Jefferson County Voter Guide

Jefferson CountyGeneral ElectionVoter Guide A product of

Peninsula Daily news 2 For the election enDing november 3, 2009 Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Be sure to vote by 8 p.m. Nov. 3

F O R E W O R D

THIS SPECIAL SECTION of the Peninsula Daily News, also available at no charge at the county courthouse, libraries and other public places across Jefferson County, provides voters with information about the Nov. 3 general election.

It profiles the candidates for county-wide and local races in which there is more than one candidate, and also dis-cusses measures on the ballot.

The primary election was held Aug. 18.Compilation of information, including

the question-and-answer segments, was coordinated by PDN Senior Writer Paul Gottlieb.

Candidates’ answers to questionnaires were limited to 75 words per question and were edited for length, grammar and spelling.

Races in which there is only one candi-date are not profiled in this section. Nei-ther are write-in candidates.

In Jefferson County, all voting is done by mail. There is no Election Day precinct polling.

Mail-in ballots were sent to registered voters in the appropriate jurisdictions by Oct. 14.

They must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3 or dropped off by no later than 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

Election calendarHere are some significant dates relat-

ing to the general election:

■ Oct. 26: Voter registration deadline for people not currently registered to vote in Washington.

Registration must be done in person at the Auditor’s Office in the county court-house, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.

■ Nov. 2: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 4 general elec-tion at the County Auditor’s Office in the courthouse.

■ Nov. 2: Last day for write-in candi-dates to file a Declaration of Candidacy for the Nov. 4 election.

■ Nov. 24: Deadline for County Can-vassing Board to certify the general elec-tion returns.

■ Nov. 25: Last day for county to mail abstract of general election returns to state.

■ Dec. 3: Final day for secretary of state to certify general election returns from across the state.

Got questions?

Questions about Jefferson County elec-tions can be posted to the County Audi-tor’s Office elections division at 360-385-9117 Mondays through Fridays.

Voter registration information is avail-able by phoning 360-385-9119.

Statewide elections information — including a link to the state’s online voters guide — is available from the Secretary of State’s Office in Olympia on the Web site, www.vote.wa.gov.

They’ve already won: Uncontested racesThe following candidates are

unopposed in local elections, although their names and the positions they seek are on the Nov. 3 ballot in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Uncontested candidates are not profiled in this voter guide.

Fire Protection District No. 5Commissioner, Position No. 2n Ford Kessler

Cemetery District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 2n L. Scott Loring

Cemetery District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 3n Myrtle Corey

Cemetery District No. 2Commissioner, Position No. 1n Marjorie Schafer

Cemetery District No. 3Commissioner Position No. 2n Diane (Movius) Martin

Water District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 1n Cal White

Water District No. 2Commissioner, Position No. 3n Wayne Schlaefli

Public Hospital District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 3n Carol J. Young

Public Hospital District No. 2Commissioner, Position No. 2n Chuck Russell

Parks and Recreation District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 1n Laron Williams

Parks and Recreation District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 2n Dennis Schmitt

Parks and Recreation District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 3n Larry Robinson

Parks and Recreation District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 5n Richard A. Hull

Sequim School District No. 323Director, District No. 3n John Bridge

Sequim School District No. 323Director, At-Large Position No. 4n Beverly Horan

Quillayute Valley School District No. 402

Director, District 2n Rick Gale

Quillayute Valley School District No. 402

Director District 4n Brian Pederson

Fire Protection District No. 3Commissioner, Position No. 1n Gary L. Coffey

Jefferson County Sheriffn Tony S. Hernandez

City of Port TownsendCouncil Member, Position No. 1n Michelle Sandoval

City of Port TownsendCouncil Member, Position No. 2n Catharine Robinson

City of Port TownsendCouncil Member, Position No. 5n Mark Welch

City of Port TownsendCouncil Member, Position No. 7n Kris Nelson

Queets-Clearwater School District No. 20

Director, District No. 1n Lyle Pfeifle


Director, District No. 1n Sandra Wells-Kalama


Director, District No. 2n Steve Sansom


Director, District No. 5n Wilson (Sandy) Wells

Brinnon School District No. 46Director, District No. 1n Valerie Schindler

Brinnon School District No. 46Director, District No. 3n Diane Bressler

Brinnon School District No. 46Director, District No. 4n Bill Barnet

Brinnon School District No. 46Director, District No. 5n Wendy Ryan-Hogan

Quilcene School District No. 48Director, District No. 2n Gary Rae

Quilcene School District No. 48Director, District No. 3n Katie Williams

Quilcene School District No. 48Director, At-Large Position No. 5n Bonnie Hitt

Chimacum School District No. 49Director, District No. 1n Ted Friedrich

Chimacum School District No. 49Director, District No. 2n Cammy Brown

Chimacum School District No. 49Director, District No. 5n Kevin M. Miller

Port Townsend School District No. 50

Director, District No. 1n Holley Carlson

Port Townsend School District No. 50

Director, District No. 2n Jennifer James-Wilson

Fire Protection District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 2n Rich Stapf Jr.

Fire Protection District No. 1Commissioner, Position No. 3n Jess L. Bondurant Jr.

Fire Protection District No. 2Commissioner, Position No. 2n Michael K. Whittaker

Fire Protection District No. 3Commissioner, Position No. 3n Ronald Helmonds

Fire Protection District No. 5Commissioner, Position No. 1n William P. Gallant

Peninsula Daily news For the election enDing november 3, 2009 3

How will you make the time to attend all meetings and be an effective, full-time port commissioner?

Schuessler: I will approach the port commission meetings as a job and go to the job like mil-lions of other people in the coun-try.

To me, the port commissioner position will entail a lot more time and effort than just attend-ing the meetings.

Thompson: As I have for the previous term.

What is the proper use of closed-door executive sessions, and how would you balance that with the need to conduct the public’s business in full view of the governed?

Schuessler: I would advocate closed-door sessions to discuss anecdotal topics or sensitive issues that could disparage indi-viduals or businesses.

If opposing views are polar-ized to the extreme, a closed-door session allows a little “in your face” confrontation that tends to soften the extremes and brings

them to a position that is debat-able in full view of the public.

Thompson: For issues of real estate, litigation and personnel — everything else is public.

How much should the port expand Jefferson County International Airport to accommodate non-aviation-related light industry and manufacturing, and how would you finance it?

Schuessler: I don’t see light industry — aviation or non-avia-tion manufacturing — beating a path to the airport but I could envision aviation enthusiasts building hangar homes with air-port access.

Once that was established light industry could be integrated with owner attached domiciles.

It could be financed with long-term leases or flat out sales.

