Democracy for Snohomish County

Lillian Kaufer endorsed by DFSC

2010-06-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Lillian Kaufer is running for State Senate (D) 44th District and
has been endorsed by Democracy for Snohomish County.

To see why we endorsed Lillian just click here

Luis Moscoso endorsed by DFSC

2010-05-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

Luis Moscoso candidate for 1st Legislative District State Representative position 2, has been endorsed by Democracy For Snohomish County (DFSC).

To see why we endorsed him just click here

Jim Kenny endorsed by DFSC

2010-05-15T22:24:00.000-07:00

Jim Kenny candidate for Snohomish County Prosecutor, has been endorsed by Democracy For Snohomish County (DFSC).

To see why we endorsed him just click here

Jim Kenny Speaks, April 13, Everett PUD building

2010-04-04T15:36:00.001-07:00

This month Democracy For Snohomish County (DFSC) welcomes Jim Kenny as our guest speaker. Mr Kenny is a candidate for Snohomish County Prosecutor, and we look forward to meeting him on April 13th. Please join us!

Take a look at our calendar for more on this.
http://www.democracyforsnohomishcounty.org/calendar.php

What: DFSC Meeting, Jim Kenny speaker
When: April 13, 2010, 7-9pm
Location: Snohomish County PUD #1, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA
Room above the front doors (Enter at A on map)

View Larger Map

Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

2010-01-25T12:39:00.003-08:00

Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

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Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

2010-01-25T12:39:00.001-08:00

Everett citizen activist fights for transparent city government

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Snohomish County Council passes ordinance re-classifying coffee stands as "Adult Entertainment"

2009-12-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

Snohomish County Council passes ordinance re-classifying coffee stands as "Adult Entertainment"

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County Council appoints interim prosecutor - may have started intra-party feud

2009-12-09T21:49:00.003-08:00

County Council appoints interim prosecutor - may have started intra-party feud

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County Council appoints interim prosecutor - may have started intra-party feud

2009-12-09T21:49:00.001-08:00

County Council appoints interim prosecutor - may have started intra-party feud

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Battle over commercial flights from Paine Field enters next new front

2009-12-05T23:26:00.001-08:00

Battle over commercial flights from Paine Field enters next new front

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Proposed code repeal would allow loaded guns in Snohomish County parks

2009-11-26T09:51:00.001-08:00

Proposed code repeal would allow loaded guns in Snohomish County parks

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Snohomish County Council to appoint interim prosecutor

2009-11-17T09:26:00.001-08:00

Snohomish County Council to appoint interim prosecutor

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A progressive voters guide for Everett, WA - Part 1

2009-10-28T07:56:00.001-07:00

A progressive voters guide for Everett, WA - Part 1

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Procrastinating progressives ponder picks

2009-10-26T10:50:00.001-07:00

Procrastinating progressives ponder picks

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"No on 1033" gains an unexpected ally

2009-10-16T09:46:00.001-07:00

"No on 1033" gains an unexpected ally

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Green Everett Renewable Living Fair October 3rd

2009-09-28T16:10:00.001-07:00

Green Everett Renewable Living Fair October 3rd

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Welcome to Snohomish County - Enjoy the ride

2009-09-08T16:19:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Snohomish County - Enjoy the ride

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County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

2009-09-01T09:47:00.005-07:00

County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

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County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

2009-09-01T09:47:00.003-07:00

County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

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County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

2009-09-01T09:47:00.001-07:00

County Executive vetoes repeal of FCCs in Snohomish County

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Larsen health care reform forum - no grand slam but scores a few runs

2009-08-13T09:33:00.001-07:00

Larsen health care reform forum - no grand slam but scores a few runs

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With ballots in the mail, the battle for the right to challenge Dave Somers is engaged

2009-07-31T14:23:00.001-07:00

With ballots in the mail, the battle for the right to challenge Dave Somers is engaged

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The Collins Building - an update

2009-07-29T12:16:00.001-07:00

The Collins Building - an update

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Boeing's long bye-bye begins?

2009-07-08T22:26:00.001-07:00

Boeing's long bye-bye begins?

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TEA Party Parade

2009-07-06T15:46:00.001-07:00

TEA Party Parade

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They're back

2009-07-02T13:04:00.001-07:00

They're back

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Dave Somers prepares for hard fight to defend his council seat

2009-06-22T16:17:00.001-07:00

Dave Somers prepares for hard fight to defend his council seat

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Shawna Forde and the quest for human rights in Snohomish County

2009-06-20T17:21:00.001-07:00

Shawna Forde and the quest for human rights in Snohomish County

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Port Commissioners vote to demolish the past while facing an uncertain future

2009-06-18T15:23:00.001-07:00

Port Commissioners vote to demolish the past while facing an uncertain future

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DFSC Announces Endorsements

2009-06-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

Democracy for Snohomish County is proud to announce the following endorsements for the 2009 election cycle:

In the race for Snohomish County Council, District 1, Democrat Ellen Hiatt Watson is seeking to replace the incumbent, Republican John Koster. We believe that Watson represents the best in citizen activism and would be best suited to represent the citizens and protect our valuable natural resources from under-regulated growth in a district that will certainly feel the pressure of increase population over the next decade. We encourage everyone who cares about our county's future to help Ellen in anyway you can. Visit her website at: http://ellenhiattwatson.net/ and sign up to her Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=90083563313&ref=share

In the race for Snohomish County Council, District 5, incumbent Democrat Dave Somers stands head and shoulders above the crowd when it comes to representing the citizens of his district and the entire county. He has proven that his reasonable and responsible approach to issues such as growth management, climate change, transportation, and public safety is the model that best serves the people's needs while protecting our land and waterways. We strongly endorse the re-election of Dave Somers and hope that you will offer him whatever support you can at his website: davesomers.org or at his Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.phpgid=33163597732

On a more local note, in the race for the open seat on the Everett City Council (Pos 2) Democracy for Snohomish County is pleased to endorse long time resident and Progressive activist, John Flowers. John is an attorney who has devoted much of his time to youth mentoring and community empowerment. He is on the board of the local NAACP chapter and has done much work for the powerless in our society. From his biography:

"...From 1984 to 1986, Flowers worked for a direct mail charity fundraising
company located in Washington D.C. During this time, he also worked for the
Legal Services Corporation, which provided legal services to those who could not
afford them. These services included eviction, foreclosure, other property
disputes, and defense in criminal cases..."

We believe that, if elected, John will help to move Everett in a more
Progressive; community driven, direction and we hope that you will do what you can to help by visiting his website: http://flowersforcouncil.com/index.html

Finally it is our pleasure to announce our enthusiastic endorsement of DFSC founding member and current board member, Jackie Minchew for Everett City Council, Pos. 3. Jackie's work in the areas of energy venerability and community empowerment are models of citizen activism at its finest. Jackie has been a leader at the civic and political levels and he will bring that same type of leadership to the Everett City Council. We encourage you to visit Jackie's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=104722752152

Peace
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Land developer looking for win-win in county council race

2009-06-09T13:26:00.001-07:00

Land developer looking for win-win in county council race

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Republicans mount three-on-one challenge to Somers in Snohomish County

2009-06-08T05:58:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Republicans mount three-on-one challenge to Somers in Snohomish County

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: The Koster-Stickney campaign 2009

2009-06-01T07:06:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: The Koster-Stickney campaign 2009

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: State's fundamentalist groups file to run referendum against 'everything but marriage' bill

2009-05-05T14:59:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: State's fundamentalist groups file to run referendum against 'everything but marriage' bill

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Ellen Hiatt Watson; candidate for Snohomish County Council

2009-05-03T08:29:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Ellen Hiatt Watson; candidate for Snohomish County Council

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Camp Wellstone a big success

2009-05-02T23:53:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Camp Wellstone a big success

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Sells says education cuts make House budget 'no sale'

2009-04-27T07:21:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Sells says education cuts make House budget 'no sale'

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Camp Wellstone comes back to Seattle

2009-04-14T15:03:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Camp Wellstone comes back to Seattle

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: A Gathering of Like-Minded Thinkers - an introduction to the Transitions Initiative

2009-04-08T11:27:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: A Gathering of Like-Minded Thinkers - an introduction to the Transitions Initiative

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Publicly financed campaigns returning to Seattle

2009-03-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Publicly financed campaigns returning to Seattle

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Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Worker Privacy Act

2009-03-06T07:44:00.001-08:00

Seattle Progressive Politics Examiner: Worker Privacy Act

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DFSC Supports the Following Event

2008-10-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Great Pumpkin Carving Event of 2008

Who: Scott Olson, Representative John McCoy, Neil Watkins and all of the fine pumpkin carving individuals of the 39th LD

What: The rules are simple…you will have 45 minutes to carve a pumpkin in the best likening of a political figure. The top three pumpkins (and their owners) will be given great prizes and recognized as one of the great pumpkin carvers of 2008

Where: 211 West Hill Street, Monroe

When: October 18th from 12-2pm

Why: To prove yourself as the master of the pumpkin, the king or queen of carving…and to get a free pumpkin.

KINDLY RSVP TO VERONICA AT 425.760.8348

**SUGGESTED DONATION $25**

Peace,
Chad Shue,
Chair, DFSC

DFSC Hosts Green Film Fest at Renewable Energy Fair

2008-09-29T07:34:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, October 4th, Democracy for Snohomish County will play host to a Green Film Festival (including a Children's Film Festival) at the 3rd Annual Renewable Energy Fair at the Snohomish County PUD.
The line-up of films follows:

Democracy For Snohomish County

Presents

GREEN FILM FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Snohomish County PUD Auditorium

2320 California Street – Everett, WA 98290

• Opening Video 12:45 - 1:00PM

*The Story of Stuff*
Consumerism (Animated)

• Children's Film Festival 1:00-2:00PM

*Green Gorilla*
Children's Short Film

*Love the Earth*
Sesame Street episode teaches about recycling, re-using, and conservation

• Feature Video 2:00-3:00PM

**Power of Community**
How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

• Earth Cinema Circle Short Films 3:00-4:00PM

*True Cost of Food*
Hidden costs of corporate farming and agriculture (Animated)

*Power Shift*
Moving to Renewable Energy Sources (Narrated by Cameron Diaz)

*Not Just Empty Space*
David Suzuki explains how we are all connected to the earth

Please come to the fair and join us for these entertaining and educational videos.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair,
Democracy for Snohomish County

Democratic Candidate for Washington Secretary of State to be Featured Speaker at June DFSC Meeting

2008-06-03T15:13:00.000-07:00

Jason Osgood, Democratic candidate for Secretary of State will be the featured speaker at the June 10th meeting of Democracy for Snohomish County. (7:00PM at Evergreen Branch of the Everett Public Library - 9512 Evergreen Way)

According to Seattle Times political reporter and Blogger, David Postman published on June 2nd:

Dems field secretary of state candidate

Posted by David Postman

"Election reform advocate Jason Osgood says he’ll file today to run as a Democrat against Secretary of State Sam Reed. Osgood, known at washblog as zappini - he also has his own blog -- writes about election issues.

Osgood is 40 and lives in Seattle. He is a computer programmer with a medical records company."

I have met Jason on a couple of occasions and am mostly familiar with him though his writing on Washblog; in particular his passionate work on behalf of voting integrity issues. His run for Secretary of State comes as quite a surprise to many, including the candidate himself. However, again according to Postman,

"Osgood hadn’t planned on running for office. But he thought someone should challenge Reed and run a campaign focused on election integrity. He told that to state Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz and raised the names of a few potential candidates.

At some point, though, someone suggested Osgood run himself. He says the state Democratic Party will support his campaign."

Interestingly, Jason is perhaps most well known for his opposition to all-mail voting. I am looking forward to hearing Jason's complete platform and am happy to have him come to Snohomish County very early in his campaign. I hope you will join us there.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC Members Work for Human Right Commision in County

2008-06-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

Luis Moscoso

Jackie Minchew

Over the past several months, DFSC board members, Luis Moscoso and Jackie Minchew have been working with several other community leaders (with input from the Washington State Human Rights Commission) to develop language for the Snohomish County Council that would lead to an ordinance establishing a county-wide Human Rights Commission. Yesterday the fruits of their labor were presented to the County Council for their review. Their story appeared in the Everett Herald this morning.

Published: Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Snohomish County human rights agency sought
An advocacy group wants the county to create a new commission to protect minority rights

By Jeff Switzer
Herald Writer

"EVERETT -- Bias and bigotry in hiring and housing continues to be a problem for immigrants, minorities and disabled people in Snohomish County.

About 100 complaints citing their unequal treatment reach the state every year.

"We've had 600 complaints in five years that we didn't even know about," said Luis Moscoso, a minority rights advocate with Snohomish County Citizens for Human Rights. "We need to reach out and educate people on human rights issues."

