I was just walking down Broadway and two members of Transportation Choices Coalition—executive director Jessyn Schor & regional policy director Rob Johnson—were already handing out Murray campaign lit.

It's a joke, right? April Fools?

What's Ed gonna do in private life? Pat Thibaudeau has always been a solid Senator, pro-gay rights, and has given no reason to replace her.

I see no reason to vote Murray over her, unless this is a test of 'Mo-Power.

Thibaudeau is 73 years old. Maybe it's time for her to step down. Murray needs a step up to somewhere; he's clearly governor or senator material, but he needs to get over some prejudice hurtles to get there. I dunno if the state senate is the ticket, though.

For the primary, the fighting 43rd is going to be cooking.

Pat T. is 73 - who gives a shit? Is this some ageist shit?

I am in the 37th - Ed is very good, but Pat; hubby died a few years back and left her mega.

Leading Dems. might try to convice her to retire or take a State appointment to avoid the blood bath.

I always thought Ed was waiting for the Mc Dermott retirement. But when that happens. look for a big field of contenders.

I've gotten political literature in the mail from Pat Thibodeau. If Terri Schiavo somehow survived being a vegetable, regained control of her body and lived to be 75, she'd look like Pat.

But seriously, Thibodeau's looking close to ready for retirement. Hell, she looked ready a year ago. I'm not sure how the power breakdown goes between the State House and the Senate, but it's likely this would be a step up in power for Murray, and is worth his while.

When I first heard rumors about Murray's switch (months ago), I had heard a rumor that Pat would be stepping down. I guess her quotes indicate that's not the case.

Who do we like for Ed's replacement? Looks like Jamie Pedersen's still in the lead with $, but in the 43rd, that might not be enough.

Pat has been fighting for women's right, civil rights and gay rights, as well as health care issues, for years. She deserves respect for the hard work she's done and can still do - not a fellow Dem gunning for her. Pat and Ed are both liberal dems, and vote the same. This just smacks of ageism, sexism and a power play for no gain to anyone but the challenger. Since there is no difference on the issues, it will be interesting to see how fair the campaigns play - especially Ed.

Murray's Replacement? JIM STREET

Jim served on our city council for 12 years, two of them as council president. During his last term on the council, he performed the quietly heroic role of rescuing Mayor Norm Rice's visionary urban villages plan from its own bungled political introduction. Many city neighborhoods objected deeply to the plan's top-down imposition of growth targets, while applauding its general goal. Jim put in scores of hours in community meetings to revise the plan, patiently making it better and more popular.
Jim was also a champion of regional solutions to our metro area's problems, working effectively on bodies such as the Puget Sound Regional Council to find agreement with our suburban neighbors. Although he got little credit for it at the time, he is especially proud of that work. And it's part of the reason for his determination to represent the 43rd in the legislature. He's a progressive Democrat, like most residents of his district. But he's also a bridge builder, an artist in forming broad coalitions. And the 43rd needs such representation if it's going to have influence in a deeply polarized legislature.
On entry to the legislature, Jim would likely become that body's leading expert on growth management. He'd be a stalwart in defending the state's embattled growth management act (witness the Developer's Initiative [aka "takings"] that's heading toward us this fall). He'd also be a leader in finding ways to improve the act and move the state to the next level of smart growth.
And Jim is no one-trick wonder. While a member of the City Council Jim helped lead development of the City's Families and Education Levy and its Children and Youth Action Plan which together focus $15 million per year of the city’s funds on Seattle’s at risk families and children. He has worked on international development at the World Bank in Washington, DC. And he knows the justice system better than almost anyone in the legislature, having served four year as a Superior Court Judge.
Indeed, his years on the bench convinced him that we need to take a new approach to juvenile justice in Washington--prevention before the fact rather than punishment after--which led him to take the unusual career move of leaving the court to lead a public-private venture called Reinvesting in Youth. (You can read about this pioneering prevention-based initiative here: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/humanservices/fys/ReinvestingInYouth/default.htm.)
Jim's no glad-handing loud mouth. He doesn't need to dominate every conversation like some politicians. And he's no headline chaser, which is why his name is not a household word despite his enormous contributions to our community. He's interested in actual progress, not symbolic gestures.

Here's Jim Street's bio...is anyone else with mroe credentials running?

To replace Murray, wouldn't it be great to have someone more progressive and more effective? Murray was a moderate, effective in the last few years. But Street is a strong progressive, with a proven track record of effetiveness.

