The local Progressive Party stands for bigger government, more onerous regulations, less rights to our property, the de-industrialization of Whatcom County, walking/bicycles/mass transit over personal automobiles, all the while they state that they are “for the little people”. Well the “little people” need more than government handouts and great big safety nets that are anchors not wings.
So, in an effort to fight for freedom, liberty, rights of property and the restoration to the foundation of our Constitutional protections “from” big government, big taxes, big regulations, I am posting the results of the Whatcom County Progressive Party recommendations. If you believe in free markets, individual destiny, and the freedom to make mistakes which you will take personal responsibility for, the choices recommended by the Progressive Party will not move us in that direction. I ask that you read these over and share them with your contacts. Local politics is extremely important and it’s time that we start paying attention to who are the puppet masters and stop being puppets.
YiT, Shelly
Progressive Voters Guide :: City of Bellingham
The Progressive Voters Guide highlights the ballot measure positions and candidates recommended by Washington's leading progressive organizations.
Statewide Ballot Issues
Initiative 1125
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Vote NO on I-1125 - We can't afford more traffic and fewer jobs
Tim Eyman is back with another dangerous initiative that would halt major transportation projects across the state and eliminate thousands of jobs just when we need them most.
I-1125 would block funding that is critical for hundreds of construction projects, including the 520 bridge, the Columbia River Crossing, and State Routes 167 and 509. Eyman's I-1125 also threatens critical transit projects, including voter-approved light rail to East King County. This initiative would make it nearly impossible for Washington to sell toll-backed bonds, which are a critical part of the funding for transportation projects across the state.
Nearly all the campaign funding for I-1125 has come from one wealthy developer, Kemper Freeman. Freeman has dumped more than $1 million into I-1125 as a last-ditch effort to stop light rail.
More traffic and fewer jobs is not what Washington families are looking for. Vote NO on Initiative 1125.Opposed by: League of Women Voters, Washington Environmental Council, Transportation Choices Coalition, SEIU WA State Council, Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club, Sierra Club, OneAmerica Votes, Fuse Washington, The Stranger, Washington State Democrats, various Democratic district organizations, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Joint Council of Teamsters Local 28, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans, Cascade Land Conservancy, Futurewise, and many others.
Initiative 1163
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Vote YES on I-1163: Restore common sense protections for seniors and people with disabilites
I-1163 restores basic training requirements and federal background checks for home health care workers. This initiative will increase accountability for health care workers and ensure that our seniors and people with disabilities receive the safe, quality care they deserve.
Home health care workers care for our parents, grandparents, and members of our community with disabilities. These health care workers maintain the dignity and independence of thousands of our most vulnerable by allowing them to receive care in their own home. This also saves millions of dollars in expensive nursing home care.
Three years ago, the voters of Washington passed a similar measure by an overwhelming margin, only to see it cut by the legislature. Initiative 1163 would restore these common sense protections for more than 40,000 of our state's most vulnerable residents.
Vote YES on I-1163.Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington State Alliance for Retired People, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired People, Washington State Senior Citizens Lobby, SEIU Washington State Council, Equal Rights Washington, OneAmerica Votes, Washington CAN!, The Stranger,UFCW 21, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Washington State Democrats, various Democratic District organizations, Washington State Council of Firefighters, Washington Education Association, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO District 751, Washington Teamsters Joint Council #28, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Faith Action Network, State Poverty Action Network, and many others.
Initiative 1183
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Vote NO on I-1183 - Protect Our Communities
Big grocery chains and liquor distributors are back with another dangerous initiative to deregulate liquor sales in our communities. Based on an initiative that voters solidly rejected last year, I-1183 would authorize as many as five times as many retailers to sell hard liquor. As a result, our communities would likely see an increase in liquor consumption and problem drinking, as well as a negative impact on public safety.
I-1183 was written by corporate chain stores as a way to increase their profits. This measure gives an unfair advantage to big box stores at the expense of our Northwest small businesses and workers. In addition, this dangerous initiative would cost our state nearly 1,000 family-wage jobs and put many local entrepreneurs out of business. That's why small grocers and workers have joined local breweries and wineries standing united against this measure.
Vote NO on I-1183.Opposed by: League of Women Voters of Washington, SEIU Washington State Council,OneAmerica Votes, Latino PAC, Fuse Washington, The Stranger, Washington State Democrats, various Democratic District organizations, Joint Council of Teamsters 28, Snohomish County Central Labor Council, Spokane Regional Labor Council, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 141 (Nurses), Washington Education Association, Washington State Council of Fire Fighters, Children's Alliance, Faith Action Network, King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, Seattle Human Services Coalition, Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, Statewide Poverty Action Network, Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention, Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans, Washington Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice, and many others.
SJR 8205
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Vote APPROVE to clean up residency requirements
- No Campaign Web Site
- Voters Pamphlet
The Washington Constitution currently contains two provisions relating to the length of time that a person must be a resident of Washington in order to vote. One of those provisions, article VI, section 1A, is inoperative because the United States Supreme Court ruled that voter residency requirements greater than 30 days are unconstitutional.
This amendment removes the inoperative provision, and allows a citizen to vote if they have resided in Washington, their county and precinct for 30 days.
This amendment passed the State Legislature unanimously.Endorsements and Supporters include: The Stranger
SJR 8206
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Additional contributions to rainy day fund?