Moscoso and others from the group on Monday asked the County Council to create a local, independent human rights commission with the power to settle disputes and investigate discrimination complaints everywhere in the county.

A grass-roots group spent 10 months writing a proposed county ordinance to create the commission. They used the state Human Rights Commission as their model." The rest of the article may be found here

Council Chair, Dave Somers has said that the council will look at the language of the proposal but did not set any deadlines for action. If the ordinance were to be enacted it would represent the first regional Human Rights Commission in the state.

We look forward to updates on this story from Jackie and Luis at future DFSC meetings.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Minchew Challenges "Piecemeal Approach" to Energy Policy

2008-06-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

DFSC Vice-Chair and Peak Oil Advocate, Jackie Minchew, submitted the following letter (re-printed here at the request of the author) to the readership of the Everett Herald:

Published: Monday, June 2, 2008

"Since the first of the year, the price of crude oil has risen by more than 30 percent (after a 60 percent increase in 2007.) The question of how best to respond to this precipitous rise in energy costs is not a simple one. We could look for someone to blame, I suppose. (Big Oil? Congress?) There is surely some degree of market manipulation and exploitation taking place. But from an economic system that is driven by the twin demons of fear and greed, while completely lacking a moral compass to guide it, what should we expect?

We could complain of a lack of leadership from our elected officials. There is also a measure of validity to this position. The piecemeal approach that seems to be the norm from City Hall to the halls of Congress holds out little hope for a comprehensive solution to anything, in my opinion.

Or we could do what few might dare: Seek to figure it out for ourselves! We could bring together our best and brightest, as our neighbors in Portland did, and set them to identifying the particular local vulnerabilities presented by the changing energy picture and, for that matter, climate change as well.

For almost two years now, I have been advocating for just that sort of systematic look at both energy and climate vulnerabilities for our own city and region. So far, local policy-makers have shown scant interest. But still I persist. With the Portland example to model on, it seems irresponsible not to try.

Can we agree that a systematic, well-reasoned approach to problem solving is preferable to piecemeal?"

With each passing day, the evidence of Peak Oil is becoming more clear as the car companies spend billions adverstising their latest hybrids and the oil companies become "energy" companies touting the investments into "alternative fuels." It has become widely acknowledged that the rising cost of food is directly attributed to the rise in fuel costs. However, just as with Global Climate Change, there is still much work to do in moving government into action. Jackie (and others in other communities) has started the ball rolling. However, it is time for this movement to grow. It is time to demand that our local governments adopt a more direct roll in addressing our future energy vunerabilities. The Portland model that Jackie refers to is a good place to start.

For more on this and on ways you can help advance this issue, contact Jackie Minchew at:

JWMchew@aol.com

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC to Screen "Power of Community"

2008-05-19T21:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 26th, DFSC will be screening the acclaimed documentary, "Power of Community (How Cuba Survived Peak Oil)"

Join us at Papi's Pizza (1816 Hewitt Ave.) for an evening of (no-host) pizza and beer as we learn about one country's early response to an impending energy crisis.

From the good folks at Community Solutions:

"When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope."

Please make the most of the evening by coming early to order your food and beverage prior to the start of the movie at 7:00PM.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Joe Wilson for Superior Court Judge

2008-05-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

At the May 13 General/Business meeting of Democracy for Snohomish County the motion was made and approved (unanimously) to endorse the candidacy of Joe Wilson for Snohomish County Superior Court Judge.

In reviewing the available materials and hearing from members who have had the oppportunity to hear the three candidates for this position speak and field questions it was determined that Joe Wilson's professional and personal history make him the best qualified individual to sit on the bench. While Wilson has numerous endorsements from the political community it is probably most significant that he is endorsed by current Superior Court Judge, Richard Thorpe (the very judge that he would replace due to retirement)

We encourage our membership and friends to contribute whatever time or funds you are able to help Joe Wilson succeed in the Primary and then again in the General Election in November.

Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC Endorses Scott Olson and Fred Walser

2008-05-02T09:55:00.001-07:00

In April, DFSC was pleased to endorse the campaigns of Scott Olson

and Fred Walser.

Scott is running to unseat Dan Kristiansen as the State Representative (Pos. 1) and Fred is challenging current State Senator, Val Stevens. This is Olson's 2nd run and the first for Walser. Both men are running on platforms that highlight needed highway safety fixes for both US 2 and SR 522. Considering the failures of the incumbents to produce any effective results in that area (and the many traffic fatalities related to those failures), we believe it is imperative for the citizens of the 39th LD to make a change; and that Scott and Fred would provide real solutions to the issues impacting that district.

Fred brings a lifetime of public service in the area of law enforcement and traffic safety to bear in his race. After serving 28 years with the Washington State Patrol, Fred served as Police Chief for the City of Sultan for the past 11 years. He has also served as Chair of the US 2 Safety Coalition. Fred is also concerned about education reform and told us that he would bring together all interested parties to come up with working solutions for the this urgent issue.

Scott comes to his race as a concerned citizen who has lived and worked in the district for many years. He has owned a small business in the area and keeps in touch with the locals as a bartender in Monroe. His previous electoral experience includes a term on the Sultan City Council. Scott is particularly concerned about education and healthcare.

DFSC is proud to lend our support to these fine candidates and encourage folks both in and out of the 39th LD to lend their support in every way possible.

Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC March Minutes

2008-04-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

Democracy for Snohomish County, PAC (DFSC)

Business/General Meeting Minutes for March 11,2008

Evergreen Branch Library, Everett, Wa.

Called to order at 7:00 PM by Chad Shue, Chair

ATTENDEES: Chad Shue, Debbie Shue, Nancy Sosnove, Cliff Wells, Mary Phlypo, Gary Sell, Melody Dawson, Jeff and Bethany Sutro.

Agenda- Minutes- approved.

Treasurer’s Report: Available Upon Request

Chair’s Report: N/A

Continuing/Unfinished Business:
.
• Peace Scholarship - Motion was made and seconded not to continue with 2nd scholarship as planned. DFSC made one $500 scholarship.

• Immigration Conversation - Motion was made and seconded to make Luis chair of this committee. Motion was amended and seconded to organize and move forward. Original motion was withdrawn. (Since Luis was not present to accept chair of committee.)

• DFSC Movie Night - Update given by Nancy. Venue will be Papi’s Pizza. April 26th; 6:00 PM

• Fundraising Opportunities - Suggestion was made to have a book signing/fundraiser for David Sirota. Motion was made and seconded to proceed by verifying David’s schedule. Chad will take this action. No update.

• Website/Blog - Motion was made and seconded to make Gary DFSC webmaster. He accepted!

• Voter Intent - Nancy will contact Rick Dewitt. RCW needs to change then WAC would have to be changed.

• Renewable Energy Fair -( Jackie) No Update.

• Peak Oil Task Force -(Jackie)No Update.

New Business:

• Early Look at candidates for possible endorsement 2008. Invite Fred Walser and Scott Olson to speak at next DFSC meeting.(Chad)Motion was made to donate $100 but was postponed to next meeting.

• Bumper Stickers:Motion was made to make another purchase, qty 200. Cliff will purchase and DFSC will re-emburse.

Announcements:

• Next meeting will be April 8 at 7pm, Evergreen Branch Library.

• Rich Semler is running for State Superintendent of schools, see website www.richsemler.com

• Seeds of Compassion Conference with the Dalia Lama April 11-15th. www.seedsofcompassion.com

• Activist calendar at www.scn.org/activism/calendar

• Community Calendar at www.scn.org/calendars

Meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm.

A Bad Sign for Race Relations in Snohomish

2008-03-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Originally posted Here

Apparently Snohomish City Council members Swede Johnson and Doug Thorndike aren’t able to distinguish between legitimate city business and their personal anti-immigrant biases. According to reports that first appeared in the Snohomish County Tribune on March 3rd and the Everett Herald just this morning, the two elected officials, supposedly in the context of a debate over a proposal for new “gateway signs” intended to welcome visitors to their city, decided to take the opportunity to express their perceptually discriminatory views on immigration.

R.C. "Swede" Johnson

According to Tribune reporter Jessica Sparks,

” A project to build a sign to welcome visitors to the city of Snohomish has stalled, but last month two city officials revived the conversation by e-mailing an antiimmigration joke that suggests Mexicans in the United States are here to take advantage of social programs.”

The “joke”, in fact, was a photo of some suggested signage that might be considered to be Thorndike’s and Johnson’s view of the increase in the numbers of Hispanic to the county and more specifically to the city of Snohomish.

The email was sent to fellow city council members Melody Clemans and Karen Guzak, both proponents of the gateway sign proposal. The proposal is currently on hold and is not a part of the 2008 council agenda. The email contained no text and was sent with the subject heading: “Gateway Signs.”

While Thorndike, who sent the original images to Johnson, has not issued any comment to the media Johnson has defended the email as his attempt to ”to show how powerful an image can be.” Clemans has called the image “racist and bigoted” and was quick to point out the disconnect in the messages being sent.

”I do not understand using such a distasteful and discriminatory message to make a point about the power of signs,” she wrote in an e-mail. “Using inflammatory depictions of immigration issues has no relationship to the issue of a gateway sign for our community.”

According to the article in the Everett Herald there was some discussion of this email at the Snohomish City Council meeting on Tuesday.

” The image is discriminatory, Snohomish resident John First said at a City Council meeting Tuesday where the e-mail was discussed.

"I was embarrassed that it was being circulated by council members," said First, 49. "I was upset to see it because of the message that it implies."

About a dozen people at the meeting commented on the image, most saying it was offensive and inappropriate.”

Also at the Tuesday meeting was Snohomish County Democrats Chair and Snohomish resident, Mark Hintz. Yesterday Mark sent me a copy of the statement that he read to the council on Tuesday (and has sent on as a Press Release as a member of the Diversity Committee of the Snohomish County Democrats.

” The Diversity Committee of the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee takes a stand against “white privilege” in our county. Recently two Snohomish City council members used the internet in an inappropriate manner and must be held accountable for their actions.

These two members of the council, Council Member Thorndike and Council Member Johnson recently sent an inappropriate email message to another Council Member that was an example of “white privilege”.

“White privilege is the advantages given freely to white people for no other reason than being born with the “right” skin color. If their skin color had not been white, they would not have been making these jokes. This is no way for an American to treat another American.

Mr. Thorndike and Mr. Johnson have left question marks with most people about their decision-making process. If either were my employee, this behavior would not be tolerated. As an elected official (Ed. Note: Hintz is an elected Fire Commissioner in Snohomish County) I expect a higher standard of leadership than what they displayed.

It is time that this attitude is removed from our society and the respect of all people be truly adopted.”

Johnson and Thorndike were not without their supporters.

” Kirk Williams, 50, of Snoho¬mish said he thought the image similar to political cartoons in newspapers and said it raised a legitimate point of view about U.S. immigration issues.

"It's not that these people don't like Hispanics," Williams said of Johnson and Thorndike. "These men aren't like that."”

I would like to give these men the benefit of the doubt but, when asked by Jessica Sparks at the Snohomish Tribune if these images reflect his personal views of Mexicans, Johnson’s reply was

”My personal views are my personal views.”

While we have presidential candidates being asked to distance themselves from the comments of others, I think it is not unreasonable to ask elected officials to take more responsibility for their own actions and statements. It is absolutely ridicules for anyone in Johnson's position to expect reasonable people to believe that the images he has passed along to his fellow council members has any bearing in the context of a proposal for a sign to WELCOME people to the city (and all of its people) he was elected to represent.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Demcoracy for Snohomish County

February, 2008 Meeting Minutes

2008-03-13T08:52:00.000-07:00

Democracy for Snohomish County, PAC (DFSC)
Business/General Meeting Minutes for Feb.12,2008
Everett PUD Building, Everett, Wa.

Called to order at 7:02 PM by Chad Shue, Chair

ATTENDEES: Chad Shue, Debbie Shue, Nancy Sosnove, Jackie Minchew, Cliff Wells, Mary Phlypo, Anita Moscoso, Luis Moscoso, Gary Sell, Melody Dawson.

* Agenda- Minutes- approved.

* Treasurer’s Report: On File - Available Upon Request

* Chair’s Report: None

Continuing/Unfinished Business:

* Peace Scholarship-Contributions were taken and Chad will send in next week.

* Immigration Conversation, Feb.2008. More ideas were tossed around for this future event. Possible venues were discussed, such as EHS auditorium, PUD auditorium. April 10,11 there will be a discussion at Everegreen State College.

* DFSC Movie Night-Motion was made and seconded to continue movie night. Nancy will check on venue at Papi’s Pizza place on Hewitt. Movie suggested to show is “Sicko.” Date to be determined.