JIM STREET’S RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

2001-2006 Juvenile Justice and Youth Services Reform. Jim is currently the Director of Reinvesting in Youth, a regional partnership involving King County, the City of Seattle, 12 suburban cities, the King County Juvenile Court and the State of Washington. Over the past four years Jim has raised $2.5 million from local and national foundations to fund prevention programs for juvenile justice involved youth and their families.

1997-2000 King County Superior Court Judge. Jim served as a judge for four years including a final year as a judge of the Juvenile Court.

1984-1995 Seattle City Council. Jim served on the Seattle City Council for 12 years including the last two years as its president. He is the father of the city’s nationally acclaimed Neighborhood Matching Fund Program. He lead the council in the development of the city's Comprehensive Plan, the establishment of the Department of Neighborhoods and ordinances dealing with low-income housing, historic preservation, environmental protection and public funding of city campaigns.
Jim led the Seattle delegation and mobilized regional leadership in support of strong countywide policies for managing growth. As the first President of the Puget Sound Regional Council he led the effort to develop Vision 2020, the region’s strategy for protecting our quality of life for future generations, and he chaired the public-private committee that developed the Puget Sound Region's first Economic Development Strategy.
As a member of the Metro Council, Jim played a leading role in the development of plans for a regional rapid transit system. He initiated the Metro 1% for Arts program and chaired Metro's first Public Arts Committee for its first seven years.
Jim proposed and chaired the City Council’s first Committee on Public Education to establish the basis for greater City support for our public schools, and he played a leading role in the development of the City's Families and Education Levy. He initiated the development of the City’s first Action Plan to expand resources for at risk children.

1977-1983 Private law practice. Jim was a partner with the Seattle law firm of Schweppe, Krug and Tausend where he practiced anti-trust and labor law.
1971-1974 World Bank. Jim worked for three years as an economist and operations analyst with the World Bank in Washington DC.
1965-1969 U. S Air Force / Vietnam Veteran. Jim served as an intelligence officer in the US Air Force in the Philippines and Vietnam.

1960-1974 Education. Jim received his BA and MPA degrees from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and his law degree from the University of Puget Sound. He graduated first in his law school class.

1971-2006 Board Memberships. Common Cause, New Horizons for Learning, Private Partners in Public Education, Citizens Education Center Northwest, Sustainable Seattle, 1000 Friends of Washington, Transportation Choices Coalition.

1965-2006 Family. Jim and his wife Lou Ann have four children. Two are public school teachers, one teaches environmental education for the Pacific Science Center, and the youngest aspires to be a professional dancer.

Ed Murray moving on has created a great opportunity to put an activist leader and teacher in the legislature. Lynne Dodson is running for Murray's seat. Lynne is a prominent educator - on the faculty at Seattle Central Community College and President of the teacher's union there - but also an activist leader. She's been Co-Chair of Washington State Jobs with Justice, a coalition of over 140 labor, community, faith and student groups that fights for the interests of working people. Lynne also helped to organize the two largest peace marches in recent Seattle history. And as a labor leader, she's fought for LGBT rights in her union and at the community colleges. She has a lot of experience with the legislature, winning increased funding for the community colleges every year; but she's also shown a willingness to be in the streets to win social justice, rather than just relying on legislative votes. Several of the candidates for Murray's seat would probably be good votes in Olympia. But Lynne Dodson has a unique record of activism, coalition-building, legislative advocacy and WINNING on important issues. You can get more information - or contribute to her campaign - at www.lynnetowin.org.

It's certainly a fact that Pat and Ed have similar voting records - but serving the 43rd in Olympia is about much more than showing up and casting reliably progressive votes. Ed has shown an uncanny ability to broker deals on crucial major legislation - not just the Anderson/Murray anti-discrimination act for which he's well-known, but also the two most recent transportation/transit tax packages, the clean cars bill, the safe schools bill, and the first steps towards reforming regional transportation governance. Pat believes all the right things and has been faithful to progressive causes throughout her legislative service, but writing, sponsoring, marshaling support and closing the deal on legislation that requires bipartisan support has not been her focus. On balance, I think Ed brings more to the table in terms of the leadership that's needed in the Senate right now, and is the better choice for the next four years.

It's kind of a shame that so many good qualified candidates are all bashing into each other in the 43rd. Jim Street, Dick Kelley; I think Stephanie Pure is running -- there are lots of folks running here I'd love to see in the legislature. Only one goes. Shame they couldn't farm some of these out to other districts that are in need of halfway decent candidates instead.

Lynne Dodson has been endorsed by labor - big plus.

She is also - it seems, willing to work the room and campaign actively and aggressively. I noted she appeaded in person to testify to support the added language for trans people at the King County Council last week. She appeared as a teacher and citzen and unionist. Smart, in that the 43rd has always led the fight for equality for sexual minorites.

