Lynne Dodson. The woman who will fight for all of us in the 43rd.

Lynne Dodson. Her positions on the issues are by far the clearest and most specific, and she has the broadest background - she can negotiate, but she also isn't afraid to confront power for social justice.

Lynne Dodson has impressed me as someone with a powerful commitment to progressive issues and the energy and proven effectiveness to actually change things -- for the party, for the district, and for the State. I'm excited that she is running and I wish her the best of luck.

Go Stephanie Pure! The Seattle delegation needs a jolt of youthful energy and the local Democratic Party needs to invest in its future.

Pedersen.

As for L. Dodson, I'm looking at her website (www.lynnetowin.org) and in every picture she scares me... it's those teeth-- does she have rows and rows of them that regenerate, like sharks do?

Street.

Stephanie Pure!

I want to take a chance of youth, as we have plenty old farts in the Seattle delegation.

Honorable mention: Bill Sherman, who has come out of nowhere (to me anyway) to impress a lot of folks (including me)

Jim Street seemed to have the most in depth answers and is definitely the most progressive of the candidates and has the best experience to step in and fill Murray's shoes.

AND - check out Street on MySpace.com - proving he's out in front not only on the issues but on using technology to connect directly to young voters - www.myspace.com/jim_street

Bill Sherman definitely impressed as well.

I'm torn between Street and Sherman.

That said, if I had to vote right now, I'd probably vote for Sherman.

None of the statements really blew me away but in the Q&As I was most impressed with Stephanie Pure.

Pure
She's got great energy and she's smart.

Meinert:
If you think myspace means "cool" you have really lost it. Bob Dole probably has a myspace page. I'm sure your page is really cool and you picked some rad colors and typefaces and have a bunch of awesome chums.
Tally Ho, Old Man!

Ahura,

Watch Street's campaign. He's the best candidate and he'll be running a great campaign. Youth issues and voters are important to him. If you don't think MySpace is a good tool in reaching out the young voters in te 43rd well...I hope you are working for someone else's campaign.

La Stephanie. She actually ran to the library, to answer your questions.

Seriously, she has a willingness to work on issues that matter to the 43rd.

Lynn is my second choice and Jim ( a helluva nice guy) Street is my third. Jim got tired of Seattle Council politics, why he wants to go to Olympia is anyone's guess.

Not that it matters in this local race- but what are Steph's thoughts on immigration? =)

Stephanie, hands down. She was at least inventive with her statement and Q & A. Honorable mention to Bill Sherman. I agree Lynne scares me too.

Stephanie Pure.

Stephanie Pure. Seattle's delegation needs some new energy from the next generation of leaders.

Stephanie has my vote

Dick Kelley is a damn smart guy, and he's been working in the 43rd for a long time. In every instance where I've seen him in action, he's been calm, funny, fair, and has an uncanny ability to get things done fast in a nice way - a freaking rarity of rarities amongst Democrats.

I like Dick Kelley, but am glad there are so many qualified candidates running for this seat!

I was impressed with Lynne Dodson. She had some really good proposals on environmental issues. She's also got a good mix of experience, ideas and energy.

Let's send Stephanie Pure to Olympia!!

Stephanie all the way...

STEPHANIE PURE is sincere, hardworking and energetic. She will really listen and respond to the needs of the 43rd, and isn't that what representation is all about?

Jamie Pedersen for me. In speaking to him personally, I know he'll give a well-thought-out and fair take on all of the issues facing citizens of the state.

If Darcy Burner would move to the 43rd, I think she'd be a shoo-in.

Stephanie Pure!
Energy! Political chops! Vision! Courage!

My endorsement goes to Dick Kelley. And let me tell you why:

Dick Kelley has been a really great, organized, and level headed chair of what can be a difficult district to manage: the 43rd. He is a solid, sound, sensible liberal, and when push comes to shove, stands by his convictions. As a PCO in the 43rd, my experience with him is that he is a solid listener, encouraging discussion and healthy debate, yet also speaks with a firm voice and makes his opinion known.