Living in a hangar with your airplane or with your cottage industry is not much different from living on your boat in the marina.

Thompson: As much busi-ness as could be attracted would be welcome. The port, at this time, would ease ground only for business development.

What are your top ideas for fostering economic growth during your four-year term?

Schuessler: n Emphasize customer service

and cost.n Treat customers right. Word

of mouth reverberates in the boating community.

n Target groups with special incentives — commercial, yacht clubs, manufacturers, power/sail — during specific periods.

n Partner with local mer-chants, hotels, restaurants on coupon packages.

n Try a boat bucks program.n Advertise in trade publica-

tions, highlight local marine trades and personalities.

n Push for marina expansion to get boats off the waiting list and into slips, and improve water access.

Thompson: n Continuing to improve cus-

tomer relations.n Continuing to provide

incentives to use our facilities as necessary.

n Continuing to upgrade our facilities as opportunity occurs.

What is the most pressing issue facing the port district, and how will you address it?

Schuessler: Paying the bills and servicing the debt while maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure

Jefferson County Voter Guide 2009

Port commissioner, Position 2

P O R T O F P O R T T O W N S E N D

Dave Thompson

Residence: Port Townsend

Phone: 360-643-2050

E-mail: No e-mail address

Age: 66

Education: Some col-lege

Occupation: Shipwright

Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Sitting commissioner for District 2

Robert G. Schuessler

Residence: Port Had-lock

Phone: 360-390-8401

E-mail: [email protected]

Age: 66

Education: Did not respond.

Occupation: Retired harbormaster

Campaign Web site: None

Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? I have never held elective public office.

About the jobPORT Of PORT TOWNSEND COmmISSIONER, Position 2

Term: Four years

Election boundaries: Countywide.

Registered voters: 21,876 as of Sept. 24

meetings: Second and fourth Wednesdays

Duties: n Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $6,276,560.n Can increase the tax levy by up to 1 percent without a vote

of the people. The levy rate is 16 cents per $1,000 of valuation.n Can increase property taxes up to an additional 45 cents

per $1,000 of valuation for up to six years without a popular vote, after which the levy increase must be approved by popu-lar vote or eliminated.

n Hires an executive who is responsible for hiring a work force that in 2009 is 26 full-time staff.

n Responsible for managing Point Hudson Boat Haven and shipyard, Jefferson County International Airport, Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene, where the port managed 40 acres of uplands; and about a half-dozen boat ramps throughout the county.

n Manages 600 acres, not including tidelands.

Compensation: n $104 per meeting and for every day commissioners con-

duct port business and up to $200 in monthly stipends up to $12,384 annually for meetings and stipends combined.

n The IRS gas mileage rate, currently 55 cents per mile.n Medical and dental insurance.

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Peninsula Daily news 4 For the election enDing november 3, 2009

How will you make time to attend all meetings and be an effective full-time port com-missioner?

Beck: I am retired from my career as a Navy civil worker, and I am self employed as a business owner and farmer.

I will be available for neces-sary port business 24/7, just as I have been for my entire tenure as a port commissioner.

As a policy maker, I have always made time to fully prepare for every port meeting.

Erickson: I have made arrangements with my employer for missed time at work when attending to port business.

I am used to the increased hours due to my four-year tenure with the Port Townsend Marine Trades Association and its duties.

I work in the port and am available during regular working hours. I am available by phone and e-mail both at work and at home.

What is the proper use of closed-door executive sessions and how would you balance

that with the need to conduct the public’s business in full view of the governed?

Beck: State law RCW 42.30.110 allows executive ses-sions for only three purposes: Real estate transactions, personnel matters, and litigation.

The executive session is only for the discussion of these matters and not for decisions.

Every decision must be made in a public meeting through a for-mal motion, discussion and public input, and majority vote of the commission.

During my tenure, the port has followed the letter and intent of the Open Public Meetings Act.

Erickson: Closed-door execu-tive sessions can only be used as defined in the Open Public Meet-ings Act.

These can be to avoid undue changes in value of transactions subject to public knowledge such as contract negotiations and real estate transactions.

The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.

How much should the port expand Jefferson County International Airport to accommodate non-aviation-related light industry and manufacturing, and how would you finance it?

Beck: I have worked to expand the port’s ability to use the 24 acres of currently residen-tial zoned land on the south side of the airport for light industrial uses.


Port commissioner, Position 3

P O R T O F P O R T T O W N S E N D

Herb Beck

Residence: Quilcene

Phone: 360-765-3728; fax, 360-765-4658


Age: 71

Education: Quilcene School, associate of science degree, Olympic College

Occupation: I was the lead electronic technician, foreign sales, until I retired from Keyport Naval Center.

I own and manage Little Quil Farm, Quilcene, where I specialize in raising organic beef.

Campaign Web site: www.herbbeckforportcomm.com

Have you ever held elective public office if so, what? Port of Port Townsend commissioner

Leif W. Erickson

Residence: Port Ludlow

Phone: 360-437-2066


Age: 58

Education: Graduated from Bellevue High School

Occupation: Production manager, Townsend Bay Marine (also professional boat builder)


Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? I have never held public office.

About the jobPORT Of PORT TOWNSEND COmmISSIONER, Position 3

Term: Four years

Election boundaries: Countywide.

Registered voters: 21,876 as of Sept. 24

meetings: Second and fourth Wednesdays

Duties: n Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $6,276,560.n Can increase the tax levy by up to 1 percent without a vote

of the people. The levy rate is 16 cents per $1,000 of valuation.n Can increase property taxes up to an additional 45 cents

per $1,000 of valuation for up to six years without a popular vote, after which the levy increase must be approved by popu-lar vote or eliminated.

n Hires an executive who is responsible for hiring a work force that in 2009 is 26 full-time staff.

n Responsible for managing Point Hudson Boat Haven and shipyard, Jefferson County International Airport, Herb Beck Marina in Quilcene, where the port managed 40 acres of uplands; and about a half-dozen boat ramps throughout the county.

n Manages 600 acres, not including tidelands.

Compensation: n $104 per meeting and for every day commissioners con-

duct port business and up to $200 in monthly stipends up to $12,384 annually for meetings and stipends combined.

n The IRS gas mileage rate, currently 55 cents per mile.n Medical and dental insurance.

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Thompson: Trailered boats have increased in number and need expanded facilities.

I’m looking for opportunities, and staff is looking for opportuni-ties.

How would you rate the present port board of com-missioners? Explain.

Schuessler: Did not respond.Thompson: I think it would

be hard to improve the present commission.

How would you address the problem of the port’s declin-ing revenue?