Jamie seems nice - but is the 43rd going to wrm up to Corporate Busines attorney from Preston Gates - yes, the Abramoff folks.

I can see Lynne at an anti war demo, pro choice picket or Jobs Justice March -- not Jamie. Very different syles.

Street is a strong candidate. Name, name, name ---- all the old folks, Gomez. And they vote and have money. He is an ace for Seattle pinkos from his Seatttle council days. Most likely a Licata mentor.

Let the contest begin - should energize all of us who follow this stuff closely.

Let the Games begin! ;)

Easy there, Meinert.

The guy's just another get-along, go-along liberal...of course maybe that's what you want.

Ed get things done. When's the last time you heard about Pat getting anything done? She's a liberal, heart in right place, etc. But she's a seat warmer.

Seriously, about Street: nice guy but boy, does he ever love meetings. He'd be in hog-heaven in the legislature, trying to get the state government involved in every aspect of human existence.

And what exactly has Murray "gotten done?" (In all seriousness.) His role in the monorail debacle was not particularly admirable.

All I know about him is that he is pro-gay. Fine. What else?

Um, gay rights bill? Heard of it? Murray's a real player; he can build coalitions and get people to vote in an organized fashion. That's a rare ability. I think he's the most competent member of the state house. Even a lot of Republicans would agree.

I don't agree with him on everything, but I VERY VERY VERY MUCH support his ability to lead and accomplish things. He's the most impressive politician in the state right now, after Patty Murray.

Licata has endorsed Kelley, not Street.

FNARF. OK. But what else has Murray done besides gay rights? That's an issue of particular personal interest to Murray because he is gay. Not a problem; all politicians look to their own personal interests first. (But I don't even see that that even indicates any great vision for public policy as he benefits so directly; it's a no brainer.)

But does Murray have anything intelligent to say on other issues? He was a disaster for the monorail...a real sleaze-bag is how I understand it...just trying to get money for Sound Transit.

So far he looks to me like just another big government liberal trying to suck up to the public teat. A Greg Nickels type politico. BFD.

Sure, Licata endorsed Kelley. They're old friends. And Pure works for Steinbrueck so watch him endorse here. Neither could do anything else. But I think they both consider Street the best candidate. Look at what Street has accomplished in every phase of his life. He is a true progressive and effective. Say what you want negative about him, but unlike anyone else in the race he has a solid record of real accomplishments to stand on.

I like Murray. And we need someone effective to replace him. Check out Street. On big, real issues like growth managent, criminal justice reform, the environment and economic policy, Jim is educated, experienced and proven to be effective.

Who is running with a better resume?

Pure is the way to go, she will bring an enthusiasm that is missing from Street ( and Olympia) who was an ok city council man. Wasnt he Vision Seattle, like Margaret? Stephanie can help get some of the Vera kids off their butts and get involved in state politics. She is a needed progressive voice in Olympia and has done good solid work as Steinbruck's LA.

We dont need to defend Murray here, we all know he is a smart, solid, progressive legislator, I dont agree that Thibedau is a seat warmer, but is time for her to move on. I do agree that in the future Murray could be governor material, specially if Hillary wins and makes lame ass Gregoire attorney general.

I always thought that Murray would be a good choice to replace McDermott.

Get things done? Get real - Gregoire and the other Dems got the gay rights bill and the transportation tax campaign done. Pat works hard behind the scenes w/o credit - who takes credit for others work? When are you guys going to get real and check that out? Why do you accept the Ed's hype? Must be a guy thing to disregard the work that women do in Olympia. Shame on you.

Pure is a fine person. Someday might make a good politician. But what do you base your opinion on? Get Vera kids off their butts? You're kidding right? The Vera kids are already super active and great. Pure has no more influence over them than I do. We are Vera board members. Cool. But with Street I can point to several major accomplishments, including a recent huge one at the state level, including working on youth related issues. Read his bio. Read the boards he is and has been on. Check his education and experience. We need someone who can step in and fill Murray's shows immediately. Someone who has worked succesfully at the state level and who has first hand experience on the big issues.

No one should take anything away from Pure. Her work with a lot of other people on Vera is a nice thing. It is great to see her get involved in politics. But Street is the most qualified and best candidate hands down.

If you care about the environment, criminal justice reform, education, growth management, arts and economic planning from a progressive point of view, then elect someone with experience on these issues, and experience creating legislation regarding them and getting it passed.

Thibadieu has been around forever but doesn't even have enough standing in the Democratic caucus to serve as a committee chair (that's where the power is kids).

Jim Street voted to enact the Teen Dance Ordinance. Funny how that got left off list of accomplishments..