My admiration for Dick gelled in 2004. As you may remember, in the Attorney General primary there was a bit of a schism, and many in Seattle thought that it would be cleaver to choose the semi-Republican, Sidran, rather than the true blue Senn. The Stranger was amongst the crowd that thought that Sidran, with no state wide experience or name recognition and few Democratic bona fides would be a stronger choice against Republican McKenna than Senn, who had the support of labor and broad, populist recognition statewide. Kelley stuck with his principles and endorsed Senn, recognizing that it he was breaking ranks many of those within the King County Democratic leadership, including some of his opponents for the primary today. While Senn was defeated in the General, it's hard to argue that if Sidran had been in her place he would have had an easier time against McKenna. The Republicans were so concerned that Senn would win the primary that they illegally spent $1.5 million against Senn in attack ads through the US Chamber of Commerce. Senn won the primary despite them. It was pathetic to see the Stranger, Sidran, and Karl Rove's Republican machine all on the same side in that race. By contrast, Dick Kelley stayed true to his conviction that the right people and the right policies should trump the political calculus that so often hamstrings the Democrats.

Dick Kelley has strong labor credentials, and is the most likely to get their endorsement. With them, he will have infrastructural support to move an agenda of progressive values in the House. He has a deep respect for education, is the holder of a master's degree, and will be a great advocate for the 43rd districts largest employer, the UW. He has a fantastic record on environmental and implementing environmental protection, with leadership experience at the Environmental Hearings Office, the Pollution Control Board, and the Shorelines Board. Lastly, he has a solid understanding of the way the law works, how it interfaces with the community. He has the experience to know how a new law or policy decision in Olympia will be implemented, and what ultimate effect it will have.

As I gay man, myself, I suppose one would expect me to be searching for a gay candidate. However, I believe an office like this needs to reach well beyond the scope of identity politics. It's clear to me that Dick Kelley will be every bit as an effective advocate for my rights as Ed Murray was.

These are some of the reasons that Dick Kelley has earned my respect and endorsement, and I imagine they are similar to the reasons why he has earned the endorsements of the Young Democrats, several past governors, and a veritable who's who of Democratic good-guys.

Please join me in supporting Dick Kelley.

-Rod

Lynne Dodson. Definitely.

I'm support Lynne Dodson. I was somewhere between amazed and amused to see Rod suggest that Dick Kelley would get labor's support, since Lynne has already gotten a unanimous recommendation from the King County Labor Council (which has to be ratified by the Washington State Labor Council), as well as endorsements from a growing number of unions - including the United Steelworkers, the union that Dick Kelley is associated with. I don't support Lynne BECAUSE she has labor's support, but for the same reason: she's an experienced labor leader who's been successful in winning good contracts for her members, been successful in lobbying in Olympia on behalf of her members and on behalf of all working people, and been successful in bringing together community allies with labor through Jobs with Justice. She's also, as a labor leader, been instrumental in fighting for GLBT rights, both in her union and in Olympia; and a significant leader in the peace movement. And, of course, although all of the candidates have stressed education as a top priority, Lynne is the only one who is a life-long teacher, and has been elected by her fellow-faculty to be their spokesperson and representative. None of this takes away anything from Dick Kelley or any of the other candidates. But Lynne is the one candidate who has demonstrated the leadership, the coalition-building experience, the fighting spirit and the integrity to bring a unique voice to the legislature.

Lynne Dodson. She'll get the job done.

Lynne Dodson -- Definitely! Lynne's answers on Friday were the most specific, and her website's position papers are head-and-shoulders above the other candidates in terms of their detail and progressive values.

Does "immigration" matter in this race? Are you kidding? Look at Lynne's position paper on Racial Justice and Immigration to find out what our state government is empowered to do concerning immigration, and what Lynne is prepared to fight for in Olympia.

Lynne is the overwhelming favorite to secure the endorsement of Labor in this race. Check out her website to see all of the Labor unions that have already endorsed her.

Our state is one of the few to pass legislation against sex trafficking -- an important dimension to the immigration discussion -- and Lynne was (from what I remember) the only candidate to commit herself to that important issue.