* Fundraising Opportunities- Suggestion was made to have a book signing/fundraiser for David Sirota. Motion was made and seconded to proceed by verifying David’s schedule. Chad will take this action.

* Website/Blog- (Cliff). No update at this time.

New Business:

* Voter Intent- Nancy will contact Rick Dewitt

* Renewable Energy Fair- Jackie will touch base with Green Everett

* Peak Oil Task Force-Jackie will talk to county council members

Announcements:

* Next meeting will be March 11 at 7pm, Evergreen Branch Library.

* Rich Semler is running for State Superintendent of schools, see website www.richsemler.com

* Seeds of Compassion Conference with the Dalia Lama April 11-15th. www.seedsofcompassion.com

* Activist calendar at www.scn.org/activism/calendar

* Community Calendar at www.scn.org/calendars

Meeting was adjourned at 9:02pm.

Peak Oil in the Everett Herald

2008-02-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County Vice-chair, Jackie Minchew, has been a tireless advocate on the issue of Peak Oil since he first attended a seminar on the subject in the Fall of 2004. Since then, he has been working to raise the awareness level of all who will listen (and even some who will not) including members of our local and regional governments. In 2006 he took the lead and brought about the first ever Renewable Energy Symposium and Expo in Everett, Washington. The symposium featured elected representatives from the city, county, state and federal levels and was headlined by Julian Darley, Founder and Director of the Post Carbon Institute.

We at Democracy for Snohomish County are very pleased to see that Jackie's voice has been amplified today with an Op-Ed in the pages of the Everett Herald. Parts of that Op-Ed are reprinted here with the express consent (and encouragement) of the author.

Facing reality: Oil supply isn't bottomless

By Jackie Minchew

"Peak oil doesn't fit comfortably into a nutshell. First it is necessary to understand that the industrial revolution was fueled by carbon-based energy: first coal and, later, crude oil and natural gas (fossil fuels.) With the industrial revolution came phenomenal technological advances, some of which contributed to the so-called population explosion. (The population of the planet has more than doubled during this writer's lifetime.) Examples of these technological advances include tractors and other farm implements as well as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides made from fossil fuels. With increased farm output, it became possible to feed the expanding population.

Also contributing to the population expansion were technological advances in medicine, many tied to fossil fuels, especially pharmaceuticals..."

He continues:

..."In every case, there comes a time when the extraction rate peaks and begins an irreversible decline. So it is for the planet as a whole.

Various forecasts for the timing of the global peak in oil extraction range from now to 40 or 50 years in the future. These are based largely on reported reserves, which are widely believed to be inflated. The German-based Energy Watch Group recently issued a report based on production data, which placed the global peak in 2006 rather than some time in the future. If this is true, then the time to prepare is past and the only remaining option is to decide how to respond. (The Hirsch Report, prepared for the U.S. Energy Department and released in February 2005, called for a crash program beginning 20 years before the peak. Oops!)..."

And he concludes:

"...Fortunately, there are some pretty good people working on practical (if not always palatable) responses to the expected difficulties. Among these are the above-mentioned Richard Heinberg, a brilliant man named Colin Campbell, and my personal hero in the field, Julian Darley, founder and director of the Post Carbon Institute (PCI.) Through its five initiatives (Global Public Media, Relocalization Network, Post Carbon Cities, Oil Depletion Protocol and Energy Farms), PCI is actively seeking and aggressively advocating for well-reasoned responses to the dramatically changing energy environment..."

We applaud Jackie for an excellent explanation of the subject and, just as enthusiastically, applaud the Herald for providing this platform for Jackie to advance this issue.

As mentioned above, Democracy for Snohomish County was proud to bring Julian Darley to Everett in August of 2006. With great thanks to Ed Mays at Pirate TV in Seattle, we are able to offer a DVD of the Darley presentation from that event for a nominal fee for reproduction and shipping cost. If you would like a copy of this important presentation, please send a check (made out to Democracy for Snohomish County) for $5.00 to Democracy for Snohomish County - PO Box 7005 Lynnwood, WA 98046. Please include your mailing address. Allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC February Meeting Announcement

2008-02-08T09:08:00.000-08:00

DEMOCRACY FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY

GENERAL & BUSINESS MEETING

WHEN: 7:00 P.M., Tuesday February 12, 2008

WHERE: Everett PUD, Room 2A (TC2-A)
2320 California Street, Everett

WHO: All citizens interested in promoting progressive candidates and issues in Snohomish County and Washington State.

WHAT:

· Discuss current status of pending legislation before the Washington State Legislature.

· Implement sponsorship of a Peace Scholarship for a local student

· Discuss continuing plans for “Immigration Conversation” in Snohomish County

· Welcome new ideas and energy for building a progressive movement in Snohomish County

· SHARE YOUR PASSION FOR PROGRESSIVE ACTIVISM WITH FRIENDS! Join the members of DFSC as we work together to build the progressive movement in Snohomish County. Chocolate will be provided to all attendees.

WHY: Democracy for Snohomish County is a progressive, non-affiliated, non-partisan, Political Action Committee. Our purpose is to support and develop progressive candidates for office and to influence public policy issues affecting Snohomish County or the State of Washington. All are welcome to join in. We invite you to contribute your energy and enthusiasm to this purpose.

CONTACT US: dfsc@comcast.net

WEBSITE: dfsc.home.comcast.net

BLOG: dfsc.blogspot.com

Chad Shue, Chair
Democracy for Snohomish County

January, 2008 Meeting Minutes

2008-01-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County, PAC (DFSC)
Business/General Meeting Minutes for January 8,2008
Snohomish PUD, 21018 Highway 99

Called to order at 7:10 PM by Chad Shue, Chair

ATTENDEES:
Chad Shue, Jackie Minchew, Jeff Sutro, Debbie Shue, Mary Phlypo, Cliff Wells, Anita Moscoso and Luis Moscoso.

Agenda- Minutes:- approved.

Treasurer’s Report: On File (Available upon request)

Unfinished Business:

• Peace Scholarship-Chad will call Jim Eachus and tell him we are ready to donate and get specifics on what needs to happen.

• Immigration Conversation More ideas were tossed around for this future event. Luis will provide Chad with a list of possible contacts for this event. Chad will check on some possible venues.

• DFSC Movie Night-No update at this time.

New Business:

• Legislative Agenda for 2008 “Short Session”-Public Campaign finance-SB5278, HB1551.

• Website-Discussion to move website from Comcast to another site that is more user friendly. Cliff will take a look at WordPress.com.

• Potential for creating “permanent physical presence” in new bookstore/commoms in Everett- Discussion on possible opportunity to have a space for our meetings and other activities. Dicussed possible ways to make this community presence happen.

• LSCC- (Livable Snohomish County Coalition)Does DFSC still want to be a member of this group? Group decided Yes and Chad will relay to Kristen.

Announcements:

• Next meeting will be February 12th at 7pm, location TBD. (Everett PUD)

• Activist calendar at www.scn.org/activism/calendar

• Community Calendar at www.scn.org/calendars

Meeting was adjourned at 9:03pm.

December, 2007 Meeting Minutes

2008-01-01T10:42:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County, PAC (DFSC)
Business/General Meeting Minutes for December 11,2007
PUD Building, Everett, Wa.

Called to order at 7:05 PM by Jeff Sutro, Chair

ATTENDEES:
Chad Shue, Jackie Minchew, Jeff Sutro, Debbie Shue, Mary Phlypo, Cliff Wells, Anita Moscoso and Luis Moscoso.

Agenda was approved.

November Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s Report: On File - Available upon request.

Unfinished Business:

• Nominations for 2008 DFSC Officers: Current nominations are as follows:

Chair: Chad Shue
V-Chair- Cliff Wells
V-Chair- Jackie Minchew
Secretary- Debbie Shue
Treasurer- Jeff Sutro
At-large- Nancy Sosnove
At-Large- Luis Moscoso
At-Large- Eric Teegarden

Motion was made to accept new officers as a slate. Motion approved.

• Immigration Conversation, Feb.2008. Ideas were tossed around for this future event. Luis will provide Chad with a list of possible contacts for this event.

• DFSC Movie Night- tabled until Jan.2008.

New Business:

Announcements:

• Next meeting will be January 8 at 7pm at the south Snohomish PUD, 21018 Highway 99.

• Activist calendar at www.scn.org/activism/calendar

• Community Calendar at www.scn.org/calendars

Meeting was adjourned at 9:05pm.

DFSC Elects 2008 Officers

2007-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

On December 11th 2007, Democracy for Snohomish County met to elect the officers for 2008. The following slate was elected by acclamation of the members present:

Chair - Chad Shue

Vice-Chair - Jackie Minchew

Vice-Chair - Cliff Wells

Secretary - Debbie Shue

Treasurer - Jeff Sutro

At-Large - Nancy Sosnove

At-Large - Eric Teegarden

At-Large - Luis Moscoso

As incoming Chair, I look forward to working with these fine Progressive Activists to move DFSC forward into this exciting election year.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Chair (elect) DFSC

Komen Community Challenge

2007-10-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

An important message from Susan G. Komen for the Cure

The Komen Community Challenge is coming to Seattle on Thursday, November 8!

Join breast cancer advocates and special guests at the Town Hall in Seattle to discuss the state of breast cancer care in Washington.

We’ll hear from breast cancer survivors and community leaders, as well as speakers such as Mary Selecky, Washington State Secretary of Health. And you’ll have a chance to meet and mingle with other advocates from across the state!

What: The Puget Sound Komen Community Challenge - “Close the Gap!” Town Hall Discussion

When: Thursday, November 8, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Town Hall Seattle ~ 1119 Eighth Avenue (at Seneca Street)

Who: Breast cancer survivors and families, health care officials, breast cancer experts – and you and your friends and family! Reserve your place HERE

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-Chair
Democracy for Snohomish County

Yes on 4204

2007-10-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

Democracy for Snohomish County proudly endorses Yes on 4204 (Simple Majority)

Go HERE to find out how to help.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, DFSC

Green Everett Sustainable Energy Fair

2007-10-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

Green Everett, in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Community, the Sustainable Snohomish Development Task Force and the Snohomish PUD invite you to attend a Sustainable Energy Fair and Solar & Green Building Tour on Saturday, October 6th.

Join us for a day of enlightening solutions that sustain our lifestyles while preserving our natural environment.

The Green Everett Sustainable Engery Fair and Solar & Green Building Tour is a solution based, hands-on, family oriented event designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about Sustainable Living Practices and Renewable Energy.

Cecile Andrews founder of the Phinney EcoVillage will energize the Fair as our Keynote Speaker. We will feature two panel discussions and the kick off for the 2007 Snohomish County Solar Tour. Exhibitors and demonstrators will present for us a variety of options in the field of renewable energy.

Where: Everett PUD Building, 2320 California Street, Everett.

When: Saturday, October 6. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 425 341-1061

Web sites:

Event Website: http://www.sustainableeverett.com/
Green Everett Website: http://greeneverett.wikispaces.com/

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

DFSC Movie Night

2007-10-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

DFSC Presents "A Crude Awakening"

As a kick-off event for the Green Everett Sustainable Energy Fair (to be
held on Saturday, October 6th) Democracy for Snohomish County will
screen
the acclaimed documentary, "A Crude Awakening." The documentary tells
the
story of how our civilization’s addiction to oil puts it on a collision
course with geology and sets the stage for why we must begin down the
path
of renewables and more sustainable living. The event is free and open to
the
public (donations gladly accepted)

Please RSVP to chadshue@hotmail.com with "Movie Night" in the subject
line.

Where: Commission Meeting Room of the Everett PUD Bldg, 2320 California
Street Everett, WA, Everett.

When: Friday, October 5. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Phone: 425 341-1061

Web sites:
• Democracy for Snohomish County:
http://dfsc.home.comcast.net/

• "A Crude Awakening"
http://www.oilcrashmovie.com/film.html

Sustainable Everett:

http://www.sustainableeverett.com

Peace,
Chad Shue

Event Notice - DFSC Endorsed Candidates

2007-07-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Friends,
A couple of event reminders for DFSC endorsed candidates:

Tonight! Tuesday, July 24th, Jackie Minchew, Charlene Rawson, and Brian Sullivan will be participating in a candidate’s forum hosted by the newly formed “Sustainable Snohomish County Coalition.” The forum will feature candidates for Everett City Council, Positions 4 (Charlene) and 7 (Jackie); and the two Democratic Primary candidates for Snohomish County Council, District 2 (Brian Sullivan and Jean Berkey). The forum will be held at the Everett PUD Building (California Street) beginning at 7:00PM. This will probably be your last chance to see and hear these candidates prior to the August 21st Primary (certainly before the ballots are mailed out)

Saturday! On July 28th the Washington Conservation Voters will be conducting their “Day of Action.” WCV volunteers will be doorbelling in support of WCV endorsed candidates. In Everett this will include all three of DFSC's endorsed candidates, Brian Sullivan, Charlene Rawson and Jackie Minchew! Please show your support for these fine environmentally friendly candidates by meeting at Sullivan Campaign HQ (On the corner of Broadway and Hewitt – Across from the Everett Events Center) just before 10AM on Saturday morning for coffee and doughnuts before heading out for a few hours of doorbelling. The candidates will be walking together as they show their unity in support of responsible environmental policies and the desire for a strong working relationship between the city and the county. Please let me know if you will be attending this event so that we can accomodate with literature and walking lists.