Has Meinert been replaced by a pod person?

i've been in glbt politics and know ed murray. this is an ego driven power grab on his part. come on ed, you can do better than try to knock off old women. it's a common refrain in gay poltical circles that ed has "multiple personalities." hopefully this is one of them and he'll soon change his mind.

No one with any political sense judges a candidate on one vote years ago. No doubt Street's vote on the TDO 20 years ago weighs in against him. And before he gets my endorsement he would need to explain it. I believe he was the only councilmember who voted against the boom box ban though. Pure went to work for Steinbrueck when he refused to take a pro or con position on the TDO causing the AADO to almost be compromised into a law worse than the AADO. All said, if we're comparing Pure and Street, I'd weigh their relative experience, accomplishments, and current stands on the issues. I am sure The Stranger will get on Street about his TDO vote and find out where he is now. I bet he and Pure are in the same place on this issue. Neither will be voting on this at a state level though. They will be working on issues like the growth management act. Who do we want at the table on that? A lawyer, judge, economist with proven experience on the issue seems like a good option

For me there is something amiss here. ??????

Patty Murray went from State Rep. to the Senate. Watching Murray for several sessions he became very visible for the gay rights bill, finally, and even more as the roads chair in the house.Big media, high profile, sitting pretty as legislators go. BIG name factor for him.

Why give up the choicest power committee chair to be a freshman in the State Senate.......strange zig zag for me.

Some hard questions - We like electing women in this city.

At the same time the gay rights bill finally got passed, what the hell took 29 years?

This will be the most talked out primary in history. Many candidate forums along the trail. Street will do well - so will Dodson.

Ed vs. Tibideau - Ed better be nice and smiling. Insiders say he has a horrible temper, and if he looses it screming at old Pat on cable cast TV - I can see the Times huffing and puffing. Of course, the Stranger will imply she deserved it somehow. In fairness, the temper stories are from a few years back. But still - in a heated primary it will all come out.

"Who is running with a better resume?"

That sums it up for me - just a bunch of careerists who view the world in terms of what will look good on their paper trail.

As I asked before: what the fuck has Murray really accomplished? And if you say 'gay rights' I'll say 'so fucking' what. He's gay. Of course he'll work for that issue. I've heard the guy talk and he sounds to me like a gay Greg Nickels. (And that's no compliment.)

Raw - Street a political careerist? I'm not talking about Murray, just Street. Street was a partner in a law firm, worked at the World Bank as an economist, was on City Council, was a Superior Court Judge, and spent the last five years trying to fix issues he found with the juvenile justice and youth services reform, succesfully passing a reform package in the state congress this year. He wants to get back into politics at a level where he would be paid less than any of the jobs he's had in the last 30 years because he believes he can accomplish more on the issues he has worked on. Sounds like an inspired guy who wants to be in office because he can accomplish real things he is passionate about, not because he needs a job.

Not sure how he is a political careerist. I do see how he has more qualifications and sucesses than anyone else running, on top of being a consistent progressive.

We have a long way to go to see how any of these folks hold up in the debates and under press scrutiny. Hopefully the Stranger will dig into all of them and get is the goods to analyze them (even their friends). But if we had to vote right now, Street is looking like the best choice.

Christ, Meinert! I think we know your opinion!

Anyway, I had heard the same thing about PT: that she was going to step aside this year. Did she change her mind, or was it just an unfounded rumor?

Regardless, I agree with some others on this thread. This really isn't much of a step up for Murray-- it's still a citizen legislature with 3/5 month terms, and he'd lose his seniority in the House. What's the point? Dan, EVERY campaign against an incumbent runs on the message of "what have you done for me lately?" That's canned. Something else is going on here.

I don't know what PT and EM have against each other. But in addition to their issues, it seems what we're experiencing is a complete logjam in the careerism of local moderate dems (who all claim they're soooo progressive). I blame gerrymandered, one party districts and cowardice in the Dem Party. No one wants to run against an incumbent, leaving us with boring elections and unchecked power more often than not. Just imagine if Jim McDermott weren't running for a 10th term this year!

Raw Data - You seem to dismiss Ed as a single issue candidate saying gay rights- so what. Are you not watching the constant attacks on gay people as a minority? The very bill which was passed with so much effort after 29 years - by two votes - will be subject to a referendum this fall.

That is only the first of Eds passions. He is passionately anti - war. Yes, he marched witht the rest of us queers against the FIRST GULF WAR- it goes without saying he detests the latest warmonger Bushie....

His work and support on the environment is 100 per cent. He is outspokenly against the death penalty, and has been widely recognized for that proactive work. You toss off his work on transportation - in fact impeccable. Actively prochoice, anti gun, supports univeral health care, wants tax reform.