Lynne Dodson all the way.

still torn between dodson and kelley.

i don't get the support for pure.

Bill Sherman has my vote. Great answers to the questions and best potential for effective work in Olympia once elected.

Bill Sherman gets my vote!

I am WHOLEHEARTEDLY supporting Lynne Dodson.

I love a candidate with bite, humor, a Ph.D in social welfare, and the most impressive grassroots experience on key progressive issues.

Do we need more lawyers in the state legislature?

Or do we need more teachers shaping public policy?

Does the 43rd want to continue to have an all-male delegation as its state representatives?

Lynne has received an early endorsement from the King County Labor Council...

And she has been endorsed already by several teachers' unions, the Steelworkers, the Communication Workers of America, the painters' union, the electricians' union, the iron workers' union, the Inland Boatmen's Union-- all of whom are gearing up to volunteer in large numbers to elect this great candidate.

I especially admire the choices Lynne has made in her professional and activist life, including:

Teaching in the multi-racial classrooms of Seattle Central Community College,

Becoming a very highly respected elected labor leader and coalition leader, and

Lobbying on education, LGBT, tax-reform and other key issues.

Lynne to win!!!

Lynne Dodson. We need progressive women who understand our educational system in the State Legislature. Lynne has walked her talk. Her years of experience as a leader of organized teachers will enable her to hit the ground running. Education is the number one responsibility of our State Governement and Lynne knows education.

Bill Sherman will have my vote. He is experienced, thoughtful, and fair. He has the record, the convictions, and the skills to work with the minority party to get things done for the 43rd. Bill all the way!

Sherman is the one who will most effectively represent interests of the district and the State.

Andrew Boike. He's the only candidate in this race with the right mix of progressive values, experience and grassroots support.

I can see that this race has the potential to be divisive for progressives...which is unfortunate. I do think it is important to elect someone who has the right combination of experience and freshness to make things happen AND make people get along in doing so. I think that Lynne Dodson just might have those qualities as an experienced advocate and one of those rare folks who really builds coalitions well just by speaking to people. I'm for Lynne.

I know or have met most of these candidates personally, even though I don't live in the 43rd. The District is fortunate to have so many eager, committed, capable Democrats who want a seat in the state House.

There is one candidate, though, whose prior experience would make him so much more than just another freshman House member.

That candidate, of course, is Dick Kelley, whose work as a senior policy analyst for the Democratic Caucus in the past sessions, and his lobbying experience on behalf of homeless people give him all the "progressive" credentials any candidate could hope for, and all the experience to give the 43rd District the "clout" it deserves in Olympia.

BILL SHERMAN!

I am happy to support Lynne Dodson. As a progressive gay man, I realize that this seat does not have to be represented by a queer in order to assure that queer interests will be fully represented.

Unfortunately, I don't live in the district. But I sent money so Lynne's message can get out to those who are able to vote for her. Her actions in Olympia will, of course, support the well-being of all of us.

Stephanie Pure, without a doubt!

Stephanie Pure

I don't want to have to wait another 30 years to marry my partner. Pedersen has proven leadership on the issue and is our best shot at moving GBLTQ rights forward. I also trust he will get results on areas such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

It's about results for me, folks. And Pedersen is the man to get 'em.

Stan Lippman.

At first Street --- now Lynne Dodson.

She is the right mix across many sectors. I am a queer male feminist and like supporting women....Phd., teacher, mom, labor organizer, achiever, political experience, mature and seasoned.

Lynne testified in person for trans rights at the County Council recently. The only candidate who did so....shows me she is on the ball and outspoken for queer rights for all queers in the most public settings. Where was Jamie?

Jamie P. at meetings and events is aloof and stays with his clique. Oh well.... Too corporate and too attorney.

I think Dodson has it all -- sending a ck for my 50.00.

In response to the comment about Street connecting with your voters by having myspace, has anyone actually looked at it? All of his “friends” or supporters or whatever you want to call him are not real people. They are merely bands and myspace bots that any person can add as friends.

Good job Street, keep connecting with imaginary young people.

Jamie Pedersen.

He is best fit to be effective in Olympia, and will represent the district well.

