Another way to "find" the money for education, etc. would be to stop the war. On your website, the only information I can find is from 2002! Would you please explain your position on the issue of immediate withdrawal of American forces in Iraq?

Thank you for your time.

Eyman is trying to take back gay civil right with ref. 65.

1- Have you endorsed
Washingtn Won't Discriminate to oppose Eyman?

2- What efforts will your campaign make to intergrate with WWD?

4- Immigtation for me is the new movemtn for workers rights. Min. wage, unions, health ins. Insight?

State reps don't vote on the war. And the money "saved" by bringing the troops back did not come from, nor would it be returned to, the state.

I would like to hear some SPECIFICS from Mr. Kelley on transportation initiatives-- something more concrete than "we need more transit". Preferably using only concrete anglo-saxon nouns.

Wrong - no direct flow, but when the Feds. are tapped out due to warmongering, they quit funding programs in the sates.

Cash strapped DC has become very, very stingy of recent. War spending has affected every govt program nationwide.

No to mention war is evil. An issue of a political leaders' basic thinking.

... dudes, can we let Dick Kelley try to answer these questions? stop doing his homework for him, shit.

Questions:

1) You're not taking large campaign contributions. But what have you donated to your own campaign so far and how much do you expect to donate to your campaign by the end?

2) Tax reform. As a "real progressive", you're probably aware that our current tax system is highly regressive. Bill Gates Sr. did an excellent study of the state's tax system, but was totally blown off by the Legislature when he offered real proposals to fix it. So what's your plan?

Erin's question is a good one. I have been chair of the 43rd Democrats for 4 years. In September of 2002, it was clear to many that Bush intended to take us into Iraq. I was one of the two sponsors of the resolution which put the 43rd Dems on record in opposition to war in Iraq. With the district's support, I have been involved in several marches, meetings and, most important, lobbying our Senators on the war. In 2004, I supported Howard Dean largely because he wanted to get us out of Iraq (even though I would have done it faster than he talked about). I led the 43rd Democrats to organize an enormous 9,000 voter turnout at the caucuses, and helped the 43rd become the biggest Dean victory in the Northwest.
But we have to recognize that any money saved by ending the war will be soaked up by the huge Federal deficits Bush's irresponsible tax cuts have created.
On the Eyman initiative, I have opposed everything Eyman has ever done, and this is the worst. I oppose his initiative. It is not yet clear how much the anti-initiative campaign will want to coordinate with individual candidates, but we are ready when they are.

"Dick Kelley is the only candidate who is refusing to accept big contributions."

Dick - Is this an issue in the 43rd? There are two or three other candidates raising quite a bit more money than you by taking larger donations - will the donations they take put them under the thumb of special interests and if so, which ones? Aren't they just taking money from progressive groups who lobby on issues the 43rd cares about?

"Dick knows how to get things done: He is the only candidate who has worked in Washington State government"

Dick - Jamie Pederson worked at a state level in lobbying for Gay Rights and Jim Street has lobbied extensively and successfully on Juvinille Justice Reform. I agree we need someone with experience at a state level to fill Murray's shoes, but how does your experience make you more qualified than Pederson or Street who helped write and pass legislation in the state House and Senate?

I have donated exactly the same amount I would accept from anyone else: $100 for the primary and $100 for the general. It is worth noting that the law puts no limit on the amount that a wealthy candidate can dump into their own race.
The $29,000 banked and $10,000 in pledges our campaign has raised so far is from over 400 individuals. We have more than twice as many individual contributors as any other candidate. We have more contributors than any other candidate in every single zip code in the district except 98104 downtown. This is what a real grassroots campaign looks like.
WF also asked about how we can make the tax system more progressive. I represented the 43rd Democrats on the WA Tax Fairness Coalition advisory committee, and I think the Gates report is a good roadmap to reform. We took a step forward last year by reinstating the state estate tax. We could also shift taxes up the economic ladder by restructuring the B&O tax as more of a net-profits tax. Even if the voters won't accept an income tax now, we need to recognize that the sales tax is terribly regressive and we need to stop using it for everything that comes along.

My refusal to take big contributions is not a criticism of any other candidate.
And no, lobbying is not the same as learning the system from the inside.

Dick, my question about your position on the size of campaign donations was not asking you to put down any other candidate but to explain how the first point in your platform you spend the most time talking about makes a difference in a race with 5 other seemingly progressive Dems. If they will not be influenced by big donors in a negative way, then how does this major platform position differentiate you from any of your opponents? I like the grassroots campaign (though an endorsement from Rosellini doesn't seem so grassroots and he has never struck me as a 'clean campaign' politician), and it would be very interesting to hear specifics on how taking smaller donations will set you apart from the other candidates in the race. If your opponents aren't influenced by any big bad donors, then why should I be concerned about this issue in this race?

You say my question is a good one, but as far as I can tell you haven't answered it yet.

What is your position on the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq? Or even more specifically, if your are elected would you introduce or support a resolution calling on President Bush to immediately end the war and bring all forces back here?

I understand that as another poster said state reps don't vote on the war. However, I disagree that because they don't vote they can't choose to have an influence nationally. I believe pressure can and should come from all sides against this war, and why not from the state legislature?

I think he answered your question, and his original statement speaks for itself. Next!

i meant meinert's. erin hadn't posted when i typed that...

Sorry, but I will not be dragged into criticizing individual donors that other candidates have accepted large contributions from. The press usually does a fair job of that during the campaign. That is not my point. My point is that until we can reduce the influence of big contributors and the special interests most of them represent, we will not be able to get the Legislature to produce progressive tax, environmental, human services and privacy rights policies. So my pledge to introduce an Arizona-type campaign finance reform is much more important than my own limitation on my contributions, which is mainly to keep me from accumulating too much baggage on my way to Olympia.