Ed has had an easy time for re-election in past elections. So he has funraised and given the money to other Dems around the state who needed resources to win. Many tens of thousands of dollars. I would call that critical loyalty in a state where the Republican party has been shamlessly allied with the Christian right.

He is well know for keeping all his district in focus. Not just Capitol Hill. Smart guy and good leader , staying tunded in Downtown, U Dist-Montlake and Wallingord-Fremont.

I don't know you Sir Data - I suspect the real truth is that Ed's politics based on his actions and career of stands on issues, are to your left.

Genuinely progressive.

There is a big fight coming in this state - another atttack on gay people over marriage. Ed will be there in the foreground leading the fight against the far right. All to his credit.

Meinert, you damn Stephanie Pure by faint praise. The rest of the candidates in the race have tons of "credentials." In other words, we have mountains of proof that they know how to work the system--which is a very different thing than getting results.

I'm for Stephanie because her record shows that she knows how to get things done and her passion is exactly what this district needs. The last thing the 43rd needs is another term of yesterday's answers. It's not just Pat Thibaudeau who is old--the old-school Seattle Democratic establishment is showing its age. Stephanie brings youth, energy and intelligence--and has the ability to bring the next generation of progressives into politics with her.

The Republicans, sadly, well understand the power of generation change and actively support young leaders--and Meinert, if Democrats like you reflexively hold open the doors of power to people who frankly have stagnated for decades, even the 43rd might not be a safe district in the future. At the least, if you get your way, the citizens of Washington will be robbed of a dynamic new voice in Olympia willing to address the issues-- health care, education, transportation-- which the old guard and their dusty "credentials" have failed to effectively address for decades.

If politics was just about resumes, Jim Compton's resignation from the City Council would have been widely mourned.

Leadership requires courage, and a willingness to take difficult stands in the face of enormous pressure, rather than just going along with the herd. It's called character.

When push came to shove, Street was another cow in the herd. Maybe the TDO isn't a big deal now. It was then.

hey, i don't mean to damn Pure. I'll say this which might bring her up...I think her and Street should be considered the front runners. Both would have their plusses and minuses. And while I am not ready to endorse either, I think it is as big of a mistake to endorse someone just because of their youth as it is to dimiss someone because of their age. I would not have endorsed Robert Byrd in his 20's or 30's but would in his 70's. It will be great to watch Street and Pure raiase money, get their messages out and debate. If Pure does win, which i would be fine with, I would hope she is not irrelevant to society after 30 years.

There's a delightful arrogance and sense of entitlement about Ed Murray that far outstrips his competence. He's wanted that Senate seat since day one because Cal Anderson had it, and therefore, as Cal's political heir, it should be his.

Well, just to clairify things. Have had many conversations the real Napoleon, very intersting fellow and what a career, and he says political leaders need a sense of their own desiny and brass balls.

So we both have decided to tell Ed - fucking go for it. Just keep those balls covered.

Cal and Nappy from above the fray.

40 posts, almost all about personality and style and empty rhetoric about "leadership." how depressing. is there any major disagreement on issues between these candidates-- for murray's vacant seat, or between him and PT? will the only people interested in these races be politicos into insider gossip, and the various friends of the people running for office?

Well Dave, I'm sure Stephanie is heartened by the news that you might consider voting for her when she hits 60. I'm voting for the 32-year-old Stephanie Pure this year. Jim Street had a fine political record through 1995. At that point, he became a judge and more or less retired from local politics. Stephanie Pure has been a Seattle political star for the last five years. She's worked on a lot of issues for the Steinbrueck office in addition to her outside interests such as Vera and CityClub. I think we (the 43rd District Democrats) should do something to help the future of the Democratic Party this year. Like electing Stephanie Pure.

And one more thing--Go Ed!

WT - confused by your jaded and cynical post. There are some diffences of style and priority and shades of issues.

Are you suggesting we need a bigot, or far right Christian rightie in the race to spice things up?

Seattle has alway been progressive, leftist, Democrat. The thing you seek is perhaps in eastern state, running as a liberal Democrat.

And, the campaigns are just forming. You are ahead of the discussion potential. This blog has a very limited reach. All of the greater Seattle region will focus on these races - in fact, they may be the only interesting copy out of six districts.

In the coming months you will complain about over kill.

If you think that the gay rights bill only benefits gays, you're nuts. Discrimination hurts everyone, including the discriminator, and civil rights are for the good of ALL, not just The Gaze. Ed Murray did everyone in this state a huge favor by getting that bill passed.