- No Campaign Web Site
- Voters Pamphlet
We lean against but don't have a strong recommendation on this one. There are good progressives on either side. While we are all for a rainy day fund, we have concerns that SJR 8206 would require greater contributions to the fund, while making it almost impossible to tap even when times are hardest.
The state maintains a budget stabilization account, called "The Rainy Day Fund", into which the legislature must contribute 1% of revenues from the general fund. This account can be tapped in case of catastrophe, or when state job growth in the state is less than 1%.
This amendment would require additional contributions to the budget stabilization account in times of "extraordinary revenue growth". Three-fourths of that growth would go to the fund.
Some progressive legislators and organizations are concerned that the amendment would make it harder to tap revenue growth to repair budget cuts made during hard times. The current rainy day fund remains underutilized despite the budget cutbacks caused by the great recession.
The state senate passed this amendment unanimously. The state house passed this amendment 76 to 10.
Opposed by the Washington State Labor Council and The Stranger.
Whatcom County
County Executive
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Jack Louws
Non-Partisan
Jack Louws is a business owner and former Mayor of Lynden. He promises to bring that experience to lead the County, deal with aging infrastructure, manage growth, and protect farmland and Lake Whatcom.
Although Louws is not progressive, he is definitely a much better choice than his opponent, conservative State Senator Doug Ericksen.Endorsements and Supporters include: NW Central Labor Council
Whatcom County Council
Position #1B
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Pete Kremen
Non-Partisan
Pete Kremen is stepping down from his current role as Whatcom County Executive, but seeking to stay involved in a part-time capacity on the County Council. In addition to his previous leadership, Kremen has supported efforts to clean up Lake Whatcom and brings a tremendous amount of community service and experience.
Kremen is a much better choice than his opponent, conservative incumbent Tony Larson.Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters
Position #2B
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Christina Maginnis
Non-Partisan
Christina Maginnis brings a strong background in environmental policy as a specialist for the Department of Ecology and a member of the Lake Whatcom Watershed Advisory Board. Maginnis wants Whatcom County to be a leader in clean energy and job creation, and to protect farmland and local farmers.
Maginnis is challenging incumbent Sam Crawford, a longtime advocate for conservative development interests.Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Progressive Majority, Fuse Washington, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Northwest Washignton Central Labor Council, Whatcom County Democrats, Whatcom Firefighters IAFF #106, Amalgamated Transit Union 843 Bellingham
Position #3B
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Alan Black
Non-Partisan
Alan Black currently serves on the Blaine City Council and is now running for the County Council. He is a retired 747 airline pilot and former medevac pilot for Airlift Northwest. Black wants to find solutions to conserve our natural resources, maintain a healthy environment, and attract more businesses to create family-wage jobs.
Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Whatcom County Democrats, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 843, Whatcom Firefighters IAFF #106
City of Bellingham
Mayor
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Dan Pike
Non-Partisan
Incumbent Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike has been a strong and effective leader working for progressive values and is running to retain his position. Pike's record is fiscally responsible and community oriented. He actively opposes a coal port in Whatcom County and has worked to protect both the lake and watershed, and has the endorsement of several environmental groups.
Pike's challenger is Kelli Linville, who brings a long record of community experience. Linville started her policy career on the Bellingham Planning Commission and moved on to become a state Representative. While endorsed by pro-choice groups, her record in the Legislature is mixed on environmental and labor issues.Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, Cascade Bicycle Club,Sierra Club, Whatcom County Democrats, Bellingham Firefighters IAFF 106
Bellingham City Council
Ward #1
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Jack Weiss
Non-Partisan
- No Candidate Web Site
- Voters Pamphlet
Jack Weiss has an impressive record protecting the community through better management of Lake Whatcom drinking water, providing responsible growth management that stops sprawl, and ensuring the waterfront master plan reflects community values. He has also worked to improve the availability and quality of low-income housing,and stabilized finances during the recession.
Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Whatcom County Democrats
Ward #3
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Cathy Lehman
Non-Partisan
Cathy Lehman brings strong credentials from her work at Sustainable Connections helping entrepreneurs develop green businesses, and at Futurewise promoting smart growth and protecting farmland, forests, and shorelines. Lehman is focused on promoting a vibrant downtown core, livable neighborhoods that provide transportation choices, and the cleanup of Lake Whatcom, including moving towards zero-impact homes in the watershed.
Endorsements and Supporters include: Sierra Club, National Women's Political Caucus of Washington, Progressive Majority, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Whatcom County Democrats
Ward #5
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Terry Bornemann
Non-Partisan
Councilmember Terry Bornemann sees Lake Whatcom as an essential priority for Bellingham and has worked to limit development, ban phosphorus fertilizer pollution, and buy property within the watershed to keep it from development. Bornemann is also working toward the revitalization of our downtown, the protection of our neighborhoods, and working for sustainable economic growth.
Endorsements and Supporters include: NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Whatcom County Democrats, Northwest Central Labor Council
At-Large
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Seth Fleetwood
Non-Partisan
With deep community experience, a strong record as an environmental champion, and previous service on the County Council, Seth Fleetwood is running for a full-term on the Bellingham City Council. Fleetwood is committed to a cleanup program for Lake Whatcom, wants to grow in a way that does not expand into natural resource lands of the county, and develop strong downtown and neighborhood centers.
Endorsements and Supporters include: Washington Conservation Voters
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