....

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service

In honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service and National Fire Prevention Week the U.S. Flag is to be flown at half-staff on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

Federal law instructs the President of the United States to direct all Flags to Half-Staff each year to honor the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. The President has directed the U.S. Flag (and all subordinate flags) shall be flown at Half-Staff within the entire United States on Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 8 AM (when Colors are raised) to Sunset (when Colors are retired) in accordance with Public Law 107-51:

The American flags on all Federal office buildings will be lowered to half-staff in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

So if you run across any governmental buildings (including public schools, city halls, fire stations, police stations, Post Offices, et cetera) or businesses that are not properly flying the Flag please politely ask the person in charge there why they aren't following Flag Etiquette.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/10/20081003-6.html

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 3, 2008

Fire Prevention Week, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

Americans can help reduce home fires by taking simple steps such as regularly inspecting furnaces and fireplaces, keeping space heaters at least 3 feet from flammable materials, and checking the condition of electrical cords. Making sure that smoke alarms and fire extinguishers work can also help minimize the impact of home and building fires. I encourage all Americans to remember this year's theme -- "It's Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!" -- and to check their homes for fire hazards to help prevent disasters.

Across our Nation, firefighters put themselves at risk to protect our communities, and their selfless dedication has saved countless lives. America's Bravest hold a cherished place in our hearts, and we honor those who have paid the ultimate price to protect citizens in harm's way. The sacrifice of these men and women is an inspiration to all and epitomizes the true meaning of heroism.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 5 through October 11, 2008, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 5, 2008, in accordance with Public Law 107-51, the flag of the United States will be flown at half staff on all Federal office buildings in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on all Americans to participate in this observance through appropriate programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

# # #

Veep Debate

After all the pre-debate hype, including how prepared Governor Palin would look, what verbal gaffes to expect from Senator Biden, and whether or not Gwen Ifell would show her own political leanings while moderating the debate, none of those scenarios played out.

What we did see was 90 minutes of polite quasi-exchange of campaign slogans. Senator Biden chose to debate John McCain. Governor Palin chose to give slices of stump speeches directly to the television audience. Gwen Ifell appeared to not direct (nor redirect) the candidates' time toward each other or back to the underlying point of her questions with any poignancy.

When I watched the debate live I didn't feel Gwen Ifell overtly slanted the questioning for or against either candidate, but her own analysis of the debate sure makes me feel uneasy about her moderating, let alone Tom Brokaw's role in the next Presidential Debate.

But neither Senator Biden nor Governor Palin had any major faux pas, so both camps can claim victory. Then again has anyone - ever - voted for a ticket because of the VP nominee?

I sort of wish that we'd stop calling these events debates at all. It would be more accurate to call them joint campaign appearances.

Hell No

Now that the economic crisis bailout bill has thankfully failed in the House, the Senate has passed a pork-laden version of the same.

I have again emailed by U.S. Representative asking him to again vote against the (newer, porkier) bailout bill:

Representative Reichert,

Please vote against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. This $800+ Billion pork-laced Senate-passed bill is even worse than the House version you voted against just a few days ago.

I don't know why we need to authorize $700 Billion of my tax dollars toward a bailout of Wall Street speculators when even under the most ambitious plans from Treasury Secretary Paulson he doesn't call for spending more than $50 Billion between now and January of next year.

I don't know what the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, which the Senate attached to this bailout bill, has to do with the Credit Crunch our economy is now in.

What do bond sales in states impacted by Hurricane Ike have to do with the national credit crunch? How about alternative energy incentives? Tax-exemptions for wooden arrows and tax-breaks for Rum makers in Puerto Rico? How does that help Wall Street or Main Street?

This bill is a monstrosity. It has no business even coming to the House floor for a vote. I would implore you to vote against this bill, and even if you decide to go against the vast majority of your constituents in a tough election year to vote for this bill, I would demand that you read all 455 pages of this bill before you would support this legislative Frankenstein.

Please vote against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Sincerely,
Eric W.
Constituent, 8th Congressional District
Voter, Taxpayer, Citizen, and Veteran

So if you have an opinion on whether or not your Representative should be voting to pass or to not pass the Senate's buy-a-vote version of this Wall Street bailout bill please call and/or email them so that they understand what their constituents expect from them.

Catching Up

Haven't posted in a few days and that's okay (what, with all the Comments made and all).

I would have posted on McCain-Obama debate number one, but it wasn't exciting enough to bother.

I found it initially foolish, then after watching the media reaction, rather shrewd of Senator McCain to suspend his campaigning to try and broker a deal on the credit crunch bailout. I also find it telling that Senator Obama, as a faux member of the Senate Banking Committee, wasn't even planning on returning to the Senate to vote on a bailout bill until Senator McCain announced his own return to Washington, D.C.

Then there is the piecemeal interview with the ratings-sagging Katie Couric. Why won't CBS just show the whole interview, or at least one strung-together edited interview? At least ABC news tends to string together their very edited interviews to make it look like one continuous interview (since that's actually what it was)!

Now we have the third Gubernatorial debate set for tonight in Yakima. I'm sure there will be more Rossi-is-Bush attacks by Christine Gregoire, and more Change! slogans by Dino Rossi.

Then there's the whole VP debate & noise over Gwen Ifill moderating the debate, but there's plenty of time tomorrow to pradle on about that....

Tonight I will be enjoying a nice dinner & discussion as the Washington Policy Center Annual Dinner where Czech President Vaclav Klaus, philanthropist Phil Smart, Sr, and political commentator Fred Barnes will be speaking. I have to thank KTTH's give-away of these tickets or I would not be getting near this event. :)