Schuessler: n Do what is necessary to

keep the boat yard full.Equipment, labor and debt

service costs are relatively con-stant, whether the yard is empty or full.

n Solicit new business. A full yard attracts diverse economic interest that benefits the Port, communities and the county.

n Work to bring outlying

small businesses into the fold to promote the expertise and ser-vices they have to offer to boat owners that complements the in yard trades.

Thompson: Continue incen-tives to use our facilities and con-tinue to improve customer ser-vice so users will be eager to return.

If elected, what would be your primary goal for next year?

Schuessler: I want to

improve access to the water in Jefferson County so that more people in the community can get interested in and stay interested in marine activities.

Infrastructure needs to be improved so that the people have safe access to the water.

I also want to emphasize how important the port is to the county and that the port should be expanded to accommodate more boats, marine activities and marine-related services, which also bring revenue into the com-munity.

Thompson: Replacement of AB Dock with adequate financ-ing, a bulletproof construction contract performed in a timely fashion.

Why should voters choose you over your opponent?

Schuessler: Did not respond.

Thompson: Because I take care of business, push for better service and am familiar with the port’s operations.

Port of Port Townsend commissioner, Position 2continueD From Page 3

On Sept. 8, Peninsula Daily News covered my efforts to achieve rezoning necessary for light industry and up to 100 jobs.

We have an exceptional history of successful public-private financing of development, which should be continued in future air-port development.

I will continue future airport development.

Erickson: Expanding Jeffer-son County International Airport should be put on hold until the Port of Port Townsend has its financial situation in order.

The port, the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County need to work together in the development of light industry in this part of Jefferson County.

It is who should pay the costs of the infrastructure and where would it would be the best uti-lized that needs to be determined.

What are your top ideas for

fostering economic growth your four-year term?

Beck: n Attracting light industry to

the airport.n Creating sandblasting and

painting facilities to attract new business to the Boat Haven

n Improving port infrastruc-ture such as an RV park at the Quilcene marina

n Boat ramp improvementsn Cold storage for agriculture

products.n Creating and maintaining

an environment where tenant businesses can flourish will always be important.

Erickson: n Support of the marine

trades in the Boat Haven, Point Hudson and Quilcene marinas.

n Continued incentives for the marine trades for haul-out and storage charge reductions to encourage marine trades busi-ness.

n Maintenance and improve-ment of existing boat ramps, moorage facilities and improved parking and access to the water-front.

What is the most pressing

issue facing the port district, and how will you address it?

Beck: The Boat Haven renova-tion currently in progress must be completed as rapidly as possible because of the failing infrastruc-ture and the positive effect the project will have on recreational boating and the marine trades.

Also, it is necessary to main-tain this project’s current momen-tum.

Erickson: The port budget shortage is the most pressing issue facing the Port of Port Townsend.

This needs to be addressed first by careful attention to spend-ing.

Budgets need not only to be “frozen” but reduced overall.

Renovation of AB Docks needs to be carefully thought out and

monitored to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

New projects need to be thought through from the begin-ning, with cost as constraint.

How would you rate the

present port board of commis-sioners? Explain.

Erickson: The present board of commissioners is attempting to overcome years of shortsighted decision-making that have left the port with a decaying infrastruc-ture and an economy based on a single user group.

Changing the old guard that has served the community for years will break the deadlock to forward thinking and lead to posi-tive change.

We have an opportunity in this election for maintaining and improving our quality of life in Jefferson County.

Beck: I would rate commission as excellent.

There is excellent understand-ing among the commissioners of their role as policy makers and not micromanagers.

The commission meetings allow for a considerate discussion of differing points of view and positive decisions and clear direc-tion for port staff.

I rate the commitment to the port owners — Jefferson County taxpayers — as excellent, along with the ability to balance the fine line between special interests and the public good.

How would you address the

port’s issue of declining reve-nue?

Beck: The port is like virtually all public and private entities in this poor economy and needs to be on the lookout for increased reve-nues.

Creating opportunities for eco-nomic development through pri-vate businesses will be the best way to increase revenues.

Point Hudson rental space development, airport hangar buildout and industrial develop-ment are prime examples of reve-nue enhancements.

I will continue to oppose prop-erty tax increases.

Erickson: n Declining revenue should

equal declining expenditures.n Cessation of unfunded proj-

ects, freeze on consultant hirings, and reduction in travel expenses are some immediate expenditure reductions.

n Reduction of staff expendi-tures and freeze on wage increases.

n Promotion of marine trades and use of haul-out and storage facilities.

If elected what would be your primary goal for next year?

Beck: My prime goal for 2010 is to continue infrastructure buildout.

As I mentioned, the Boat Haven restoration is important, and the rezone and development

of the 24 acres at the airport while protecting the environment is critical.

Maintaining the strong finan-cial position the port has devel-oped over the past dozen years is the key to all future port activi-ties.

Erickson: To see the rebuild-ing of AB Docks, adoption of the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan, work-ing on reducing the budget short-falls and furthering the relation-ship between the port and the community.

Why should the voters choose you over your oppo-nent?

Beck: I have an established record of successful port opera-tions and job-creation opportuni-ties through private employers.

I fully understand the state laws regarding public ports and the commissioners’ policy-making role as opposed to micromanaging staff.

Finally, I do not have a conflict of interest that would exist if I was a principal of a major Boat Haven tenant business.

Erickson: n For change in long estab-

lished port polices, maintaining the quality of life in Jefferson County and ability to make diffi-cult budget decisions in the face of declining revenue.

n Ability to bring different interests together to move ahead and succeed at a common goal.

Port of Port Townsend commissioner, Position 3continueD From PreceDing Page



How will you make time to attend all the meetings and be an effective, full-time hos-pital commissioner?

Dressler: I have retired from my nursing career, and my very small artisan chocolate/candy business allows me great flexibil-ity with my working hours.

I therefore have an enormous amount of time to commit to the position of hospital commissioner.

Hill: I have had this job for 20 years, and it is my top priority.

What is the proper use of closed-door executive sessions, and how would you balance that need to conduct the pub-

lic’s business in full view of the governed?

Dressler: Closed-door execu-tive sessions are necessary for HIPPA/ patient confidentiality, litigation and some personnel issues.

As one member of a five-per-son board, I will press for con-ducting the hospital’s business in the public arena and try to attract citizens’ attendance by encouraging the board to hold meetings in population hubs throughout the county, as well as Port Townsend, and at times when more residents may be able to attend.

Hill: Washington state law is very clear about what constitutes

executive (closed-door)-session material.

The Jefferson Healthcare com-mission board strictly adheres to these: RCW 42.30.110, national security, real estate, contracts, personnel issues and litigation.