I hope to see many of you at one or both of these important events.

Peace,

Chad Shue
Vice-Chair,
Democracy for Snohomish County

Minuteman Follow-up

2007-07-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

Originally Posted Here

Back on June 30th, citzensteve posted "MADness in Everett" about the impending visit to Everett by Minutemen founder, Jim Gilchrist. The keynote speaker for an event billed as an "Illegal Immigration Summit", Gilchrist was invited to speak by "something called "the Reagan Wing" and a MAD woman named Shawna Forde who's trying to take her insanity to the Everett City Council." Others in attendance at the "Summit" included former 2nd CD Republican Congressional Candidate, Doug Roulstone and current Snohomish County Sheriff's candidate, Tom Greene (whom I had previously written about here.)

After the event was reported in the Everett Herald, local educator and human rights activist Ed Glazer wrote the following letter to the editor bemoaning the silence of local leaders:

"Published:
Sunday, July 8, 2007

MINUTEMAN RALLY

Why didn't leaders denounce group?

With the recent gathering of the right wing, anti-immigration, racist group here "in River City" (July 1 article, "Minuteman rally draws 100"), I find it most interesting, and yet par for the course, that apparently not a single local elected official has one word to say about this group and what they represent.

Does their overpowering silence indicate acquiescence?

Does their "commitment" to a multicultural/pluralistic society only come out every January when they spout "... keep the dream alive ... "?

I am disappointed and disgusted in the supposed "leaders" of our community.

For, to quote Pastor Martin Niemoller: "First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

School board members, mayors, city council members, the county executive and county council members and county officials - your silence is deafening!

Ed Glazer

Everett"

While the Everett Herald has not seen fit to print my response to Mr. Glazer, I offer it for you below.

"I share the sentiments of Ed Glazer when he bemoans the silence of our elected officials before, during, and since the arrival of the racist vigilante Minuteman gang to our city. I would add a couple of personal observations. Inside the Elks Lodge; embracing Mr. Gilchrist, were two candidates for local elective office. One is a candidate for Everett City Council; the other a candidate for Snohomish County Sheriff. It is the latter that most concerns me.

While it is the duty of all law enforcement personnel to protect and defend the rights - both legal and civil - of all the citizens they serve, in Tom Greene we find a man who publicly embraces the likes of nationally recognized anti-gay activist, Rev. Ken Hutcherson (keynote speaker for Greene's campaign kick-off breakfast) as well as noted vigilante leader Jim Gilchrist. This is not a matter of defending "gay rights" or "illegal immigrants" but, rather a case of maintaining a perception of "equal protection under the law" while enforcing the law equally toward all. What message would be sent to the members of our minority communities if Mr. Greene moves beyond the primary ballot in August? What leadership message would be sent to the officers of the Sheriff's Department about defending the rights of all the citizens they serve? More importantly, what picture of our diverse Snohomish County would be painted with the election of Tom Greene to the position of Sheriff?

Finally, while there was also a city council candidate inside the Elks Lodge, it should be noted that there was one candidate joining the group outside the event. Jackie Minchew, candidate for Everett City Council, stood proudly with those who denounce the welcoming of Jim Gilchrist and his ilk into our town."

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

Tom Greene: Meet My Posse

2007-07-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

Originally Posted Here

When the 38th LD Democrats sent questionnaires out to prospective candidates who might be seeking our endorsement one of the first to respond was Tom Greene, candidate for Snohomish County Sheriff. At that time Greene was in a two person race with Rob Beidler. Both gentlemen are currently serving in different areas of the Sheriff's department and, with the departure of Rick Bart due to term limits; they are seeking the top spot there. On paper, Greene's credentials are tremendous with many years of service in law enforcement in California and in Snohomish County. His list of endorsements reads like a who's who of law enforcement. Beidler offers himself as the "trooper's trooper" and wears his endorsement from the rank and file as a badge as shiny as the one on his uniform. Unfortunately for both of these gentlemen, their endorsement prospects from the 38th (as well as any Democratic organization in the county) were doomed from the start by "the elephant in the room" which was the expected (and now realized) announcement of candidacy from 44th LD Democrat, John Lovick. In the end, the 38th confirmed the endorsement committee's recommendation of "No Endorsement at this Time" for the Sheriff's position at our Tuesday night meeting. While I am not very comfortable with withholding an endorsement because we are waiting for someone else to decide what they are going to do, last night I received an email that made me feel much better about our decision not to endorse Tom Greene.

It seems Greene will be having a "Breakfast Kick-off" on Tuesday morning, May 15th at the Holiday Inn in Everett. Because that is a workday for me and the start time is listed as 7:00am, I was simply going to respectfully decline due to the time conflict. However there was a flyer attached to the email and, as the flyer was created in jpg form, part of it became obvious to me while I was reading the email. A photo of someone whom I recognized was coming onto my viewing screen. There under the heading "Tom Greene for Sheriff Breakfast May 15th" was the next line:

"Featuring former Seattle Seahawk, Ken Hutcherson, Pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, WA"

My reply to Tom Greene's email took a somewhat different slant. I explained to him that, while I do not believe anyone should be judged on their own personal beliefs, I felt that bringing someone with Hutcherson's notoriety into the political arena was simply unacceptable - especially when he, Greene, is seeking election to a position where he will be responsible for protecting the rights - legal and civil - of all the citizens. It is inconceivable to me that he would be unaware of Hutcherson's opposition to the recognition of equal rights and protections for all of our citizens. In my email I told him that, even though our meeting was brief, my impression was that he is a personable and sincere man and that it would be difficult to believe him guilty of such political naiveté.

I almost wish that I did not have a workday conflict now. The Holiday Inn in Everett is where we held our "Un-welcome Wagon" for Dead-Eye Dick Cheney last year. I wouldn't be surprised if someone wanted to host a similar event for Pastor Hutcherson on Tuesday, May 15th.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue

Denial - Not Just a River in Egypt

2007-04-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

From the pages of the Everett Herald:

Opinion

Published: Saturday, April 21, 2007

Global warming's elusive elephant

By Jim Mitchell

The savvy old sheriff called me over to his cruiser when I, as a 12-year-old boy, came out of the brush with my .22-caliber rifle just a few yards from where he was parked. In those days a boy with a rifle was not uncommon but the sheriff made occasional contact with us kids just so we knew we were not entirely without adult supervision. He asked me what I was hunting, if I had a license, and made some adult-to-child chit-chat. What followed is a lesson I have found applicable to many political discussions, especially global warming.

The sheriff asked if I had seen any elephants. I was incredulous, not having expected to see elephants in the Arizona sagebrush. I answered that I had not. "They sure do hide well for such a big critter, don't they?" I could hear him chuckle as he drove away.

Today we are being asked to accept that the global climate change we see is unusual, and by its existence proves man is the cause, just as the fact that I had not seen an elephant proved their concealment skills. We are also expected to believe that if the Western industrialized countries would limit their industrial pursuits, climates will go back to "normal."

Computer models that were fed known climate conditions of the past have not projected from that data what we know to have been the result. Where is the proof that climate change will bring desertification and wild weather? Why should we be forced to subjugate our economy to projections of the future which are essentially computerized speculations?

On what does former Vice President Al Gore, the most visible "prophet" of this issue, base his assertion that if we take the lead by making the huge economic sacrifices necessary to bring us into compliance with the Kyoto Treaty, those such as China will follow our lead? We have proof to the contrary.

Clouds of toxin-laden dust that originate from China's expanding deserts, themselves largely caused by agricultural methods that America outlawed or abandoned decades ago, have shown up in air monitors on our Pacific coast. China is more likely to let us decimate our own economy with our strangling regulations, then, smiling sweetly, simply absorb our global market share rather than follow our lead.

The fact that when testifying on Capitol Hill Al Gore spoke to a standing-room-only crowd, while a leading skeptic of the global warming hysteria, Bjorn Lomborg - whom most people have never heard of in spite of his book "The Skeptical Environmentalist" - testified to a nearly empty room, should warn us that although the science is not settled, the political "reality" is.

If this is such a critical issue for the future of the planet, why not have nationally televised debates and let people hear from both sides? Mr. Gore has refused to debate Mr. Lomborg. Is Gore's position unassailable simply because his disciples consider it the moral high ground?

Suppose "greenhouse gas" emissions are taxed, as is being proposed by some. What happens to the money? Will it be used to fund research into finding a "cure" for carbon dioxide pollution; perhaps developing technology to harvest and recycle or reconstitute CO2? You already know the answer.

Why are we not talking about what we need to do to protect ourselves from the effects of climate change just in case we discover that man hasn't caused it and cannot control it? (Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans was, at its root cause, a failure to prepare for such a storm.) Are you ready to learn water conservation if the predictions of drier summers come true? Rather than convoluted schemes of "greenhouse gas" credits and taxes, shouldn't someone be trying to figure out a way to manage how we do things that will minimize the change's impact? No amount of CO2 credit-swapping or taxation will make derelict flood control apparatuses more functional or drought-resistant food more plentiful.

Not seeing any elephants during my boyhood excursion into the Arizona thickets did not prove their existence, however reclusive. Neither is a rise in the planet's temperature proof of an impending disaster, or of a man-made cause. We should be careful of the conclusions facts lead us to, but most of all we should be very suspicious of politicians posing as pundits who promise to save us from their fears - for a price - and ask that we trust them as gatekeepers of the "moral high ground."

Oh, the punchline for those who have been waiting.......

Jim Mitchell lives in Darrington. He spent many years working in the mining industry, and now works in the forest products industry.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Moyers

2007-03-27T08:36:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Nancy for sending this our way.

Click here for complete text.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, DFSC

Public Financing "Debate" on Senate Floor

2007-03-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (3/6/07), the Washington State Senate began debate on Substitute Senate Bill 5278, enabling ~~local governments~~ cities to consider Public Financing of Political Campaigns. As you can see, the original bill started out as an effort to allow local governments to consider public financing. However, before the bill could get out of the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee, the committee chair, Senator Darlene Fairley (D 32ndLD) determined that “local” was too broad in scope to assure passage in the full Senate. Therefore, she felt compelled to offer an amendment to change “local” to “cities.” It was this substitute that was brought to the floor of the senate for debate. Just to be crystal clear, this is the language that was brought to the Senate floor for debate:

1 AN ACT Relating to use of public funds for political purposes; and
2 amending RCW 42.17.128.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
4 Sec. 1. RCW 42.17.128 and 1993 c 2 s 24 are each amended to read
5 as follows:
6 Public funds, whether derived through taxes, fees, penalties, or
7 any other sources, shall not be used to finance political campaigns for
8 state or local office, except that the legislative authority of a city
9 may establish a program allowing the use of public funds to finance
10 campaigns for local office.
--- END ---
p. 1 SSB 5278

Senator Rosa Franklin (D 29thLD), the Prime Sponsor, introduced the bill, reminded members that this was the virtually the same bill they had seen last year (except that it had been reduced to cities only). She also reminded the members that the city of Seattle had actually participated in a public financing process before the enactment of Initiative 134 in 1993 and that the legislature had been trying since then to reinstate the process.

Senator Joseph Zarelli (R 18thLD) then rose in opposition. Sen. Zarelli started out by reminding the senators that they were talking about tax dollars. He then told the story of a Portland, Oregon city councilwoman who had been elected under that city’s public financing plan and then, a year later, was convicted of fraud after it was determined that she had abused the system. Now I’m not sure that Zarelli was inferring that anyone who runs under public financing might be a crook but he certainly didn’t indicate that there might be elected officials who were not elected with public money who might have been convicted of anything.

Senator Harriet Spanel (D 40thLD) then spoke in favor and, once again, reminded the senators that Seattle used to do this.

And then “My Senator” – Senator Jean Berkey (D 38thLD) rose to speak in opposition to the bill. Senator Berkey said that, while the underlying goal of public financing of campaigns was “laudable” the “timing is not.” She said that our state’s economic vitality is precarious and she worried that cities might have to cut services or raise taxes to provide for public financing. She said that she could not support public financing while there were better things to spend the tax payers’ money on. However Senator Berkey (perhaps harkening back to her days on the Government Operations and Elections Committee) ended by saying that she would support a public vote to see if the citizens of Washington would like to have their tax dollars spent on political campaigns.