Well said JR.

I have absolutely nothing against Jim Street and I'm sure he will do a good job if elected.

I sort of remember the old Sue Donaldson led city council and the Jim Street years, Tom Weeks, Martha Choe, Sherry (where is she now?) Harris and others, I might be wrong, but I dont remember Jim coming out in support of stronger tenant's rights, and I remember him pretty much getting behind Donaldson on most things, and though he did a few good things here and there, I really dont remember him leading. Did he stand up against Sidran? I dont recall, but I dont think he did. Jim was on the wrong side of the TDO, and if I remember correctly he pretty much got tired and moved on to other things. Good for him. I think he did better work within the justice system than with city goverment. Im not a fan of the World Bank, so I am not going to get into that.

But like I said, I have nothing against Jim, he is a cool enough guy.

I think Stephanie's energy and expertise is needed in Olympia, she is a good pragmatic progressive and as all some of you know, the LA's in city hall are the brains behind the city council. So I encourage the 43rd to make the right choice and Vote Pure!!

Ed Murray is going places, I have absolutely no doubt about it, he is a solid legislator. No need to defend his record or his leadership.

who is Pure and what is her expertise? what are her positions on anything?

I'll let her tell ya. This from her website, www.peopleforpure.com

As the 43rd District State Representative, I will focus on several critical areas:

EDUCATION & YOUTH
Education is the cornerstone of a strong economy, and engaged and involved youth are the cornerstone of a strong society. I will work hard to ensure that kids have access to opportunities that educate and enrich them, both in and out of the classroom.

While standardized testing plays an important role in education, I want to make sure our schools are looking beyond the test scores to encourage student participation in the arts, sports, volunteerism and extracurricular activities.

I want to engage Washington’s youth in the discussion about their education. By establishing an interactive forum to hear directly from students about their educational needs and challenges.

CIVIL RIGHTS
I strongly believe that our civil rights are inalienable. I will fight any attempt to undermine civil rights law in Washington, especially the gay-civil-rights bill recently passed in Legislature. I will also work to ensure that Seattle residents maintain their privacy and dignity.

No sooner did Washington’s LGBT community win a great civil rights victory than it was threatened by discrimination and bias. I will fight to ensure that all Washington residents are treated equally under the law.

In this age of information, people’s right to privacy is more important than ever. I will make sure that our residents’ private information, such as medical records and cell phone calls– remains private and undisclosable.

TRANSPORTATION
As we know, Washington State is famous for its transportation challenges. Traffic-clogged freeways and sprawl continue to plague us, despite past efforts and current spending. I am a firm believer in rapid transit and feel we must make rapid transit a core element of our transportation planning. Rapid transit will provide a badly needed alternative to congestion. Until we create transit-oriented alternatives that are faster and more convenient than the automobile, we are doomed to a future of more asphalt, loss of precious open space, and increased air and water pollution.

I walk to work every day and am proud to live a city once dubbed “Best Cycling City” for its support of bicycle commuting. We need to continue these efforts to provide alternatives to the automobile and incorporate pedestrian and bicycle strategies in our transportation planning.

ENVIRONMENT
Global warming is a very real threat to our environment and thus, our future. There are many ways we can work to conserve our natural resources and promote clean air and water. For example, I have worked hard to educate the community on the benefits of “green” building and sustainable development by organizing citywide forums on sustainability, which attracted hundreds of people eager to learn the lessons of countries who have successfully incorporated green building development into their urban planning.

Good environmental planning is no small task. I applaud Governor Gregoire and her efforts to clean up Puget Sound. State and local governments received an overall grade of “D” in 2005 for failing to adequately protect our shorelines from oil spills, polluted water running off of paved surfaces, and shoreline development. This new initiative will help preserve this Northwest treasure.

HEALTHCARE
I support universal health care for all. Our current health care system is a baffling maze of information and bureaucracy that, in the end, leaves many without access to care. People are essentially being punished for being sick if they don’t have health insurance. Access to health care should not be based on race or income, but be accessible to all.

so she's a liberal like everyone else running. what's her expertise with any of these issues?

There are many things I'd like to accomplish in Olympia, but here's one key area: Exploring how we can support small, independent businesses and sole proprietors (musicians, artists, freelancers) by making it easier to provide health insurance for themselves and their employees.

Supporting small business is not the usual liberal Democratic topic, but I feel it's a crucial area if we are serious about healthcare, the character of our neighborhoods (we all love our local shops and businesses), and our state's economy.