Do you favor or oppose a government-run health insur-ance plan to help cover unin-sured Hospital District resi-dents?

Dressler: Jefferson Health-care’s bad debt/charity care costs have been averaging approxi-mately $500,000 a month this year.

These shortfalls have to be covered by the remaining hospi-tal customers — those with insurance and those who pay pri-vately.

If Congress passes legislation providing insurance coverage for the uninsured, the JHC Bad debt/charity burden would be eliminated, and the district’s finances would be much health-ier.

In this situation, I would favor government-run health insur-ance to cover the district’s unin-sured.

Hill: Yes, but on a state level rather than on the federal level.

Jefferson Healthcare already does care for the underinsured and the uninsured through its sliding fee scale, which discounts services for those residents whose incomes are below 300 percent of the poverty level.

How aggressively should the hospital pursue providing cardiac care?

Dressler: The hospital does already provide cardiac care, and has the facility to swiftly transfer patients to a medical facility with higher levels of expertise depend-ing on the patient’s needs.


Hospital commissioner, Position 4

E A S T J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y H O S P I T A L D I S T R I C T

Marie Dressler


Phone: 360-385-6180

E mail address: vote4mari.dressler.rn@ hotmail.com

Age: 63

Education: Parkstone Grammar School for Girls, Poole, Dorset, England; Bournemouth College of Art and Technology, Bourne-mouth, Dorset; Salisbury and East Dorset School of Nurs-ing, Poole, Dorset; Southamp-ton University Hospitals School of Nursing and Mid-wifery, Southampton, Hamp-shire, England; ongoing edu-cation throughout career, including a certification in Inpa-tient Obstetric Care since 1983.

Occupation: Retired reg-istered nurse


Have you ever held elected public office? No. As a registered nurse working long shifts and with a family to look after, I have never been able to commit the time and energy to be an effective elected official until now.

Kathy J. Hill


Phone: 360-385-4356

E-mail: khilltours@ olympus.net

Age: 64

Education: Community college, business classes

Occupation: Hospital commissioner with Jefferson Healthcare for 20 years; Weight Watcher Leader and weight coach with Weight Watchers of North America for 13 years

Campaign Web site: http://kathy-hill.fmd-inc.org

Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Yes, hos-pital commissioner

About the jobEAST JEffERSON COuNTy HOSPITAL DISTRICT NO. 2 COmmISSIONER, Position 4

Term: Six years

Election boundaries: Jefferson County except Quilleute and Queets.

Registered voters: 21,665

Duties: n Passes a general fund budget that in 2009 in $59 millionn Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1

percent without a vote of the people, not including new con-struction.

n The rate in 2009 is 8 cents per $1,000 of valuation, or $16 for the owner of a $200,000 home.

n Negotiates bargaining agreements with employees.n Hires a chief executive officer responsible for a staff that

in 2009 in 510 employees.n Oversees four provider-based hospital clinics and one hos-

pital affiliated medical practitioner.

Compensation: n $104 per day for meetings and hospital-district-related

businessn Medical, dental, vision, life insurance.n IRS mileage rate of 55 cents a mile for district-related

business.

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JHC, in conjunction with Kit-sap Cardiology, provides some specialist physician hours and procedures for East Jefferson County residents.

As a primary care facility, Jef-ferson Healthcare is not a suit-able venue for invasive cardiac procedures.

Hill: Aggressively. However, statistics show we do not have the population base to support a cardiologist.

I support the decision to col-laborate with Kitsap Cardiology, which brings cardiologists to Port Townsend on a regular basis.

I’m especially pleased with the success of our new protocol, which improves care for cardiac patients through use of throm-bolytic (clot-busting) drugs that may be administered by an EMT while the patient is en route to Harrison Medical Center.

What’s your strategy for drawing primary care physi-cians to Jefferson County?

Dressler: Primary care pro-viders (doctors, physicians’ assis-tants and nurse practitioners) are essential to the health, well-ness and wellbeing of our coun-ty’s residents.

Fortunately, our geographic location, climate and environ-ment make East Jefferson County attractive to these profes-sionals.

Medical Home Primary Care model has been shown to improve health outcomes in addi-tion to increasing patient and provider satisfaction without a large cost increase.

My strategy would be to pur-sue evaluation and adoption of this model for JHC.

Hill: To attract top-notch phy-sicians, we must provide a work-ing environment that promotes collaboration among peers and that continually develops and employs new technology and pro-grams.

For example, our hospitalist program and implementation of electronic medical records makes us competitive with urban set-tings in attracting new physi-cians.

And our partnership with Swedish Medical Center for our Telestroke program helps keep us on the cutting edge of rural health care.

Specify one area of the budget where you would cut costs and explain why you chose it.

Dressler: Over the past 27 years, the hospital has engaged in numerous costly programs.

These have involved signifi-cant employee hours as well as fees for the outside consultants.

Some of these programs were never fully implemented or were discontinued after a short period, with negligible improvement for the patients or hospital employ-ees.

I would cut costs by not sup-porting these types of programs with expensive consultants, because they rarely benefit the patients.

Hill: I know Jefferson Health-care has a very lean budget, which covers all areas of health care.

I would concentrate on being more efficient with our resources.

I also fully support policies that require the administration to adhere to strict budgetary guidelines set by the board.

If elected what would be your primary goal for next year?

Dressler: As a health-care professional deeply concerned about the health and wellbeing of my patients throughout my career, my focus would be to ensure that patients have access to a primary medical provider and that they are able to main-tain continuity with that same provider.

I would also like to see well-ness programs expanded to pro-vide more venues throughout the county, ensuring access for all.


Hill: To further the goal of providing access to high-quality health care while staying within our financial limitations.


Dressler: These are challeng-ing times for health care.

We must contain costs and improve availability and quality of health care and wellness pro-grams.

My several decades of work-ing as a practitioner in various health-care settings, together with my small business experi-ence, gives me a unique perspec-tive to bring to the commission.

I am passionate about provid-ing the best possible health care while balancing the need for responsible financial manage-ment.

These are the reasons voters should choose me.

Hill: I have 20 years experi-ence as a Jefferson Healthcare commissioner.

During that time, I have been active on the local, state and national levels as a conference participant and speaker repre-senting Jefferson Healthcare.

For the past nine years, I have advocated for rural health care to our congressional representatives in Washington, D.C.


Hospital commissioner, Position 4

continueD From PreceDing Page

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Fire commissioner,

Position 2

B R I N N O N F I R E D I S T R I C T

What is the most pressing issue facing the fire district, and how will you address it?

Eastman: Making sure that with recently passed EMS levy, the voters get what they were promised, and that the money is not squandered on unneeded equipment or excessive salary increases.

mcEdwards: Currently, the most pressing issue is to con-tinue acquiring apparatus through grants and other resources.