Jamie Pedersen.

He's been fighting for gay rights for years and is the biggest work-horse I've ever met.

As for all the comments about him being an attorney, I think it's an asset. He knows the law, and what's wrong with it as his work with Lambda Legal fighting for gay marriage equality shows.

Got to be Jamie Pedersen, the work he did with PacMed Clinics on Beacon Hill is pretty admirable. It directly helped folks who can’t pay for health care, including a lot of veterans.

Stephanie all the way. She's energetic and committed to improving life in Seattle for all kinds of people.

Interesting how it goes in waves for each candidate. Almost like the same person is posting over and over again.
And why are there no posts today?

Jamie Pedersen

He's the best candidate in the race with the best chance of really getting something done in Olympia

Jim Street - the only candidate with the balls enough talk about race and social justice.

beats me. I only voted once.

I've known Lynne for years and she will deliver on every promise!

I've known Lynne for years and she will deliver on every promise!

Pedersen's got my vote!

It's Jamie Pederson. He will have the know-how as an attorney to get something done in Olympia.

I'm not sure how being "too attorney" fits into a guy who has a track record of fighting for the expansion of civil rights. He has the best chance of doing that for the GBLT community as well as for the poor and uninsured among us.

Jonathan says Jim Street is the "only candidate with the balls enough talk about race and social justice." [sic]I guess Jonathan won't be voting for Lynne Dodson or Stephanie Pure if he's looking for balls. But I think race is important, so I went back and looked at what Street had to say. There are a total of two things. On his web page, he promises to "put race and social justice on our 'to do' list." Wow! That takes some balls! And then in his answers on the SLOG, he says he supports affirmative action. So then I went to Lynne Dodson's web page. Her position paper on "racial justice and immigrant rights" is full of specifics - not just saying it should be on a "to do" list. She talks about not using WASL as an exclusive test, amending I-200 to allow public colleges to consider race and ethnicity, prohibiting racial profiling, restoring voting rights to ex-felons when they get out of prison, expanding programs to support minority and women owned businesses, making sure local law enforcement isn't acting as immigration agents - well, it goes on, you get the picture. So, Jonathan can vote for balls with no political content. I'm voting for Lynne Dodson, who actually talks about real issues.

Lynne Dodson is not my choice but I wanted to thank Anti-Racist for that post. Well said, glad to see someone else cares about more than just balls in this race.

Jamie Pedersen

Jamie Pedersen

Jamie's got a long track record of fighting for his progressive value and a proven ability to really get things done. I hope we get to see what he can do in office.

I don't care so much about who does or doesn't have balls (though I think we all have a right to them), but I do care about Social Justice issues and I think Street will bring the most to the table on this.

Thing is though, the supporters of the candidates should be respectful of the other candidates. This race has 6 great people in it, all who seem to have good liberal positions. Someone will win and 5 will lose, but it would be great to see the left not eat their own in this race.

Stephanie Pure gets my vote!!!

Lynne Dodson - for her experience in education, grassroots activism and truly progressive values.

I agree that this is a good field of candidates, so there's no reason for progressives to beat the crap out of each other to get someone in Olympia.

Think about whoever does get there, who will have the best chance of getting Social Justice Issues on the agenda? I've seen Jamie Pedersen's work in the charity medical care community and respect not only his ability, but his commitment to making things better for the less fortunate members of our community.

Jamie Pedersen has my vote.

Lynne Dodson - she has the "inside" on education issues like inadequate funding of facilities and salaries, which will turn out to be the biggest error through inaction this state ever did.

Stepanie Pure all the way! She has the unique vision to get things done. Well, versed and diplomatic. She keeps the community she serves in mind at all times. She is a true advocate for small business owner.

Lynne Dodson has my vote. Let's send a coalition builder and a lifelong educator to the Legislature! We do not need more lawyers and we do need legislators who understand phrases like "ample school funding: and "paramount duty".

Lynne Dodson is by far the best candidate in this race. I have worked with her in our union for the past seven years, and I have never met anyone--candidate or not--that brings such a combination of smarts, ethics, and hard work to everything she does. It is seldom that we have a chance to vote for this calibre of candidate.