After Senator Berkey spoke, Senators Ed Murray (D 43rdLD) and Eric Oemig (D 45thLD) rose to speak in favor with Oemig offering that, as businesses see the advantage in “investing in candidates”, shouldn’t citizens be afforded the same opportunity to invest in candidates who would represent them.

And then we fell the rest of the way down the rabbit hole. Enter Senator Pam Roach (R 31stLD) – Cue Darth Vader theme –

Senator Roach began by suggesting she was speaking by popular demand of Senator Bob McCaslin (R 4thLD) who insisted that she MUST speak to this bill. Roach, after demanding that passing SSB 5278 would be, “One of the worst things that we could be doing.” spoke thus:
”Do you understand what we are talking about doing here? We are talking about a bill that will allow public funding of our elections.” She continued that public financing would be, ”completely contrary to the system we have had in this country…”

At this point I must remind you that SSB 5278 would only allow cities to consider and possibly adopt public financing for political campaigns.

At this point, Senator Roach began to channel Karl Rove. She charged that allowing public campaign financing would “end the need for candidates to speak directly to their constituents.” In fact, Roach asserted that publicly financed candidates, “will essentially grab the check and be elected and never have to face the electorate.” She said that, with public financing, there will be, “no more Ice Cream Socials or Spaghetti Dinners.”

Senator Roach then went on to worry about the lack of fraud protections in the bill. She said that public financing will advance “non-viable candidates.” She referred back to Senator Zarelli’s story of fraud and abuse in Oregon and then suggested that public financing might be, “A good way to fund your college education.” Senator Roach ended her floor time with (perhaps) a nod to Senator Berkey; ” Taxpayers should not be “forced” to pay for political campaigns.”

Apparently sensing imminent defeat of what should have been a simple vote to allow cities to assume local control over how they would administer and finance elections within their municipal jurisdictions, Senate Floor Leader Tracey Eide (D 30thLD) abruptly moved to defer the bill for further consideration.

I freely admit that I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but I am absolutely lost here. How do we get from “allowing consideration of public financing” to “non-viable candidates” waiting in the wings to de-fraud the tax payers? How do educated people who have been elected to the position of State Senator somehow believe that by simply allowing the citizens of the City of Everett to discuss public financing with their elected representatives, we will immediately jump to a situation where we have drained the city treasury? In an email from Craig Salins at Washington Public Campaigns we are reminded that there is no such thing as a “sure thing.” Salins offers:

” Even though in the Senate it is 32-17 (Ds-Rs), if 8 or more Ds vote No, we lack a majority to pass the bill, or if some are absent, we lack votes.

Three Ds have declared opposition (Berkey, Hargrove(24th) and Hatfield(19th )); several more are shaky or unknown (Hobbs(44th), Kauffman(47th), Marr(6th), Rasmussen(2nd)).
With Prentice(11th) and Tom(48th), we're unsure. And with one or two absences, we lack a majority.”

In checking on the current status of this bill, it appears that a couple more amendments are being circulated in hopes of reaching final passage. Senator Franklin has introduced the “Berkey Amendment” that would put any effort to enact public financing at a city level to a referendum of the people. Then we have Senator Mark Schoesler (R 9thLD) who is offering what we shall refer to as “the Surgeon General’s Warning on Public Financing of Political Campaigns at the City Level.” Senator Schoesler’s amendment calls for all publicly financed candidates to provide the following disclaimer on all political advertising: “Paid for at taxpayer expense.”

Folks, as you can see, the information that is being spread on this bill is mis-leading, false, or just mis-informed. If you have not called your senator, please call them now! If you know someone on the districts mentioned here, please call them and have them call their senator! If this bill fails, it cannot be because we did not act!

Peace
Chad Shue
Vice-chair,
Democracy for Snohomish County

You Dub Everett

2007-02-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about an article by Lynn Thompson at the Seattle Times suggesting that there might be a division amongst our Snohomish County delegation over the nature of higher education in Snohomish County. At that time, the indication was that there was a House/Senate split with Senator Berkey having moved a bill through the Senate Higher Education Committee that would pave the way for locating and securing the land for a four year college somewhere between Everett and Marysville while Reps Dunshee and Sells were quoted as being somewhat skeptical about a “four year” versus the probability of a new UW extension branch in Everett. After I posted the entry, I received comments from each of the legislators.

Dunshee (D-44thLD) offered this:

”…Perhaps some day Snohomish County will have an independent university.
That would be fine with me. Communities with branches debate this option but so far none have seen it as desirable.
I do think the reality of Olympia is that a four year independent is not possible. This is just handicapping the probability of success. Since
Evergreen was created in the 1970s the legislature has not created a stand alone but has used branch campuses to meet need. These have been very successful and well received in their communities. I think it will be very hard to convince legislators from across the state to return to an option turned away from for some very good reasons. We are moving to a unified system in higher education like California and many other states. It is best for students and taxpayers…”

From Mike Sells (D-38thLD):

”…Finally, I don't know of too many 4 year stand alone institutions which are opened up in this day and age without some previous affiliation. Generally, they are grown starting from different permutations of 2 year programs that go beyond community college type AA degrees. In talking with Jerry Cornfield of the Herald last week, he noted his bias for a 4 year stand alone. I asked him where he went to school to get his degree. It was UC Santa Barbara. "How did it start?" I asked him. He said it started as a two year type community college. I suppose that begs the question of why not turn a community college into a 4 year baccalaureate delivery institution, and we do have some pilot programs going on in the state to deliver those degrees within community colleges. (Senator Kilmer, Kitsap County, also introduced a bill this week for a study of 4 year institution in his area.) My concern would be the loss in the process of the mission of those community colleges, particularly with regards to workforce education in skilled trades areas. In the beginning, however, they can be a great feeder into a new baccalaureate degree institution, especially in the area of liberal arts…”

And this from Senator Berkey (D-38thLD):

”…Our community is strongly behind this project and I believe the opposition to this proposal is overstated. The existing research universities, regional institutions, and community colleges will all have different missions and a different student mix than a new regional polytechnic institution. The most serious opposition is coming from the UW-Bothell (as we expected)…””… I do not want to spend a lot of time and space here rehashing the arguments for the four year university option or the community college/upper division option. A thorough analysis is contained in the report to the Higher Education Coordinating Board by NBBJ and MGT of America, Inc. You can find this report at the HECB Research website at http://www.hecb.wa.gov/research/issues/NSIS-RFPpage.asp then click on Final Report-Assessment of Higher Education Needs of Snohomish, Island, and Skagit Counties (SIS), which I would encourage you to download and read. Our Local Advisory Committee voted 9 to 1 to recommend the four year university option (Alternative 1) and the branch campus option was ranked 5 out of the 8 alternatives studied…”

I strongly encourage you to read the comments from each of these legislators in the original post here.

At the time, I was a bit curious that I hadn’t seen anything from Jerry Cornfield, political columnist for The Everett Herald about this; especially since Rep. Sells had mentioned him in his comments. Then, in his February 18th column, came this:

How to institute our own institute By Jerry Cornfield – Herald Columnist.

Cornfield opens up with a quick, three-step plan to achieve the goal of a new State College in Everett:

"1. Close the University of Washington's Bothell campus.

2. Move everything not bolted down to a site in Snohomish County.

3. Give the campus a new name, say Washington Institute of Technology, and then market it madly.

It's simple and not so theoretical…”

He goes on to say that he has ”… learned the idea of shuttering UW-Bothell is coming up in conversations among those most deeply engaged in this university debate.” He suggests that proponents of the above mentioned proposal take a page from Sonics team owner Clay Bennett who wants the state to help him move the basketball team from Seattle to Renton. He writes:

”…Bennett argues it's all about protecting a valued community treasure. The bottom line is he wants the state to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in an underperforming asset.
Washington Institute of Technology backers should be able to do better than the cellar-scraping Sonics.
UW-Bothell, through the actions and inaction of others, at this point is likewise an underperforming asset of the state higher education system.
Moving it from anonymity in a suburb to prominence in a city such as Everett will give it the visibility needed for success.
Slapping on a new name and giving it a new mission will create a buzz, and you can leave the University of Washington in charge…”

Cornfield lays out a pretty interesting chess board. He has obviously given this some serious thought (or has listened intently to some very interested people). He ends with this:

”The University of Washington would seem stronger with a campus devoted to technology under its wing. Political victory can be shared equally by those pushing a four-year university and those pushing the UW franchise.

I see the board set and pieces in place. Time to make a move.”

It seems the game is in play. Cornfield writes today:

”University of Washington President Mark Emmert set me straight this week:
No one is talking about shutting down the Bothell campus and moving it north as a new four-year university.
There are plenty of people - Emmert is one of them - talking about the UW opening a branch campus in the Everett area with a curriculum bent toward polytechnic instruction. A formal announcement may be made soon...”

According to Cornfield, Emmert was in town last week to meet with Everett Mayor, Ray Stephanson as well as a contingent from the House – Dunshee, Sells, and Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-49thLD), Chair of the Capital Budget Committee (Dunshee and Sells are on the committee as well). From what Cornfield writes, it would appear that the folks who are pushing for the “UW-Everett” route are working quickly to ensure that that plan doesn’t somehow get de-railed by some competing vision.

”Fromhold's presence was pivotal. He is writing the House of Representatives capital budget and will propose a sum of money for a new higher education option in north Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.
Previously, Gov. Chris Gregoire placed $2 million in her proposed budget for developing a plan on where to put a regional university and how it should be run.
State Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, responded with legislation steering those dollars toward one outcome: a four-year university run independently of the UW.
Fromhold is not of that mindset. Neither are Sells, Dunshee and Stephanson. They're fans of branch campuses as a faster means of increasing college instruction in a community.
When Fromhold rolls out his proposed budget next month, look for at least $2 million plus a directive that it be spent pouring the foundation of a branch campus.”

From what I am reading, it would appear that Everett is destined to become a college town. The only question that remains is will your sweater say “UW-Everett” or “W.I.T.”

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

The Problem With Evil

2007-02-23T12:32:00.000-08:00

Friends

I have just posted the following over at Washblog

According to a story by Melissa Slager in the Everett Herald, "Bible essay stirs trouble for teacher", it is fine to teach about the nature of God in a high school American Literature class if you are perceived to be a person of faith but, when your atheism becomes known, what was before considered an academic exercise is now criticized as `denigrating Christianity.'

If you would like to read more of this post and/or offer your comments or opinions, please check it out at Washblog

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

DFSC Community Movie Night, Volume III

2007-02-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County will be having our next Movie Night on Sunday March 18. We have not yet decided what movie we will show (“Who Killed the Electric Car” is one suggestion), and are anxious to hear from you what films you would be interested in viewing. Please send us your ideas and suggestions. Thank you.

All My Best,

Jeff Sutro
Democracy for Snohomish County, Chair

P.S. We are currently planning to show “Fast Food Nation” in April.

DFSC Community Movie Night Vol. II

2007-02-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County is pleased to host our 2nd monthly Community Movie Night on Sunday, February 18th from 4 to 6 PM at Zippy’s Java Lounge at 1804 Hewitt Ave. in Everett. Join us as we watch the award winning documentary film “End of Suburbia” about the depletion of cheap oil and its likely effects on the American lifestyle. Enjoy the fare of soups and sandwiches along with a wide variety of beverages offered at Zippy’s before, during or immediately after the movie. The event is free (although donations are gladly accepted) and open to the public. For more information, contact Democracy for Snohomish County at:dfsc@comcast.net

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Exciting New Tool

2007-02-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

Over the past couple of days, I have been pleased to be among the first people in the area to be made aware of an exciting new tool for communicating with our legislators in Olympia. The ever resourceful Chad Lupkes (DFW, Vice-Chair State Progressive Caucus) has now written about his newest creation over at Washblog:

"You know how you can use MoveOn or Working Assets to write letters to congress, and the reply from staff comes back to you? They've spent a lot of time building tools for us to use at the grassroots level that does most of the work for us." He continues, "Have you ever wanted to write a letter to all members of the Government Operations & Elections committee in the Olympia Senate, but all you could find is one email at a time that you had to laboriously add to the To: line in an email? Annyoing, isn't it?" Well Chad has created a tool for us to patch that hole in the communiations loop.

Currently hosted at the 46th LD, PDWC, and DFW websites is a form that will allow you to select any State Senate Committee, identify the members, and create and send your own message to any one or combination of senators on that committee. And now, if you look to the links on the sidebar of this Blog you will find that same tool listed as "State Senate Committee Contact Form". Simply "right click" on the link, select "open in new window" and you are ready to send off a letter to a committee of your choosing. So let's begin...