As the daughter of small business owners (worked in my parent's shop for six of its 13 years of existence), I have a keen understanding as to the needs of small business and the positive impact they can have. However, while Republicans are busy touting big corporations and Democrats working to fight for everyone else, the mom'n'pop shops and small firms get little attention, even though it is these very businesses that are the backbone of our economy. 55% of all employees in Washington State work at a business employing 100 people or less. Many of these businesses cannot afford to provide health insurance to their employees, which leaves thousands of people out in the cold. I want to explore ways we can have small businesses organize to get group rates on health insurance. I also want to join the forces already working in Olympia to seek ways of providing health insurance to sole proprietors.

This is just one issue, but I'm happy to chat with anyone about my candicacy overall. Feel free to e-mail me at stephanie@peopleforpure.com.

Some of these issues she would have little impact on, like health care and education (which position point has a glaring grammatical error in it). And anyone who thinks that Seattle is or was a halfway-decent bicycle city, let alone a great one to be proud of, is confused from the get-go. And the youth vote is a complete non-starter.

I was hoping that Pure, whom I like, would come up with a better statement than this; one that doesn't sound like it was cut-n-pasted from multiple sources. What does "this new initiative" under environment refer to? She's better than this assemblage of pointless received ideas.

I agree with you FNARF about Pure...just another clone saying feel-good stuff.

My only caution is that she like all the rest of the politicos are simply a very accurate reflection of the mass of voters out there, most of whom are no more intelligent than the posters to this blog, which is not a very hopeful sign.

So if she talks cant, what do you expect? Most voters do as well. Our politicians wioll never be any smarter than we are -- that's the depressing thought of the day.

And her rap on bikes is truly hilarious. I was talking last week to a SIXTY (!) year old bike commuter and he was contemptuous of Seattle's bike system. The problem is she probably believes everything she hears from the zombies at City Hall.

On bikes: it's far more difficult to navigate Seattle by bike than it is in congested East Coast cities like Boston and New York. You wouldn't think so, but the reality is our traffic moves much too fast for bike safety, and much too blindly, and with far too many weird every-lane-to-a-separate-destination intersections. Even big spread-out car cities like San Jose, CA are easier and safer to ride in.

As for the small business thing: you should talk more about that. Pooling insurance is wonkish but for real. I dunno if it's going to get you votes, but I wish more people would talk about it rather than stuff that doesn't matter.

Stephanie - it's great to see a candidate actually respond directly to questions, thank you.

Your ideas on small business are important. It would be great to see more specific details, but for the music community and other small businesses this could make a big difference. Lots of work is already being done on insurance for artists, are you involved with that?

Indeed, good to see candidates posting on here. No one's brought him up too much, but I'm supporting Jamie Pedersen. There's probably a tendency to think he might be a one-trick pony because of the marriage case, but even in this thread we've seen people see that about Ed, even though it's patently not true. I think Jamie will be a great guy for the 43rd, and I'm looking forward to seeing him show voters his cred.

Hi Dave,

I've had a long talk with our friend Claudia Bach (friend and advocate for art and artists) about this issue, but I'd like to talk to her more about it as the campaign goes on to flesh it out more. She's done a couple years worth of work on this and I'd love to get that ball rolling and get support for it.

It seems completely insane that when members of our community (music, art) get sick, they are SOL and need the entire community to kick in money for their health care by doing benefits and fundraising. While I'm more than happy to contribute, that's doesn't exactly seem like a smart or fair system. These folks need to worry about getting well, not worry about going bankrupt in the process! And what about freelancers in non-music fields? They don't have that kind of support.

Yeah, the small business thing is sort of obscure to some, despite it being such a prevelant issue, but I think it's worth working on. There are obstacles of course (I won't list the laundry list here), but I think it would make a huge difference in people's lives, even if we can at least make some incremental change on this. As we know, change won't happen overnight (The Teen Dance Ordinance took us four years of constant day-to-day advocacy and it didn't even have any fiscal impact!), but if we can concentrate on one element, we have a better chance of success.

(Fiscal impact = meaning, we weren't asking the city for money. Sorry about that. )

I don't buy the idea that the politics in Seattle (or even the 43rd) are more or less homogenous and that absent a Republican challenger, issues become less important than style.

For instance, Jim Street, while on the City Council, helped make it much harder for low-income housing developers to build in central and south Seattle, while Dick Kelley has been a longtime affordable housing advocate.

Or, Lynne Dodson has been the head of a very activist labor union, already has the KCLC's endorsement, and has probably more experience with education policy than all the other candidates in her race combined: she will do a lot more than call for vague discussions with youth to improve our education system or call for health care... for starving artists!

