State races to bring action
THIS YEAR already has seen more than the usual share of political campaign activity at the national level. Soon that feverish activity will spread to Washington State where a number of races are likely to be hotly contested.
Among the major races will be the election for the position of governor for the next four years. Incumbent Gov. Chris Gregoire is facing the likelihood of a spirited challenge from Republican Dino Rossi, whom she beat in 2004.
Council 2 is endorsing Gregoire.
“Gregoire is the clear choice of organized labor,” says Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson.
“As a result, if Rossi were to be successful any progress we have made in the past four years is likely to be reversed.”
The major issues on which progress has been made have been on pensions and collective bargaining, Thompson adds.
Last year, Gregoire signed into law the most significant improvement in local government employees’ pensions in decades.
Another major race at the state level is that for attorney general.
In that race, Council 2 is endorsing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, who will step down from his present position to take on the incumbent, Republican Rob McKenna.
That race, too, is expected to be fiercely contested.
Among the other candidates whom Council 2 is endorsing is Calvin Goings for the position of Pierce County Executive being vacated by Ladenburg.