Would you expect the fire district to ask for a levy increase during your term? Explain.

Eastman: I cannot see the justification for why we would ask the voters to pass another tax increase so soon.

A large portion of the com-munity is not happy with the present commissioners’ finan-cial approach to serving the community.

This dissatisfaction must be addressed and mitigated before future additional expenditures are made.

mcEdwards: No. This has already been addressed with a 68 percent approval of the last emergency medical services levy.

How well is the district delivering emergency ser-

vices, and what if anything, would you do to change how it’s done?

Eastman: Why do we have to wait three more years for the paramedic we voted for?

If so, then we must take other action.

Mutual-aid agreements between districts for paramedic service mean we each have our own paramedic to share the workload, or we compensate the other districts so they can afford to bring on personnel to meet EMS requirements out-side their own districts.

Mutual aid or compensation — we must do one or the other.

mcEdwards: Our district has one of the better response times in the county.

I will continue to look for ways to be more efficient in the delivery of services.

If elected, what would be your primary goal for the next year?

CandidatesMike Eastman

Kenneth McEdwards

profiled on next page

turn to next Page


Eastman: n Work to improve the working

relationships with our volunteer firefighters and EMS responders.

n Increase our volunteer staff and do everything possible to retain experienced volunteers.

mcEdwards: My goal is to continue to provide quality emer-gency services to our community.


Eastman: I have, over the course of a 40-year career, estab-lished records in successfully man-aging major projects and budget planning.

I have worked with numerous fire departments in developing

their comprehensive emergency plans.

I will use my experience and willingness to bring a more fiscal responsible approach to the way District 4 currently does business.

This is something that my opponent has not demonstrated.

mcEdwards: Voters should vote for me because I have 15 years experience as a firefighter and EMT volunteer.

I have served the past eight years as fire commissioner.

I efficiently manage a large budget in my current occupation and have helped manage Brin-non’s fire district budget in weak economic times.

Since I have been a fire com-missioner, the fire district has always operated in the black.

About the jobfIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT NO. 4 (BRINNON)COmmISSIONER, Position 2

Term: Six years

Election boundaries: Brinnon Precinct 204

Registered voters: 946 as of Sept; 24

Duties: n Pass a budget that in 2009 was $261,200 and is funded

with a levy rate of 69 cents per $1,000 of valuation.n Hire a district secretary and a fire chief. The chief super-

vises two full-time firefighters and 23 volunteer firefighters and firefighter-EMTs.

n Sets a levy amount that established a levy rate in 2009 is 69 cents per $1,000, or $138 for the owner of a $200,000 home.

n Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1 percent without a vote of the people, not including new con-struction.

n Sets policy for district firefighting and emergency medical services that cover 131 square miles.

Compensation: n $104 per day for meetings and other fire commission busi-

ness up to $9,984 per year.n IRS rate of 55 cents per mile for fire-commission-related

trips.

meetings: Second Tuesday of the month.

Brinnon fire commissioner, Position 2continueD From PreceDing Page

Kenneth L. McEdwards

Residence: Brinnon

Phone: 360-796-3154


Age: 47

Education: High school diploma, year voca-tional certification

Occupation: Camp director at Camp Parsons, Boy Scouts of America


Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? Yes. Fire district commissioner, Dis-trict 4, Position 2.

Mike Eastman

Residence: Brinnon

Phone: 360-796-0039


Age: 61

Education: College degree, electronic commu-nications, City University in Renton, business administration program; extensive training in emer-gency management; U.S. Army signal officer; fire-fighter; emergency medical technician

Occupation: Retired from Boeing Fire Depart-ment

Campaign Web Site: None

Have you held elec-tive public office? No

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What is the most pressing issue facing the cemetery dis-trict, and how will you address it?

mcCauley: I am not aware of any pressing issues at this time.

Quinnell: Surveying errors resulted in some interments made decades ago that cross out-side the cemetery’s boundaries.

I would work to negotiate a fair agreement with the neigh-boring property owner for exclu-sive deeded use or purchase of the affected region to protect those sites.


mcCauley: I will endeavor to manage the Gardiner cemetery efficiently and effectively, meet-ing the needs of the Gardiner community.

Quinnell: To resolve the boundary issue.


mcCauley: I cannot articu-late any reason why voters

should pick me over Mr. Quin-nell.

Quinnell: I am a creative problem solver with strong ana-lytical thinking and consensus-building skills.

I am also committed to the community and the comfort and contentment of its residents, as well as the respectful honoring of their final resting place.

These talents and attitudes can help support the cemetery district’s operations as well as address any difficulties that arise.


Cemetery commissioner, Position 3

G A R D I N E R C E M E T E R Y D I S T R I C T

Bob McCauley

Residence: Gardiner

Phone: 360-797-2106


Age: 67

Education: Bachelor’s degrees in math and electri-cal engineering, master’s degree in management sci-ence.

Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force offi-cer, telecommunications engineer


Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? No

Richard Quinnell

Residence: Gardiner

Phone: 360-797-0095


Age: 56

Education: Master of Science in applied physics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.

Occupation: Freelance technology journalist


Have you ever held elective public office, and if so, what? No

GARDINER CEmETERy DISTRICT COmmISSIONER, Position 3

Term: Two-year unexpired term

Election boundaries: Gardiner precincts 101, 102 and part of 103

Registered voters: 316

Duties: ■ Commissioners approve a general fund

budget that was $8,823 in 2009 and was funded with $3,900 in property taxes under a levy rate of 5 cents per $1,000 of valuation. Voters approved formation of the district in 2008.

n Set a levy amount that cannot increase by more than 1 percent without a vote of the peo-

ple, not including new construction.Revenue from property tax cannot increase

by more than 1 percent plus new construction without vote of the people

Contract for a landscaper to maintain Gar-diner Cemetery, a 1.4-acre cemetery established in 1906.

■ Sets burial fees.

Compensation: n They are eligible for up to $90 a day for

attending district-related meetings or for con-ducting district business up to $8,640 annually.

n IRS mileage rate of 55 cent a mile for dis-trict-related business.

meetings: First Wednesday of every month

About the job

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How would you rate the present School Board? Explain.

Kirshbaum: Under difficult circumstances, they’re good. But it’s more than the board.

Kudos to the students who attempt to do their best; to the graduating students who apply for and receive their scholar-ships; to parents, teachers, sup-port staff and the many volunteer groups and individuals who support the district, and to all the unnamed who make the district succeed in

its educational objectives.

O’Neil: The current board is healthy and diverse.