Erin- I would happily support such a resolution. I hope you will ask the same question of all the other candidates this week. Thanks.

I want to know what your specific taxation proposals would be to raise funding for transit solutions in the Puget Sound. Additionally, which of the solutions, tunnel, rebuild, or no build, do you support for the viaduct?

I want to know what your specific taxation proposals would be to raise funding for transit solutions in the Puget Sound. Additionally, which of the solutions, tunnel, rebuild, or no build, do you support for the viaduct?

1. Death penalty
2. Activism beyond the blue ribbon stuff. Street demos, pickets, etc.
3. fighting racism
4. Abortion and your participation in protecting the right thereto
5. Why the 100. limit- paltry, I do not fear the 200. donor at all
6. Why Licata as ealy endorsement, history with Nick

Have you had any notable early endorsements? And have any of your 43rd District Democrats fellow board members endorsed you? I understand another one of the candidates is a fellow board member - how would you describe your differences between you as a candidate and other candidates for this seat?

oh, and Gita's post is a good question - if you were a state rep, any specific transit or transportation measures that you think might be useful to people who live in Seattle that you are either thinking of, or planning to support? specifics would be nice.

So far I'm hearing lots of stuff about issues of no consequence -- war, Howard Dean -- and nothing concrete about issues that are likely to come up in the House. Opposing Tim Eyman isn't likely to be enough in the 43rd, where Eyman has virtually zero supporters.

Gitai- Thanks for asking about transportation. This is another good question that should be asked of all the candidates.
The problem with the tunnel is that I don't think the money is there unless we suck up all the flexible money the City can find for years. This would hurt our ability to do neighborhood transit improvements, etc. The $2 Billion the State will put up (depending on the project design) is basically the gas tax money that by the State Constitution cannot be used for anything but highways. This is a major hurdle for shifting our transportation system toward transit, HOV, etc. Using the sales tax on gas instead of part of the gas tax should be explored to make our funding more flexible at the State level. My concern about the no-build option is diverting tens of thousands of additional cars per day onto I-5, and turning 1st, 2nd and 4th Avenues into highways, with real damage to the Pioneer Square, Market and other downtown neighborhoods. But it is too soon to discard this option, as it has not had the benefit of a full analysis yet. A funding issue which I think needs to be more seriously addressed in all options is how we could distribute more of the costs of the project onto the people whose real estate will increase in value the most (depending on which option is selected).
I have not come to closure on this yet, and I don't think we should until all the information is available.

George,
I oppose the death penalty. I have supported the right of a woman to choose an abortion for many years, and have contributed to several pro-choice campaigns, both financially and politically. My time as chair of the City's Affirmative Action Task Force, when I was deputy mayor, was a time of pushing the bureaucracy to move on hiring, training and promoting minorities and women. Not speeches or rallies, just making it happen.
I consider Nick Licata one of the most outstanding and creative City Councilmembers Seattle has ever had, I have always supported him, and I am proud to have his support.

Will- I am not going to characterize the other candidates in the race. I prefer to run a positive race and make my own positions and experience clear.
I am glad to have the support of most of the PCOs and officers of the 43rd District Democrats. Some of my early endorsers include Mike Lowry, Deborah Senn, the State Young Democrats and three local YD clubs, ILWU Local 52, Alec Fisken, Lloyd Hara, Arlene Oki, Dawn Mason, Tom Rasmussen, Cleve Stockmeyer, Peter Sherwin, Larry Gossett, Dan Borroff, John Fox, Margaret Levi, David Olson, more than a dozen legislators and many other progressive citizens in the 43rd.

It really is not going to matter all that much who wins this seat. The most important thing is that we get somebody who can get an (progressive) agenda passed.

Ability to be effective is the most important consideration with the candidates at hand (who all bascially agree on things -- especially things they will make decisions about in the capacity of this job)

Dick -- those answers on transportation, the viaduct, and other issues are good ones. Thanks.

I like that you're doing this, Eli. It's good to give all plausible candidates in the 43rd a forum to express what they're about, and give us a fair chance to gain some initial impressions of each one. Well played.

dick kelley is going to be a tough act to follow, i think. props to him for being so responsive and direct.

well, I for one am looking forward to Bill Sherman's slog tomorrow, and maybe Stephanie on Thursday. be interesting to see how they answer good questions like the ones today.

I agree with Gomez and WF. Great dialogue and GREAT answers. THANKS Dick Kelley. I hope that people realize the difference between electing a progressive and electing someone with progressive values who knows how to move the agenda forward. Dick Kelley is the ONLY candidate in this race with REAL experience in Olympia. Some of the others (not all) have impressive resumes, but Dick Kelley is the complete package.

Hi, Dick,

I've heard good things about you, and you have an impressive list of supporters.

You've mentioned having served as chair of the city's Affirmative Action Task Force.

Would you advise voters in the 43rd to incorporate Affirmative Action principles in selecting whom to vote for in your race?

What would that look like?

How would you justify a recommendation that they vote for you- a white male- when there are arguably two viable progressive women running for this seat (one of whom does have experience lobbying effectively in Olympia)?

The 43rd has three seats in its legislative delegation-- two House seats and one state senate seat.

Clearly Frank Chopp will be re-elected to one of the 43rd's House seats.

Keeping in mind Affirmative Action values, consider these scenarios:

Scenario One: If Pat Thibaudeau is re-elected, along with Frank Chopp, and if you are elected, then there will be twice as many male policymakers representating the 43rd LD again, as it has been for the last several years.

Scenario Two: If Ed Murray is elected state senator from the 43rd LD, along with Frank Chopp in the House, and if you are elected, then the 43rd would be represented by an all-white male delegation.

How does Affirmative Action fit in?