Or there corporate welfare. This is a HUGE issue in the state leg!

http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0407/040218_news_taxcracks.php

There are people who think their membership in the Democratic Party makes them progressive (Eric Pettigrew, for instance), while at the same time they really think it's government's job to give massive tax breaks to Paul Allen, or to Boeing, or that subsidizing a third Seattle stadium would be a good idea.

And, then, what about TAX REFORM?

Free from the fear of a Republican taking office, we should be having an honest debate about what separates corporate dems from those who are a little more, dare i say it, socialist.

I agree with previous comments that merely because Pat is there on the votes doesn't mean she is the best person for the seat. Ed would bring new energy and ideas to the position, and he has a proven record of success with his time as Transportation and Capital Budget committee chair in the House. What committee does Pat chair? What has she accomplished recently?

I will be interested in following the race as it develops. I will be supporting Jaime Pedersen. He is a consensus builder would be able to maintain Ed's leadership on LGBT equality, which will become especially important after the announcement of the marriage ruling (which he argued) from the Supreme Court.

Sounds like a power grab to me - and disrespectful. Pat is on 5 committees including Ways and Means. She is working things behind the scenes all the time - including getting money for projects in the district.

I'm actively supporting Lynne Dodson for the seat that Ed Murray will be vacating.

She combines the in-the-trenches grassroots experience with campaigning for elected office, lobbying in Olympia on education issues, forging alliances among people with disparate views, and being a terrific person to work with.

Lynne has taught in the multi-racial classrooms of Seattle Central Community College for several years.

She has a Ph.D. in Social Welfare, and she has put it to work in the classroooms and in the community.

As an elected union president at Seattle Central CC, as an elected officer of her statewide union, and as statewide co-chair of Jobs with Justice, Lynne has helped organize two of the largest anti-war rallies in Seattle in recent years and several other mobilizations.

I daresay Lynne is the candidate with the most grassroots experience working on a range of progressive issues.

I have been astonished how effective Lynne has been in labor council meetings in uniting people of divergent viewpoints. I wish I had her abilities!

And Lynne knows how to navigate the minefields of negotiations and the hallways of Olympia with both strength and charm.

Probably all of the candidates- and it's an extremely impressive roster- have the smarts, saavy, and personality to represent the district quite well in Olympia.

It's interesting that so many of the candidates for the 43rd House are claiming education as one of their top issues.

Only one candidate chose to spend so much of her adult life actually teaching in diverse classroooms and lobbying in Olymmpia on pre-school, K-12, and higher ed issues... while forging incredible alliances within organized labor and in the larger community.

Check out Lynne Dodson at www.lynnetowin.org!

A lot of this strikes me as inside baseball. Minute details about such-and-such campaign inticracy or conspiracy. Come on, people. Think like a normal voter, who pays attention to the NEWS, and not Cap Hill's political gossip mill.

Ed Murray has actually done things over the past years: transportation being truly addressed, (um, hel-LO, anyone who isn't a 2-yr-transplant knows that this is a political miracle); gay rights (have you noticed how the rest of the country has been treating the gays these days?); actively supporting higher ed (UW is an economic and intellectual engine that keeps us in pretty good financial shape)...



And, while Thibaudeau may be an "honest lady" who goes to Olympia every year and "votes the right way", I'd rather have someone like Murray push hard for and get our interests advanced in a conservative Democratic Senate.



I just think it's time for us to say to Thibeaudeau: "Thanks for the years of service, Senator."


And then fill in the other bubble.

I've gotta say that all of this is good news. Pat's been great, but it's time to go. Ed needs to bring his strengths to the Senate.

As for the newly vacant House seat, the one who really impresses me the most is Bill Sherman. Talk to him for 5 seconds and you will see that he is passionate about the issues, bursting with good ideas, and very, very smart. His experience working with Clinton/Gore also gives me great confidence that he'll know how to accomplish his goals. I'm going to vote for Bill because I want a representative who not only has great ideas, but knows how to get his ideas implemented into law, policies and programs that reflect the priorities of the 43rd.

In a time when the federal government is rolling back environmental protection, and further disempowering the most marginalized children in our schools, I'm thrilled to have a candidate like Bill who can protect our interests and stand up to the feds.

BTW, I saw today that he's got signs up already.

Will someone please tell me what Murray has done for transportation? Does anyone know?

(Flushing more money into ST doesn't count. Helping kill the monorail doesn't count.)

H,
If you live in the district, it's nice to see that Bill Sherman has some support coming from here. A quick glance down his detailed contributions at the PDC shows that virtually all of his money has come from out of state, let alone out of district. While it's great to have a national reputation, it is important to have a Representative that has strong ties to, and support in, the district.

can anyone provide the details about Thibaudeau's campaign against Dick Nelson?