If you combine Sarah’s organi-zational leadership, Walt’s 30 years as a board director in Detroit schools, John and Bev’s decades of teaching experience, and my background in financial management and community involvement, I believe that the board has the drill-down depth that the district needs.

The current board has the perspective of parents, retirees, teachers and business people —

a truly balanced representation.

What is the most pressing issue in the school district, and how would you address it?

Kirshbaum: Externally, the state may eventually revise its funding formula, but this is beyond control of the local district.

Internally, I believe we need improved two-way communica-tion with the general community.

Not everyone attends board meetings or reads the newspapers.

Excellent presentations are often made at these meetings (such as assessments, standards, etc.) of which the general com-munity should be aware.

Why not include pertinent information in one or more of the quarterlies mailed out?

O’Neil: The most pressing issue is pushing our people and our buildings beyond their limits.

Both our elementary schools are near capacity, we’ve got 36 students crammed into language arts classes at the middle school and an AP calculus class with 6-year-old books making it impossible to successfully take the advanced placement exam.

The solution is adequate resources, as promised in the Washington state Constitution.

We need to secure stable, ample funding at the state level.

Specify one area of the budget where you would cut costs, and explain why you chose it.

Kirshbaum: Without reach-ing into the “heart of the district” and impacting critical personnel, how can we realistically cut deeper?

We need to assess what can be restored for student advantages or how we can better utilize resources we have.


Director, Position 2

S E Q U I M S C H O O L D I S T R I C T ( G A R D I N E R )

Jon Kirshbaum

Residence: Sequim

Phone: 360-681-2968


Age: 66

Education:n Bachelor’s degree in

comprehensive marketing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill, 1965.

n Master’s degree in busi-ness administration, special-izing in finance, NIU, 1971.

n Chief school business official endorsement as Illi-nois K-12 administrator.

n Postgraduate (doctoral) courses in educational administration, School of Business Management and Adult Education, NIU.

Occupation: Retired information technology proj-ect manager, financial sys-tems analyst. Executive edi-tor of a travel magazine and freelance travel writer/pho-tographer.


Have you ever held elective public office? Yes, precinct committee officer.

Virginia O’Neil

Phone: 360-683-5975


Age: 48

Education: Graduating with honors from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1983. Completed a year’s study abroad in England and master course work in English and cre-ative writing at New York University.

Occupation: My first job is raising our three daughters.

In addition, for the last 11 years I have been the president and general part-ner of a family limited part-nership and real estate holding company.


Have you ever held elective public office? I have been a School Board director since March 2007.

About the jobSEQuIm SCHOOL DISTRICT 323 DIRECTOR,Position 2

Term: Four years

Election boundaries: Gardiner-area Precincts 101 and 102

Registered voters: 258

meetings: Second and fourth Monday of the month.

Duties: n Pass an annual budget that for 2009 is $24.7 million.n Can offer two-, three- and four-year levies for vote of the

people.n The 2009 general fund levy rate is 72.9 cents per $1,000

of valuation, or $146 for the owner of a $200,000 home.n The rate is 260th lowest of 274 school districts in Wash-

ington, according to school district Business Manager Brian Lewis.

n Hires the schools superintendent.n Approves policies for running the school district including

student behavior and academic eligibility policies for a student body that in 2009 is 2,890 students housed in five school build-ings.

n Approves bargaining agreements and salaries for staff that in 2009 totals 199 teachers and 135 classified staff (man-agement, bus drivers, teachers aides, secretaries, clerical work-ers).

Compensation: School Board members receive no compen-sation. If they travel on district business, they drive district vehicles.

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Could we use more effective purchasing of materials and ser-vices and look to other means to partner with other groups, dis-tricts or individuals in areas where we would not have to spend even more dollars?

O’Neil: I would follow a prior-ity-based budget process that has the least impact on student learning.

Out of 296 districts, Sequim is in the lowest quartile, ranked 264 for funding, so in a year dur-ing which we’ve already cut more than $1 million out of one of the leanest school budgets in the state, I wouldn’t want to cut a thing.

That’s like the surgeon asking the patient: Which body part could you live without?

How important is having a school resource officer at the middle school and high school?

Kirshbaum: Is it vital? Prob-ably not, but it’s more than just a public relations gain for Sequim police and School District 323.

Students get to know “a real person” behind the badge.

This can increase the stu-dents’ appreciation for law enforcement.

It complements periodic visits often scheduled for student awareness.

The officer’s presence affords

a “first line of defense” should risks to students occur.

Also, he or she has instant ability to obtain support if needed.

O’Neil: The value of seeing a uniformed police officer in our halls interacting every day with our students is immeasurable.

The officers who worked in our schools were exemplary.

Sadly, the grant money that paid for that SRO program dried up.

Levy funding could restore this program in 2010.

How difficult will it be to pass a maintenance and oper-ations levy next year, and how would you meet this chal-lenge?

Kirshbaum: It could be very difficult unless voters are made aware of what is necessary — how much is needed, for what specifically will the money be used, what would be the results if the levy were defeated and what are the alternative plans should the levy not pass.

I support full disclosure regarding the levy.

The voting public must be informed in sufficient detail.

Otherwise, due to the econ-omy, they may not approve such a levy.

O’Neil: This community clearly values education, because

in the last three campaigns, it supported our students.

Citizens for Sequim Schools is already in the planning stages for next year’s campaign, and under the leadership of that board, I am confident that when the voters listen to the district’s needs, they will renew their sup-port for us once again.

Specify how you would meet the challenge of students consistently not scoring high enough on standardized tests.

Kirshbaum: My first thought: Are the standards fair and realis-tic?

Recently, Washington Schools Superintendent Randy Dorn said that ultimately, all state schools could be on “in improvement” lists.

It is better left to teachers and support staff to try to motivate and remediate individual stu-dents.

I would support continued appeal of any unfair standards or sanctions that are imposed and any motivational or remedial approaches that may be under-taken to assist the individual student.

O’Neil: There is no one magic formula for raising student test scores.

However, a proven strategy to increase student performance is to provide an extended school day.

Simply said we need more time to work with struggling stu-dents.

So adding after-school tutor-ing, summer school programs, all-day kindergarten and provid-ing transportation to increase attendance would all equate to higher test scores.


Kirshbaum: Personally, I would need to learn new “rules of the road” — district specifics and any state code differences.

I would seek to “fit in” as a board director with the district team and the general community (to validate it had made the cor-rect choice in electing me).

I would learn about the school site I was “adopting” and any board committee(s) I serve on.

O’Neil: At the risk of sound-ing like a broken record, we need to secure stable funding.

Our current lack of dollars prevents us from helping all kids get what they need.

