Stranger reader Andrew writes:

While I'd like to vote a straight Stranger ticket, I've decided to make sure that I don't vote for any candidate that's been endorsed by the BIAW. Can you either ensure Stranger readers that the paper hasn't endorsed any BIAW-endorsed candidates, or at least provide pointers to their endorsements (which don't seem to be readily visible from their web page, or on a Google search)?

Andrew's referring to the Building Industry Association of Washington--the industry group that that state Dems have accused of illegally colluding with Rossi to support the Republican's campaign against Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire.

While the BIAW doesn't endorse candidates directly, it does donate to and spend money on behalf of candidates through its PACs, which include the Affordable Housing Council of Washington (the BIAW-affiliated local PAC for the King County Master Builders Association), the Washington Affordable Housing Council, It's Time for a Change, Walking for Washington, and ChangePAC. Those groups have indeed given to (and spent money on behalf of) some Stranger-endorsed candidates (as well as many Democrats outside the Stranger's distribution area, and a majority of the Seattle City Council). In the interest of full disclosure, here's a (probably non-comprehensive) list.

Mary Margaret Haugen, D-36: $1,600 in direct contributions from the Affordable Housing Council.

Scott White, $1,600 in direct contributions from the Affordable Housing Council.

Reuven Carlyle, $800 in direct contributions from the Affordable Housing Council.

Speaking of Carlyle: In the last two weeks, the 36th District Dem has received more than $26,000. Among his recent donors: AT&T, Bank of America, Eli Lilly, Regence Blue Shield, former mayor Charlie Royer, the Washington Beer and Wine Wholesalers PAC, Merck & Co., the Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association PAC, and Builders United in Legislative Development, a construction-industry PAC. And two more groups have done independent expenditures on Carlyle's behalf--the Washington State Dental PAC sent out a generic pro-Carlyle mailer that cost $9,900 (tagline: "Our Town. Our Time. Our Choice for Change); and the Washington Restaurant Association-backed Responsible Leadership 2008, which added a $7,600 education-themed mailer to its earlier $7,000 environmental mailing.