It happens that there is a need to contact the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee to request they bring the senate version of the "comprehensive" bill (on Public Financing of Campaigns) up for a hearing. In this case, we want to send an email to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the committee (Sen. Fairley and Sen. Oemig) and ask them to bring SB5510 before the committee for a public hearing. For more information on the bill, please refer to this post.

After you have sent you emails to the Chair and Vice-Chair, you might want to send an email to the other members of the committee to let them know that you are a supporter of this bill and hope to see it pass during this session of the legislature. Even though most of these members will not be in your district, because they are sitting on a committee they realize that they will be hearing from a statewide audience.

Whether you use this tool today or not, I appreciate the efforts of Chad Lupkes to bring us something like this for our use. Thanks Chad!

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Delegation Divided on University?

2007-02-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

Entering into this legislative session, many in Snohomish County were anticipating a bold move forward in achieving the goal of establishing a four year university in our neighborhood. Much of that anticipation was based on the assumption that, with a near super majority in Olympia, our Democratic delegation would be working together to develop a plan and work to secure the funding to help the plan succeed. So I’m sure you can imagine my interest in this article “Delegation divided over university plan” by Lynn Thompson at the Seattle Times. According to Thompson, the delegation is ”… divided over whether to push for a new state polytechnic college or to pursue cheaper and quicker options for baccalaureate degrees, possibly in partnership with the University of Washington, Bothell” Gee, you would think they might have discussed this amongst themselves or at least polled their constituents BEFORE the session.

It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that this state is not graduating enough folks with engineering degrees. Thompson writes: ”A $500,000 study last year concluded that 15,000-18,000 students in the three-county area (Snohomish, Skagit, and Island) will be unable to get four-year degrees by 2025 even if the state's existing universities and community colleges expand to capacity.” She continues: ”Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon said (in testimony before the committee) the state is No. 1 in the nation in engineering jobs, sixth in jobs for computer specialists and ninth in physical- and life-science jobs, but 38th in producing graduates in those fields.”

So, why the division? Even though State Senator Jean Berkey (D-38) was able to move legislation that she co-sponsored with State Senator Paull Shin (D-21) through the Higher Education Committee that would begin the process of securing land in Everett or Marysville for a new four year college, ”… House members Mike Sells, D-Everett (38), and Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish (44), said given the opposition of existing state institutions, the Berkey bill could be defeated in the Senate, jeopardizing $2 million in the governor's budget to develop a plan to meet the region's higher-education needs.” She quotes Sells, "It's a risky strategy." "If we get stuck on a stand-alone university, we could lose it."

I am not sure on what Senator Berkey bases her optimism in securing a stand alone university in Snohomish County. According to Thompson, ”Sells said that other underserved regions in the state lobbied for years for new colleges but had to settle for less-expensive branch campuses of existing state schools. Those communities are unlikely to support a new, comprehensive college in Snohomish County. "They couldn't do it in Vancouver. They couldn't do it in the Tri-Cities. Do you think they'll stand for us getting our own college? I don't think so," Sells said.”

I made an effort to contact Sen. Berkey to get a comment for this but, so far, she has not responded to my request for a statement. As a Snohomish County resident I would certainly enjoy the prestige of housing “our own” university. I also appreciate pursuing the option of reaching for the highest goal rather than “settling” for what is offered. However I understand the argument that Representatives Dunshee and Sells make when it comes to the potential for entrenched forces of opposition to completely derail this course of action; which brings us back to the beginning.

Why haven’t our legislators (County and State) come together before now to nail down a unified course of action for this important legislative session? In my opinion, the County Executive should have invited the entire delegation (ok, maybe just the Ds) to a “family get-together” prior to the beginning of the session and worked out the strategy for moving forward. All arguments should have been laid upon the table and debated until consensus was reached. As I stated before, the goal of establishing a four year college here is not new and most of the players are the same.

Finally, where do you stand on this and are you willing to join the discussion and the fight to achieve this goal? The folks in Olympia need to hear from all of us. Start with your own legislators and then start working on the rest. Reach out to friends and family in Skagit and Island Counties (as well as North King County) to talk to their delegations. So far, Senator Berkey’s is the only legislation I have seen. Having passed out of the Committee on Higher Education, it has now been referred to Ways and Means. Snohomish County representatives on that committee are Senator Darlene Fairley (D-32) and Senator Steve Hobbs (D-44).

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Hearing on Public Financing on Feb. 7th

2007-02-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, February 7th, I travelled to Olympia to represent Democracy for Snohomish County at the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee hearing on the various public financing bills that have been referred to them.

Before the hearing, there was a rally and press conference. Bill Moyer of the Backbone Campaign was onhand with the group's well known spine puppet to set the atmosphere. In the following photo, Bill is leading the parade past the Capital Building.

The group at the rally was treated to pep talks from three Prime Sponsors of public financing legislation, Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (with megaphone in the photo below), Rep. Mark Miloscia, and Sen. Jim Kastama.

After the rally, the group headed into the Committee Hearing Room, filling it beyond capacity. Rather than give you a complete blow by blow, I will direct your attention to TVW to see the video of the entire two hour hearing. The bills discussed were 1186 and 1589 (Judicial), 1360 (Comprehensive), and 1551 (Local). There was much ground covered and, as you will see, there is considerable resistance from the Republican side of the aisle. I was pleased to be able to testify on behalf of the local bill (I come in at the one hour, 47 minute mark). Because time was severely restricted by the time I got there and I had really prepared to speak about the comprehensive bill, I wasn't at my best but it was good practice for what I hope will be many more efforts on behalf of our fine organization.

[UPDATE] For more photos and additional information on the day, Dina Johnson has posted her account at Washblog

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Senior Citizens Victimized Again

2007-02-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

With reference to Chad's post below regarding an issue that troubles me deeply:

It seems mobile home parks are being bought up around the county, and the residents are simply evicted. I urge you to read Chad’s blog before continuing.

At root in this issue is a cultural imperative that declares profit to be more important than people. It is all about the right of the owner to make as much profit as possible, with the fewest possible restrictions. Such restrictions as do apply are generally intended to protect society at large, with little or no regard to how individual citizens are affected.

You see this imperative at work when thousands and thousands of jobs are outsourced to foreign job markets where labor costs are lower. This is done in the name of “remaining competitive,” and the families that are devastated by the loss of income and benefits simply don’t matter.

You see it when the huge WalMart store comes to town, especially in smaller communities, and the mom and pop stores have to close up shop because they simply can’t compete. Never mind the WalMart policy of utilizing part time employees for the majority of their positions so they can pay minimum wage and avoid paying benefits. It’s called “externalizing costs.”

In the case of Mariner Village, the prioritization of profit over people is glaring! A “group of investors” looked at the profit potential of the park in question, without regard to the human cost, which would simply be “externalized.” They purchased it at a whopping $1.3 million (if memory serves) and set about surveying and consulting with the planning department. The pesky little matter of 158 residential households was a minor inconvenience, easily disposed of under current law.

The articles I have read on this subject couch it mostly in terms of the rights of owners. That was the point of the Supreme Court ruling cited in Jerry Cornfield’s article. While the plight of the residents is vividly described, there is little or no mention of their rights. This is because, for all practical purposes, they don’t have any.

Let me go on record here and now as declaring this to be much more that an ownership issue. This is about HUMAN RIGHTS and SOCIAL JUSTICE!

Let’s take a look at the people involved. I have only spoken with two of the residents of Mariner Village, but am prepared to make a few generalizations that I would expect to hold up under close scrutiny. This being a Seniors Only park, most of the residents are retired and living on fixed incomes. There are probably more widows than widowers, and a large proportion of couples who have been together for 30, 40 and even 50 years. These people have worked all their lives and paid their dues. Some will have owned businesses. Most will have owned their own homes at one time or another. Upon retiring, they were forced by economic reality to “downscale” their lives in various ways, one of which was to buy an affordable manufactured home and park it in a clean, well-maintained park where the space rental was something their fixed incomes could support.

Now they face eviction. They are responsible for moving their homes or paying to have them demolished and carted away. The “group of investors” bears no part of this responsibility. Costs externalized. With nine other mobile home parks in Snohomish County facing the same problem, there are no spaces available. Can they buy a lot to put it on? Not likely with property values being what they are. They can put their homes up for sale, but who will buy under these circumstances? And what would they be willing to pay?

Finally, consider the previous owners of this mobile home park. With spaces renting for $500 and up, they probably had a monthly income in the neighborhood of $80K or so. Property taxes and maintenance costs were passed through to the renters, so it is safe to assume a comfortable monthly income in the $30-$50K range, if not more. And they had the pleasure of knowing they were providing a valuable service to 158 households.

Ultimately, this is about who we are as Americans, Washingtonians and citizens of Snohomish County. This is about the cultural imperative that we create. These people are us, folks. We are them. They are being downscaled right out of their homes and the communities they love, even as those same communities - you and I - are upscaling our waterfronts, riverfronts and downtown cores.

Who are we, really?

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” – Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The Mobile Home Park Dilema

2007-02-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Over the past couple of weeks, Everett Herald political columnist, Jerry Cornfield and reporter David Chircop have been writing about the precarious position many mobile home park dwellers find themselves in when the park owners decide to sell the property the homes are sitting on and the efforts of certain state legislators to come to their rescue.

In his piece from January 28th, Chircop writes about Mariner Village Mobile Home Park, a seniors-only park south of Everett that was sold to a group of investors in August of last year. Chircop writes,

"A representative with Fort Maier Homes, a Maryland homebuilder, recently approached Snohomish County planners, asking questions about traffic circulation, an early step in the development process. The representative also submitted mock-ups of a subdivision map with 363 townhouses, 38 cottages and 176 senior apartments. Tiscareno Associates, a Seattle architecture firm that has designed new townhouse developments in Everett, Bothell, Kent and Redmond, drafted the maps." Chircop adds, "Richard Beresford, of Mariner Village Mobile Home Park, LLC, says plans to develop aren't solid, and that they may choose to preserve the park."

The story points out that it is common in this state for the residents of these parks to own their mobile homes but only rent the land on which it sets. This arrangement leaves them increasingly vulnerable to the lucrative development market. When the park is slated for closure, the residents are forced to relocate. In many cases the mobile homes are too old to move, leaving the owners with no choice but to pay to have them demolished. In some cases residents could still be saddled with mortgage payments after tearing down their own homes. Chircop introduces us to Tony Carnaghi:

""I'm sick," said Carnaghi, 64, who paid $20,000 for a mobile home at Mariner Village in May. Carnaghi and his wife left Maine this summer to settle in Washington for its milder winters and to be close to his stepson and six grandchildren in Bremerton. They had just hung up the last photo on their wall when they learned of the possible development." ""Where do you go from here? You put your last dime into a place that you thought you were going to stay for the rest of your life ... "said Carnaghi, his deep voice trailing off."

The Carnaghis and other residents of the Mariner Village Mobile Home Park are far from alone in this situation. Between 2006 and 2008, 10 mobile homes in Snohomish County are slated to close, displacing 533 families, according to the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Statewide 36 parks, with 1,342 households, are scheduled to close in that time frame, according to the department; which brings us to Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-21st LD):

According to back-to-back columns from Jerry Cornfield on January 28th and January 30th state lawmakers, led by Rep. Sullivan, are looking into ways to help ease some of the potential hardship created for these mobile home park dwellers when they are faced with the eviction notice. Cornfield points out that Sullivan has introduced HB 1621 which would provide for a one year window of exclusivity for the residents of a mobile home park to secure a financing stream to purchase the park before it could be sold to outside investors. However similar legislation has been struck down in the past as unconstitutional on the grounds that it might limit the property rights of the park owners. Already the Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington, a group representing owners of 500 mobile home parks in the state, is lining up in opposition to this measure. Cornfield writes of Sullivan, "Sullivan said he "tried to craft this bill so maybe we can get around the constitutional question. I admit it's still a little fuzzy at this point." Cornfield writes about a group in Snohomish County, SOS Homes:

""We're not asking for anything but a fair chance. We'd pay the market rate," said (Kylin) Parks (president of SOS Homes, a coalition of mobile park homeowners associations in Snohomish County), who helped Sullivan model the bill on laws in New Hampshire and Minnesota." ""We don't want to take any property rights away, she said.” We just want a chance to save our homes.""

Another bill, HB 1668, co-sponsored by Sullivan, would require park owners to increase the minimum lease option to tenants from one year to five and, Cornfield points out, "Lawmakers and the governor also want to put $4 million into the fund used to help residents relocate from shuttered parks. That fund is now empty. The money, if available, can be used to move a mobile home to a new site or demolish it if there is nowhere for it to go."

