Council 2 newspaper - Winter 2009

COUNCIL 2 MEMBERS played a leading role in helping defeat anti-tax activist Tim Eyman’s latest initiative, 1033, which was on the November ballot.

Members voluntarily operated telephone banks, distributed fliers and even took to the streets to dissuade citizens from voting for the measure, which would have capped revenue flowing into the main accounts of city, county and state government, thereby effectively locking today’s recession-pinched budgets into place forever.

Christine Kahikina of Local 2084-SC, King County Juvenile Court, directs a motorist’s attention to a flier outlining the adverse economic impacts of Initiative 1033.

Council 2 also formed part of a broad coalition of labor, business, health care and education that opposed the initiative. Labor was the single largest source of financing.

Also joining the coalition against the measure was Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who added $3 million to the pot. “Under normal circumstances, these people would not agree that the sun will come up tomorrow, but they all shared the belief that this initiative was bad for Washington State,” says Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson.

Mark Farrell (left) and Michael West (right) distribute fliers opposing I-1033. Both are members of Local 2084-sc.

When the votes were counted, it was clear their efforts were a resounding success. About 60 percent voted against Initiative 1003.

“This was a major defeat not only for the initiative, but also for Eyman,” Thompson adds. “Although it is too early to announce the end of Tim Eyman — that likely will be dependent on his major financer, Michael Dunmire — his name now evokes a negative reaction from most voters. It will be difficult for him to sell his approach in the future.”