With adequate resources, we can begin to address multiple issues — our ageing infrastruc-ture, overcrowded classrooms, an outdated curriculum and insuffi-cient technology.

Our staff, our parents and our army of volunteers makes a decent education happen every

day for 2,760 kids, but they need help.


Kirshbaum: n I shall bring diversity (new views and experi-ence) to the board along with 23 years of experience within a large K-12 environment:

n Knowledge of board-wide government funded finance, bud-geting and accounting practices.

n Core team member and IT specialist on a complex, system-wide process re-engineering proj-ect (two years).

n Communications (a defined core process) team member dur-ing the build and test phases.

n Successfully interacted with vendors, board and community members, central office and school staffs.

O’Neil: Frankly, I know Sequim schools.

My husband and I have raised our family and lived and worked here for 14 years. We are commit-ted to this community.

I have spent 12 years volun-teering in our classrooms and in countless committees from gifted to special education.

I have a common-sense approach to improving our schools because I am there everyday.

If re-elected, I promise to con-tinue to bring leadership, integ-rity and experience to this dis-trict.

Sequim School District director, Position 2continueD From PreceDing Page

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Clallam Fire District 3 levy

G A R D I N E R

By Diane UrBani De la PazPeninsula Daily news

SEQUIM — With some 29,000 people and a burgeoning call volume, Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3 needs strengthened funding for emer-gency medical response, said Chief Steve Vogel.

Voters have the option of bol-stering that funding through a property-tax levy proposition on the Nov. 3 ballot in both Clallam and Jefferson counties.

If approved, the levy would increase from the current 27 cents per $1,000 in assessed val-uation to 50 cents per $1,000. On a $300,000 home, that’s $150 per year in property taxes.

Property owners in District 3 — from Gardiner to just east of Deer Park Road outside Port Angeles — would see their prop-erty taxes rise.

The added funds will pay for paramedic services, Vogel said, adding that when someone in District 3 calls 9-1-1 in a medical emergency, his paramedics are the first responders.

“Our call volume since 2000 has gone up 40 percent,” the chief noted.

In 2008, District 3 firefighter-paramedics took 5,500 calls; this year the district is nearing 6,000.

Vogel credits the climbs to steady population growth and the flow of people above age 60 to Sequim and environs. In addi-tion, the Jefferson County com-munity of Gardiner was added to Clallam County Fire District 3 in September.

The district’s newest fire sta-tion, at U.S. Highway 101 and Sophus Road in Blyn, was fin-ished in September with $1 mil-lion in funding from the James-town S’Klallam tribe and about $402,000 from District 3.

It protects the Blyn-Gardiner-Diamond Point area, Vogel said, with first responders able to arrive in five minutes — not 20, as when the nearest fire station was the one in Sequim.

The staffs at the three sta-tions, however, are slim: one paramedic per shift in Blyn, one at the 70 Carlsborg Road station and two to three paramedics per shift at the main station at 323 N. Fifth Ave. in Sequim.

The emergency medical ser-vices budget is $2.6 million per year for District 3, Vogel said.

Since the current levy reaps only about $1,250,000 per year, he has dipped into its fire-protec-tion budget to make up the dif-ference.

If the levy increase passes, “we could use the fire money for fire protection, the way it’s sup-posed to be,” Vogel said.

The levy would go into effect in January and continue for 10 years.

Vogel figures the levy increase has opponents — but said he has yet to hear from them.

Some years ago he met a local man who was opposed to all tax hikes.

“Then he saw my budget,” Vogel said.

When posting fliers about this November’s ballot measure, “I haven’t heard any negative com-ments,” he added.

Proposition No. 1

Reauthorizing Regular Emergency Medical

Services Property Tax Levy

Shall the Board of Com-missioners of Clallam County Fire Protection Dis-trict No. 3 be re-authorized to impose regular property tax levies of $.50 or less per thousand dollars and assessed valuation for each of ten consecutive years beginning in 2010 for the provision of emergency medical care and emer-gency services?

Yes No

Referendum 71, domestic partners

S T A T E O F W A S H I N G T O N

By rachel la cortethe associateD Press

Nearly a year after California voters overturned same-sex mar-riage, voters in Washington will weigh in this fall on whether to reverse gay rights initiatives ranging from anti-discrimination measures to marriage benefits.

The so-called “everything but marriage” law that expands the state’s current domestic partner-ship law will be on the ballot as Referendum 71.

“In off-year elections, ballot measures gain much more atten-tion, regardless of the topic,” said University of Washington politi-cal science professor Matt Bar-reto. But California’s battle over Proposition 8 is “certainly an important backdrop.”

Under a California Supreme Court decision, California had allowed same-sex marriages for five months before 52 percent of voters reversed the ruling in the contentious $83 million Prop. 8 battle last November.

The state’s Supreme Court upheld the vote earlier this year.

Gay rights supporters see one silver lining in the loss in Cali-fornia.

“It has sparked a greater pub-lic conversation about gay peo-ple,” said Dan Hawes, a field director with the Washington, D.C.-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “While we have lost in previous ballot mea-sures, because the margin of loss continues to shrink, it does indi-cate that there is growing accep-tance.”

In addition to the loss in Cali-fornia, gay-rights supporters suf-fered setbacks elsewhere last fall,

with amendments banning gay marriage being approved in Ari-zona and Florida.

Arkansas voters approved a measure banning unmarried cou-ples from serving as adoptive or foster parents.

“When the people have voted, they have voted to defend mar-riage,” said Carrie Gordon Earll, senior director of public policy for Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family.

Thirty states have voter-approved gay marriage bans in their constitutions. Several other states, including Washington, have bans that were passed by state lawmakers.

The 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, bars federal recognition of gay unions and denies gay couples access to federal pensions, health insurance and other government benefits.

Since then, six states have enacted laws or issued court rul-ings that permit same-sex mar-riage, including Massachusetts,

Maine, Vermont, Connecticut and Iowa. New Hampshire’s law takes effect Jan. 1.

Maine’s gay marriage law was scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 12, but it was put on hold once opponents got enough signa-tures to force a public vote.

“There’s going to be victories and there’s going to be reversals,” said Washington state Sen. Ed Murray, one of the Legislature’s six gay lawmakers, who success-fully spearheaded a gay rights law and thre e domestic partner-ship laws.

“There is an impression that somehow because we elected a Democratic president and Demo-cratic Congress, this is all solved. It isn’t,” said Murray, D-Seattle.

Lawmakers in Olympia have taken an incremental approach to increasing gay rights without actually taking on the state’s marriage ban, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court in 2006.