As a sort of exclamation point to this post, I reprint this Letter to the Editor from today's Everett Herald:

"I live at Evergreen Estates, a mobile home community in Lynnwood. I have lived here for over 14 years. I was dumbfounded to get a notice terminating my residence because the land had been sold for commercial use.

Lynnwood Properties, LLC has given us one year to move or sell our homes or pay to have our homes demolished.

They were kind enough to list the relocation assistance address and phone number on their notice. We who live here have applied for relocation assistance funds; only to find out that there is no money remaining in the relocation assistance fund.

All of us who reside here have medical problems, are retired, low-income or have no extra money.

Most of us have tried to sell our homes. I have run ads in the paper and had my home on Craig's List. Once people find out my mobile home has to be moved, they have no interest in buying. They are closing so many communities in Snohomish County that we cannot find a place to move our home, even if we had the money. I have sent letters to several mobile home communities requesting information regarding available open spaces, along with a photograph of my home and a self-addressed, stamped, return envelope. I received a few back, stating they have no open spaces. Most did not even answer my request.

The assessor's office has been no help, as zoning has changed in Lynnwood. The value of our homes has dropped to almost nothing - great for claiming a loss on your taxes, but not for selling.

The remaining residents will ask the new owners for assistance, but there is no guarantee that they will help us.

All of us here feel left out in the cold; we are sick, old, tired, scared and nervous wrecks. We need help.

PAT HAYES
Lynnwood"

Regardless of the outcome in the state legislature, I am guessing this issue won’t stop there with Sullivan who has already announced a run for Snohomish County Council later this year. With the issues of over-development and affordable housing always at the forefront in the largely rural county, Sullivan can only enhance his standing with the Progressive community there by becoming the champion of this cause.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Upcoming Public Hearings on Clean Elections

2007-01-29T08:20:00.000-08:00

For supporters of Clean Elections in Washington State, please be aware of the current activity on Olympia. This week there will be the following public hearings on bills before the legislature:

Thursday, February 1st:

The Senate Committee on Government Operations and Elections will hold their first public hearing on SB 5278 - Concerning use of public funds to finance campaigns for local office.

This bill is Prime Sponsored by Senator Rosa Franklin and is vital to allowing races for city and county council, as well as fire distrct, school district and other local races to be publicly financed.

On the same day, the committee will discuss SB 5226 Providing for public funding of judicial campaigns. (Governor Gregoire's proposed legislation). The public is invited to sit in but not engage in the discussion.

Wednesday, February 7th:

The House Committee on State Government and Tribal Affairs will hold its first public hearing on HB 1360 - Regarding public financing of campaigns.

This bill is Prime Sponsored by Rep. Mark Miloscia and would allow for full public financing of all state-wide and legislative races. (The Comprehensive Bill).

For those who are able to make the trip to Olympia, these are critical hearings to show the legislature that the citizens are backing this legislation. For information on the best way to get there and to add to the "united we stand" effect, go to the Washington Public Campaigns website to connect with them on ariival times and procedures. Unfortunately, these hearings take place in the afternoons so it would be best to attempt to make carpooling arrangements so that you have the least hassle with traffic on the way home. The folks at WPC may be helpful with that as well.

Whether you can get to Olympia or not, Contact Your Legislators to let them know you support Clean Elections. If you are going to Olympia, let them know you will be there and try to arrange a visit with them on this subject.

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-Chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Clean Elections Continuing Update

2007-01-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

The legislative session has begun and, as promised, bills are being filed that will move Washington State toward full public financing of political campaigns.

In the Washington Senate, the following bills have been filed:

SB-5278 – Concerning use of public funds to finance campaigns for local office.

The Primary Sponsor of this bill is Sen. Rosa Franklin from the 29th LD. Co-sponsors include: Jim Kastama (25th LD), Adam Kline (37th LD), Harriet Spanel (40th LD), Karen Keiser (33rd LD), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (36th LD), Rosemary McAuliffe (1st LD), Debbie Regala (27th LD), Craig Pridemore (49th LD), Erik Poulsen (34th LD), Karen Fraser (22nd LD), Marilyn Rasmussen (2nd LD), and Phil Rockerfeller (23rd LD). This bill is the same one that passed out of the Senate last year but did not get out of the House due to the short session. The bill will allow for local and regional governments to voluntarily create mechanisms to publicly finance campaigns at that level. This bill has been referred to the Government Operations and Elections Committee

SB-5226 - Providing for public funding of judicial campaigns.

This bill was requested by Governor Gregoire and the language, in large part, was crafted by her legislative affairs office. The Prime Sponsor in the Senate is Eric Oemig (45th LD), Vice-chair of the Government Operations and Elections Committee. Co-sponsors include: Darlene Fairley (32dn LD), Chair of that committee, Phil Rockerfeller (23rd LD), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (36th LD), and Adam Kline (37th LD). Although I believe that some of the financial thresholds in this bill are a bit on the high end and, therefore, do not quite embrace the true nature of Clean Elections, the fact that it was requested by the governor and is sponsored by both the Chair and Vice-chair of the responsible committee increases its chances for passage and may well be the first step toward state-wide public financing.

SB-5510 – Regarding Public Financing of Campaigns.

Senator Jim Kastama (25th LD) is the Prime Sponsor of this bill that would call for public financing of all state-wide and legislative campaigns in Washington State. The co-sponsors include: Eric Oemig (45th LD) and Adam Kline (37th LD). This bill will require the most work on the part of concerned citizens but will produce the biggest result. As you can see, the list of sponsors is short. However, Senators Oemig and Kline are both on the responsible committee (Government Operations and Elections) and should be very influential in this effort.

If you see your senator in the names listed above, please call and/or email them and thank them for stepping forward. If your senator’s name is not included above, call and/or email them and ask them to give their attention to these bills and help get them to the governor’s desk for signature this session.

On the House side we will start with the companion bill to SB-5510. HB-1360 – Regarding the Public Financing of Campaigns.

HB-1360 contains almost identical language to SB-5510. The Prime sponsor for this bill is Mark Miloscia (30th LD), a member of the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee where this bill will be referred in the House. Co-sponsors include: Maralyn Chase (32nd LD), Ruth Kagi (32nd LD), Joe McDermott (34th LD), Bob Hasegawa (11th LD), Eric Pettigrew (37th LD), Tim Ormsby (3rd LD), Sherry Appleton (23rd LD), Jim McIntire (46th LD), and Roger Goodman (45th LD).

HB-1186 – Modifying Provisions on Judicial Campaigns

Shay Schual-Berke (33rd LD) is the Prime Sponsor of this bill that, in my opinion, gets us closer to the spirit of Clean Elections for the State Court of Appeals and the State Supreme Court races. The co-sponsors for this bill include: Sam Hunt (22nd LD), Chair of the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee, Hans Dunshee (44th LD), Helen Sommers (36th LD), Jeannie Darneille (27th LD), Eileen Cody (34th LD), Mary Lou Dickerson (36th LD), Tami Green (28th LD), Sharon Tomiko Santos (37th LD), Patricia Lantz (26th LD), Phyllis Kenney (46th LD), Mary Helen Roberts (21st LD), Joe McDermott (34th LD), Maralyn Chase (32nd LD), Ruth Kagi (32nd LD), Eric Pettigrew (37th LD), Mark Miloscia (30th LD), Sherry Appleton (23rd LD), and Tim Ormsby (3rd LD). In addition, I have been told by Mike Sells (38th LD) that he is in support of this bill.

As of this writing there is no House companion bill to SB-5278 for local elections. However, Joe McDermott (34th LD) has indicated that he will have that bill introduced shortly and Mike Sells (38th LD) has informed me that he will be signing on as a co-sponsor.
[UPDATE] HB-1551 - Allowing Public Funding of Local Office Campaigns was just filed today by Joe McDermott.Co-sponsors are: Miloscia, Dunshee, Sells, Cody, Green, Ormsby, Appleton, Hunt, Chase, Schual-Berke, Roberts, Hasegawa, Kagi, McIntire, Bill Fromhold (49th LD), Jim Moeller (49th LD), Jamie Pedersen (43rd LD), and Christine Rolfes (23rd LD).

Again, if you see your representative mentioned above please thank them. If your representative is not mentioned, please contact them and ask for their support. On Thursday, January 25th, the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee will be holding their first public hearing on SB-5226 (you obviously get quick action when you’re the governor). From the email notification sent out by WPC:

First Clean Elections Bill Hearing in Olympia:
Thursday, January 25 3:30 p.m.

Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee
Senate Hearing Room 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

Public Hearing:
1. SB 5226, Providing for public funding of judicial campaigns

===================================
IMPORTANT: If you can attend, RSVP to:
Sarajane Siegfriedt (WPC Lobbyist)
sarajane3h@comcast.net

Arrive at the Hearing by 3 p.m. to sign in as PRO and get a seat.

All Clean Elections supporters who can come early:
Rendezvous (optional) from 1:00 p.m. on, in the Cherberg Building or a nearby church, location to be posted soon on our website
(www.washclean.org).This will be a pre-hearing briefing, with information packets for everyone.

EVERYONE: Prior to Thursday, please email each of the legislators on the committee with a few sentences saying why you support this bill.
Use the bill number in the subject line and give your legislative district with your signature.

========================================
Members, Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee:

Darlene Fairley, Chair (D) - 32nd LD fairley.darlene@leg.wa.gov
Eric Oemig, Vice Chair (D) - 45th LD oemig.eric@leg.wa.gov
Pam Roach, Ranking Minority Mbr (R) 31st LD roach.pam@leg.wa.gov
Don Benton (R) 17th LD benton.don@leg.wa.gov
Adam Kline (D) 37th LD kline.adam@leg.wa.gov
Craig Pridemore (D) 49th LD pridemore.craig@leg.wa.gov
Dan Swecker (R) 20th LD swecker.dan@leg.wa.gov

4 Democrats and 3 Republicans

Please copy Sarajane Siegfriedt bcc on your emails.
Sarajane3h@comcast.net

=================
Craig Salins
WPC Executive Coordinator
206-784-9695
craig@washclean.org

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Democracy for Snohomish County

Community Movie Night

2007-01-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

Democracy for Snohomish County is pleased to host our first monthly Community Movie Night on Sunday, January 21st from 4 to 6 PM at Zippy’s Java Lounge at 1804 Hewitt Ave. in Everett. Join us as we watch the award winning documentary film “Why We Fight” about the growing Military Industrial Complex in the United States. Enjoy the fare of soups and sandwiches along with a wide variety of beverages offered at Zippy’s before, during or immediately after the movie. The event is free (although donations are gladly accepted) and open to the public. For more information, contact Democracy for Snohomish County at:dfsc@comcast.net

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-chair, Director of Communications
Democracy for Snohomish County

David Sirota Prefers our Washington

2007-01-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

Seattle Town Hall Panel: From left: John King, WPC Policy Committee Chair; WA Rep. Mark Miloscia; AZ Sen. Ed Ableser, WA Sen.-elect Eric Oemig; WA Rep. Shay Schual-Berke; Keynote Speaker David Sirota; Emcee Ken Alhadeff; WA Sen. Jim Kastama; ME Rep. Linda Valentino. (Photo courtesy of Dina Lydia)

In my previous post I wrote about the Clean Elections Forum in Everett on January 4th. What I did not mention was the fact that our forum was the first of four that would be held between Thursday and Saturday and would follow I-5 from Everett to Olympia. On Friday night, I was pleased to attend the 2nd forum. Held at Seattle’s Town Hall, this event featured the panel from Everett (Minus Rep. McDermott) and added the three Washington State legislators I mentioned as prime sponsors of Clean Elections legislation this year. State Senator-elect Eric Oemig (D- WA 45) was also on hand to proclaim his support for Clean Elections as incoming Vice-chair of the Government Operations and Elections Committee in Olympia this session. Highlighting the Town Hall event was best-selling author and political consultant, David Sirota.

I am a big fan of Sirota’s so I was especially pleased to see the following on Saturday morning from Sirota's Blog:

Democrats, Corruption & the Difference Between Two Washingtons

”The difference between what happened late this week in Washington, D.C. and what happened at the very same time in Washington State is a good example of how people in our nation’s capital are still very much oblivious to what the rest of society thinks is acceptable behavior.”

In his post, Sirota writes about an article from MSNBC about a Democratic fundraiser in Washington DC held only hours after they had passed so-called “Lobby Reform” measures in the newly Democratic controlled congress and compares that to the event he had just headlined in Seattle, Washington.