I think Jamie folk are stuffing -at least it is not city time and city computers

A bit confused, having lived on the Hill for years, and very informed on gay issues, the Anderson Bill was in Olympia for 29 years, starting sometime when Jamie was fucking in Jr HIgh, wondering about his chest hairs.

How is it he gets all this credit when it finally passes......from what I could see, hundreds of folks, dozens of good leaders, giant time and dollar investments-- and finally by the slightest of margins it passes.

Ed Murray deserves the credit and the other THREE gay legislators and the newly minted Gov. Gregoire....as well as Cals' ghost.

Claiming others work is not honorable nor is it leadership.

I vote for Lynne Dodson. Her skills related to education are impresssive, and she will be a strong out front advocate for GLBT issues.

Lynne Dodson is the hardest-working, most fearless organizer in Seattle. She knows where she stands and can get things done in Olympia for her constituents. She is extraordinarily personable and has a great sense of humor. She's a person whom people will really want to get behind as they get to know her.

Lynne Dodson without question. She is incredibly motivated and assertive person, and an amazing suppotive mother.

Lynne Dodson without question. She is incredibly motivated and assertive person, and an amazing suppotive mother.

Lynne Dodson

(why do you need my name for voting?)

Go Lynne Dodson. The woman's got integrity, energy, smarts and she knows how to get it done. She will take an active leadership role in the legislature, something we desperately need in Olympia.

My vote goes unflinchingly to Lynne Dodson. I've known her for years, professionally and personally. She is fabulous. She has energy, experience, passion and intelligence. She knows her stuff because she listens and learns, then takes action based upon what she believes to be right. She doesn't shy away from challenging those you need to be challenged. She can be counted on do do what she says she'll do.

Education being absolutely key to the individual and the society, I trust Lynne to make it THE priority and to get results.

Lynne Dodson is the one!

Hardest-working woman I've ever seen, and we all know how hard-working women can be, anyway.

I've seen Lynne in action. Guts, eloquence and results all rolled into one. On to Victory!

I have worked closely with Lynne Dodson for eight years in the Seattle Community Colleges Federation of Teachers. In our union work I have seen Lynne champion the rights of workers, not just in education, but in all areas: newspaper workers, janitors, dairy workers to name just a few. She also fights for numerous other issues from health care to opposing an unpopular war and how it drains precious resource dollars from our society to standing up for the rights of all people to marry. To me, Lynne is an old time Democrat! She works for the people.

I don't hesitate to give my unqualified support to Andrew Boike.

He's far and away better than any of the other candidates in this race and I'm baffled the Stranger hasn't said anything about him yet.

Anyone's who truly plugged into Washington State politics knows the political landscape in the 43rd will be sundered, shredded even, when he makes his announcement.

Lynne Dodson is the only candidate running with a proven track record of dealing successfully with a wide range of constituents. She is a strong advocate for working people and has demonstrated her ability to get things done. She keeps her promises and committments, builds strong coalitions, and has the professional skills necessary to serve as a strong representative of all the people in the district. My vote goes to her.

My vote goes to Lynne Dodson. She actually knows the people who are ON the Higher Education Coordinating Board, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and Board of Education, and she knows what each of those boards does -- and she's been in their face for years demanding, respectfully, of course, a better system.

This might sound somewhat trivial, but since all of the candidates are boasting of their commitment to education, the fact that Lynne has developed deep understanding of how the various elements of our current systems work seems significant. That's why Lynne's endorsers involve so many teachers and other education people.

Lynne is a teacher, and so am I. I know she knows how frustrating it can be for teachers not only to see our wages continuously slip, but also to see innovative ideas and proposals coming from teachers get ignored by higher-ups who "know better." Lynne is a teacher's teacher, and knows the best place to start in addressing many of our state's education challenges is by working with the people doing the work -- the professional staff and teachers who directly work with our students.

Lynne Dodson all the way!

Lynne Rocks!!!! I am a Social Worker and I know that Lynne unederstands the issues and will work hard for change.