”As I sit here in a hotel room reading the MSNBC report after being at this terrific event here in Seattle, I am simultaneously embarrassed and proud to have worked in Democratic politics. I am embarrassed that, at a time state legislators are putting their political capital on the line to truly clean up politics, many (though not all) of their counterparts in Congress clearly think “reform” is the punchline of a joke. Public Campaign’s David Donnelly says, “It sends a very mixed message to be on one hand saying that they’re clamping down on lobbyists, but then raising money from those very same lobbyists that they say are part of the problem.” I’d say that’s putting it mildly - it’s really making a mockery out of our party’s name by insulting the public’s intelligence and so openly trying to pull a fast one on the American people.

But I am also proud. I met legislators tonight who have guts - real guts - to indict a system they themselves have come up through, and that they are now willing to admit is inherently corrupt. Make no mistake - these are not big-time congresspeople with the huge staffs of yes people and K Street entourages that now insulate our federal representatives from their own constituents, and make sure there is a reelection support system no matter how often they sell out. No, these are actual citizen legislators - people who live out here in the Real World, who can’t bring themselves to lie with a smile about reform like so many folks in D.C. It will be up to the people of Washington State to help these legislators push public financing of elections by creating the grassroots political energy necessary to enact such power-challenging reforms - but after such an energetic showing tonight (and subsequent forums in cities across the state), I’m hopeful public financing is going to happen here, if not this year, then soon in the future.”

Knowing that folks like the panels in Everett and Seattle (especially our own state legislators) are willing to put themselves on the line for something as important as ensuring the ownership of our democracy and electoral system remains in the hands of the citizens, I am more inspired than ever that we can make this happen. I hope you will join the movement to “Take our Country Back!”

Peace,
Chad Shue
Vice-Chair - Director of Communications
Democracy for Snohomish County

Clean Elections in Washington State

2007-01-06T13:30:00.000-08:00

(Photo and Button courtesy of Dina Lydia Johnson)

On Thursday night (January 4th) Democracy for Snohomish County (DFSC)was a co-sponsor of a Town Hall Forum on Clean Elections held in the PUD Auditorium in Everett. The forum featured speakers from Washington Public Campaigns (WPC) as well as elected representatives from Maine, Arizona, and Washington. Clean Elections (public financing of political campaigns) has already been in place in Arizona and Maine for the last six years and the speakers from those states – State Representative Linda Valentino (D-ME 134) and State Senator Ed Ableser (D-AZ 17) - were both elected under those laws. State Representative Joe McDermott (D-WA 34) was the prime sponsor last year of a bill that would have reversed the current ban on publicly financing local/regional campaigns in Washington State. The bill fell short of passage primarily due to time limitations of the “short session.” He is re-introducing that legislation again this session.

The evening began with a presentation by John King from WPC. King is the Chair of the Policy Committee for WPC and, as such, is responsible for helping to develop legislation and find legislators who will be willing to sponsor that legislation (with or without some modification) through the legislative session. This year WPC is proposing three pieces of legislation. The first will be, as mentioned, a repeat of the effort to repeal the current ban on local financing. This bill would only allow for cities and counties, as well as various regional elective boards (schools and fire districts for example) to voluntarily establish public financing plans for those elections. The hopes for passage are high based upon the voluntary nature and the fact that the details would be left to the local and regional authorities. The second piece of legislation is a plan to publicly finance judicial campaigns at the State level - Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The proposed legislation is based on the successful model set in North Carolina where such a policy has been in place for the past couple of election cycles. The hopes for passage here are also high based on a request from Governor Gregoire that some form of this legislation be passed this year and the public outcry over the overt efforts of some to influence the outcome of certain Supreme Court races by pouring extreme amounts of money into the process. State Representative Shay Schual-Berke (D-WA 33) will be the prime sponsor for this legislation in the Washington House.

The third proposal is for a comprehensive bill that would allow for public financing of all statewide races from Governor to Secretary of State to the same judicial races noted above as well as all legislative races. The effect of this legislation would be to make Washington the 4th state in the country (after Arizona, Maine, and Connecticut) to have full public financing of political campaigns. It should be noted that in all of these cases, the access to such public funds would be completely voluntary and that there are no provisions to curtail the ability of any individual or group to spend any funds except as currently exist under state law. In other words, the only people who are subject to any limitations are the candidates themselves. But then, after all, aren’t those the folks we should be most concerned about? The hopes for passage of this legislation, at least in this session, are not very high even though there are already prime sponsors lined up in both the Washington House - Rep. Mark Miloscia (D- WA 30) and Senate – Sen. Jim Kastama (D WA 25).

Representative Valentino and Senator Ableser spoke quite eloquently about the impact of Clean Elections on them personally as well as on their respective states. One of the most encouraging themes was the fact that participation in the system has been growing each year and is embraced by the major political parties in both states. Valentino spoke with great pride in the fact that, of the 151 seats in the Maine House of Representatives, 149 were contested in the last election and Ableser was quick to point out how the make-up of the candidates in Arizona has shifted from the independently wealthy to citizens from every stripe; true testimonials to the intent of Clean Elections in returning the democratic process back to the people. A surprising (at least to me) fact to come from both of their presentations was the financial impact on the voters of their states with regard to publicly financing political campaigns. In each case the cost per voter was determined to be less than $3.50 per year**. Reassuringly, this is approximately the same estimate on the part of John King and WPC for their comprehensive proposal.

**CORRECTION**

The cost should be stated as "PER CITIZEN" and not "PER VOTER". Thanks to "The Seagull" for pointing this out in the comments.

Imagine that, for less than one grande mocha per year, the citizens of Washington State could ensure that their elected representatives could stop having to listen to lobbyists on either side of the political spectrum, could stop spending their campaign time seeking out large dollar contributors, and start spending the their valuable time speaking directly to their constituents and voting on legislation simply because it is the right thing to do and not worry that it could have a negative effect on the funding for their next campaign.

What can you do to make this happen? For starters you can and should phone, email, and snail mail your legislators in Olympia and let them know that you are concerned about the negative impact of money on our political process. As early as next week, you should let them know that you are hoping that they will vote for any Clean Elections legislation that comes before them. Then, as soon as we have the actual bill numbers, contact them again with the specific bill number and ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor to ensure that leadership will bring these proposed bills to the floor of each body for a vote. To be informed of any action that is taking place on this legislation, you should be signed up to receive email alerts from WPC by going to their website at http://www.washclean.org/. In addition to reaching out to your specific legislator, if you have the time, you should consider traveling to Olympia to attend the public meetings of the various committees where these bills will be debated. The dates and times for these meeting will be announced by the WPC as soon as they have the information. Where possible, “legislative day caravans” will be organized to allow for the largest turnouts possible.

Finally, and probably most importantly, talk to your neighbors or, if you do not feel comfortable doing this on your own, contact groups such as WPC or Democracy for Snohomish County to find out when and where there will be other public forums on this issue and encourage your friends and neighbors to attend. We Washingtonians pride ourselves on our “populist bent” yet our most precious right – the right to determine our system of governance - is being allowed to drift into the wallets of those who are willing to pay to achieve their specific goals. It is time to step up and sacrifice that yearly latte to ensure that we, the people, own our government and our democracy.

Peace,
Chad Shue,
Vice-Chair – Director of Communications
Democracy for Snohomish County

Welcome From the Chair

2007-01-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

CHAIR’S REPORT

DEMOCRACY FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY

January 2007

Happy New Year! Welcome to the January 2007 edition of Democracy for Snohomish County’s rather unimaginatively titled newsletter (if someone has an idea for a catchier name, let me know). This informal report to the membership comes out on an irregular schedule, depending on how often I can shake myself loose from my usual state of disorganized lethargy and get something written. I hope to help keep you informed about what takes place at the meetings, and about opportunities to get involved. If you know other people who might be interested please let me know and we will get them on the e-mail list.

Clean Elections Forum

One of the most corrupting factors in politics today is the ability of special interest groups to influence elections and public policy by enormous campaign expenditures. It’s pervasive in all levels of politics, even “non-partisan” races such as those for judge. A solution that has worked well in several states, places as diverse as Connecticut, North Carolina, Arizona and Maine, is to go to publicly funded Clean Elections. To help people learn more about how to solve this problem Democracy for Snohomish County (DFSC) has joined with the 38th and 44th District Democrats, and Washington Public Campaigns to sponsor a Town Hall Forum on Clean Elections. It will take place on Thursday, January 4th from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at the Snohomish County PUD Auditorium, 2320 California St. in Everett.

Featured will be speakers from Arizona and Maine, two of the states that have successfully implemented Clean Elections, as well as Washington State legislators. Discussion and questions from the audience will follow. For Further information contact Chad Shue at chadshue@hotmail.com, 425-341-1061, Harry Abbott at harry.abbott22@verizon.net, 425-784-0270, or go to the Washington Public Campaigns website at http://www.washclean.org/.

Dinner and a Movie

The first monthly DFSC movie night will be on Sunday January 21st at Zippy's Java Lounge (1804 Hewitt Ave. in Everett) from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. The movie will be “Why We Fight”, a powerful, well made, documentary that explores the links between industry, government and the military, and how they influence both foreign and domestic policy. A moderated discussion will follow. Zippy’s offers a variety of delicious soups, sandwiches and beverages which will be available for sale, so it can be a feast for both your mind and your body. There is no admission charge, though donations will be gladly accepted. Bring someone you love (or at least like reasonably well), and make it a date!

Sunday February 18th will be the date of the second DFSC Movie Night. We have not yet decided on a movie, and are looking for everyone’s input. The movies can be documentaries, dramas, comedies, or any other form (soap operas?), but should relate to a topic of current interest and should be able to serve as a springboard for fruitful discussion and action. Tell us what you want, and we’ll give it to you!

Renewable Energy Symposium

We’re back and doing it again in 2007, because it was so good the first time! I’m talking about the second annual Renewable Energy Symposium and Expo (what did you think I meant?) which will take place in August 2007 in Everett. We hope to have Richard Heinberg, author of Power Down and The Party’s Over as the lead speaker. Richard has been a strong voice alerting us to the problems stemming from imminent arrival of peak oil, and educating us on the actions we can and must take to build a future based on renewable energy.

It was good last year and this year will be even better, but it will take a lot of volunteers to make it happen. A planning committee has been formed chaired by Jackie Minchew. To become involved, contact him at info@sustainableeverett.com, or visit the Renewable Energy Symposium website at http://www.sustainableeverett.com/

2007 Officers Elected

At our December meeting we elected officers for 2007. They are Jeffrey Sutro (Executive Chair), Nancy Sosnove (Vice Chair), Chad Shue (Vice Chair & Communications Director), Debbie Shue (Secretary), Cliff Wells (Treasurer), Harry Abbott (At Large Board Member), Eric Teegarden (At Large Board Member) and Jackie Minchew (At large Board Member). Remember though that DFSC is a grassroots organization where the decision-making authority rests with the voting membership. The drive, energy and enthusiasm to make this organization work come from the membership, and it will be your efforts that shape DFSC's future.

Due(s) Due for 2007

Everyone is welcome to attend any of our meetings, and participate in all activities and discussions, but if you wish to vote you at our meetings you need to become a “voting member” by paying the annual $10 dues. These dues can be waived upon request. The membership then becomes effective in 30 days. Membership forms can be found on our web site at http://dfsc.home.comcast.net/ or you can sign up at a meeting.

We have kept our dues low in order to allow anyone who is interested to become a member. Consequently, dues income alone is not enough to fund all of our activities. Please consider making a generous financial contribution to DFSC by contacting our Treasurer Cliff Wells at cliff@vfp92.org or me at jefffrey.sutro@verizon.net.

Who We Are

Democracy for Snohomish County is a progressive, non-affiliated, non-partisan, political action committee. Our purpose is to support and develop progressive candidates for office and to influence public policy issues affecting Snohomish County or the State of Washington. All are welcome to join in. We invite you to contribute your energy and enthusiasm to this purpose.

Meetings

Our next meeting will be Tuesday January 9 from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. at the Lynnwood / Edmonds PUD at 21018 Highway 99. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Our February meeting will be at the Everett PUD, and will we continue to rotate our meetings between those two locations in hopes of making it convenient for everyone to attend at least some of the meetings.

Website

I encourage you to visit our web site at http://dfsc.home.comcast.net/, where you can find many interesting articles, numerous useful links, a calendar of events, and other worthwhile features. The site is updated regularly, so be sure to check it frequently. If you have an upcoming event that you would like listed on our calendar, contact me and I will get it posted.

DFSC is a collaborative undertaking and look I forward to working together with all of you. If you have any comments, suggestions or criticisms please contact me.

All My Best,

Jeff Sutro

jeffrey.sutro@verizon.net
425-745-1724 (H)
425-778-1588 (W)
425-478-3326 (cell)