Lynne Dodson, without reservation. Lynne has the most relevant grasp of the issues facing the Legislature NOW and understands that this State has not served its educational system as well as it should. She can help fix that! Lynne has significant hands-on leadership experience in the community on major social justice issues. She is extremely intelligent and quick to grasp and help resolve problems and issues needing organized coalition building and resolution. Excellent people skills. Lynne will serve all of the 43rd's varied constituencies better than any other candidate in my opinion.

...yes lynne sent out an email to her supporters, most of whom have probably never been to this site, asking them to post comments. probably most others did too. i guess this is payback for that anti-nader shit she received? regardless, the above comments are little more than yard signs trying to crowd each other out of virtual space. noise.

Yes, Lynne sent out an email to her supporters, including me.

I'm not really "wondering". I KNOW that this means more than mere noise; it means that Lynne's got some leadership skills, that her campaign is well organized, and that she's got some serious grassroots numbers in the community read to go to bat for her.

I like people who really organize to win. And do the WORK.

Those who trek to the hearing to testify rather that trumpet leadership skills from the insider network.

She is on the ball - God forbid the 43rd if she and Gregoire hit it off. Or Murray, or Sommers or Cantwell, or to be President Hillary.

Go Lynne, it is OK to run a winning campaign, work hard, put it out there - this is a dog pile primary......do NOT sit in the corner and assume you have been annointed......the fighting 43rd, a match, I think.

Lynne would be good in Olympia. Although this is a good group of liberals in this race, Olympia needs a progressive who will fight and organize to push for a progressive agenda. Its not enough to just have a good position on the issues. The Democrats, nationally and locally, still have a corporate liberal agenda that needs to be put to the side. Olympia is still building prisons even with a Democratic House, Senate and Governor. Although the rest of the field will probably vote the correct way on most issues, the challenge is whether someone will fight to push the Democratic agenda to a more progressive position.

Bob Hasegawa is a great example of someone who will organize and fight for a progressive agenda. Lynne and Bob would be a great team to help work with others in strengthening the backbone of the Democrats.

Lynn Dodson is the best candidate in my opinion. She is very dedicated to social justice, well organized, intelligent, and always kind and available to help those in need. She has been a terrific union president, and I know she will be the best as a representative.

At this point I'm leaning towards Jamie Pedersen, not that I can actually vote in the race or anything.

Jamie Pedersen. He has a proven track record of team building that actually solves problems. Making sure that people who can't afford it have access to health care is just one issue Jamie has been able to tackle.

He been out and about talking to folks, I met him last week. He's a great problem solver, so he's got my vote!

Pure

I support Lynne Dodson and think she is the strongest of all the candidates because of her experience and knowledge of labor and education issues. She is also committed to regional environmental issues and will bring the same passion and commitment to them.

This is André speaking on behalf of my father (Don), who gave up trying to get the computer to work, in saying that Lynne Dodson is the strongest and most qualified of all the candidates.

Go, Lynne, go!

Lynne Dodson does not just live her principles. She also knows how to construct and conduct an organizing drive that enables our voice (regular working people) to prevail over the corrupting influence of money in politics.

hey look! people on Lynne Dodson's and Stephanie Pure's email lists support... Lynne Dobson and Stephanie Pure. Amazing!

Jamie Pedersen is an upstanding and capable person. He deserves the full support of the 43rd.

Not me - neither list. It is old fashioned to be well organized and mount a strong grass roots campaign of real people?.......refreshing to me. About time. Leadership, brains and bold. I like winners and fighters. This is not an armchair political era. Polite therories have been devoured by the neocons.

To the Bastile, real progressives need to take back America, start in the 43rd.

Lynne, sending another fifty next week.

I got here late, didn't I?

Dick Kelley combines experience with expertise (they're different animals, y'know), has worked directly with the House caucus within the last couple of years, and has his finger on the pulse of the Democratic organization in the 43rd.

And he puts his money (so to speak) where his mouth is on campaign financing and fealty to the grassroots that will carry him to the top of the primary.

Lynne, Definitely. She has a long career of fighting for and leadership in progressive issues.