Passed by the Legislature and Ordered Referred by Petition

Referendum Measure No. 71

The Legislature passed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5688 concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would expand the rights, responsibili-ties and obligations accorded state-registered same-sex and senior domestic partners to be equivalent to those of married spouses, except that a domestic partnership is not a marriage.

Should this bill be:

Approved Rejected

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By PaUl GottlieBPeninsula Daily news

Voters statewide will decide if city, county and state government general funds should be capped and extra revenues returned to citizens in the form of property tax reductions when they vote on Initiative 1033.

The brainchild of voters initia-tive activist Tim Eyman, I-1033 would:

n Limit annual revenue increases to the previous year’s revenue, adjusting it for popula-tion growth and inflation.

n Use any revenue collected above the adjusted limit to reduce property owners’ property tax levies the year after revenue topped the limit.

n Require voter approval for governments to spend revenue that exceeds the threshold.

The measure was included in ballots mailed to Clallam and Jefferson counties on Oct. 14.

Ballots must be postmarked Nov. 3 or dropped off by Nov. 3 at county drop-boxes and court-houses.

Government leaders in Clal-lam and Jefferson counties said in interviews and public presen-tations over the two days before ballots were mailed that the measure would severely hamper their ability to pay for unplanned but necessary expenses as well as hinder the delivery of basic, everyday services.

They cite expenditures such as disaster relief and less control-lable expenses such as labor con-tracts that they say could become subject to voter approval if voters approve I-1033.

In addition, elections prompted by I-2033 could cost

upward of $70,000 in Clallam County, for example, depending on the number of taxing districts with elections and measures on the ballot to split the cost, county Auditor Patty Rosand has said.

The government officials said the overall revenue limit also unfairly includes funds not gen-erated solely by county taxpay-ers, such as state and federal grants, and they have questioned whether voters really want to vote on individual government programs, staffing levels and labor contracts.

But Eyman said if the expen-diture is worth it, those govern-ment officials should prove it to voters.

“If they need more than the automatic increase provided in 1033, they’ve got to convince vot-ers the increase is necessary,” he said in a telephone interview from his Mukilteo home.

“We think that strikes a very reasonable balance.”

Eyman recalled the dire warn-ings of government leaders in 2001, when they fretted over the impact of Initiative 747, which limits the growth of property tax levies to no more than 1 percent

without a vote of the people.Voters resoundingly approved

the tax limit, 58 percent to 42 percent, and since then have approved 70 percent of the 470 levies put before them in taxing districts across Washington, Eyman said.

“It made it to where a tax increase is the last resort,” he said.

Eyman said the success of Ini-tiative 601, in effect from 1993 to 2005, proves that governments can work with a revenue formula based on population growth and inflation, though 601 applied to state expenditures, not to reve-nue, and it did not apply to city and county governments, as does I-1033.

Restrained government spend-ing ended after the death of I-601 in 2005, Eyman said.

“From 2005 to 2008, we were on a fiscal roller coaster,” he said.

Had I-601 limits been in place, the state would not be facing a $9 billion deficit, Eyman added.

“Counties and cities are sub-ject to the same desires,” he said. “They have trouble controlling themselves.”


The following year, lawmak-ers passed the state’s first domestic partnership law grant-ing a handful of rights, like hos-pital visitation, to gay and les-bian couples.

In 2008, that law was expanded to add more rights, and this year the latest law added such partnerships to all remaining areas of state law where currently only married couples are mentioned.

The statutes range from labor and employment rights to pensions and other public employee benefits.

Nearly 12,000 people in Washington state are registered as domestic partners, and while the underlying law that was passed in 2007 allows some older heterosexual couples to register as domestic partners, most of the couples are gay.

Conservative Christians ral-lied to get Referendum 71 on the November ballot, arguing that the state’s latest move is the last step before full civil marriage for gay and lesbian couples in the state.

Opponents of the state’s law are also fighting in court to try to continue shielding the names of people who signed petitions to force a public vote.

Attorneys for Protect Mar-riage Washington say that refer-endum signers’ names and addresses should be exempt from the state’s public records disclo-sure law because release of the information would put them at risk of harassment, amounting to an unconstitutional infringement of free speech rights.

A federal judge in Tacoma granted the sponsors’ request last month. But the state is appealing, citing the state’s open-government laws.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a hearing on the case in Pasadena, Calif., later this month.

The constitutional argument is similar to that made by the National Organization for Mar-riage and other groups that sponsored California’s Prop. 8.

Those groups had sought to block their campaign finance records from public view, saying previous reports led to the harassment of donors.

A federal judge in that case ruled earlier this year the names had to be disclosed. A lawsuit on the case is moving forward.

“No one should have to suffer vandalism and death threats just because they support gov-ernment protection of tradi-tional marriage,” attorney James Bopp Jr., representing Protect Marriage, said in a recent news release.

Bopp was also involved in the effort to shield California donors.

If R-71 is rejected, only the most recent law would be rolled back; the two prior domestic partnership laws would not be affected.

Washington state, along with California, Oregon, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, have laws that either recognize civil unions or domestic partner-ships that afford same-sex cou-ples similar rights to marriage.

Referendum 71, domestic partners


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Initiative 1033, government revenue

S T A T E O F W A S H I N G T O N

Proposed by Initiative Petition

Initiative Measure No. 1033

Initiative Measure No. 1033 concerns state, county and city rev-enue. This measure would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue to annual inflation and population growth, not includ-ing voter-approved revenue increases. Revenue collected above the limit would reduce property tax levies.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

Yes No

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Initiative 1033, government revenue


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Cash-strapped state looking at tax hikes

the associateD Press

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gre-goire said she would consider tax increases as officials run out of ways to fix the state’s recession-hammered budget.

Gregoire was a staunch oppo-nent of tax hikes during the last legislative session.

But she said late in Septem-ber that she’s worried about fur-ther cuts to state programs.

“At some point, the people, I assume, don’t want us to take any more cuts,’’ she said.

“I mean, I’m already hearing about, ‘Why did you cut educa-tion?’ Well, there weren’t any options. We’re without options.’’

The state’s most recent two-year budget patched a revenue deficit of about $9 billion over 2½ years, with about $4 billion in spending cuts and about $5 bil-lion in federal spending and other one-time fixes.

But further weakening of the state’s economy has taken a toll on state government revenue, and officials now think Washing-ton could face an additional $1 billion deficit when the Legisla-ture meets again in January.

The No. 2 legislator on the Senate’s budget-writing Ways and Means Committee, Rodney Tom, D-Medina, said he thinks lawmakers may look into narrow revenue sources, such as higher

“sin’’ taxes levied on liquor or cig-arettes.

Raising any of Washington’s three major broad-based taxes — on property, sales or business receipts — seems unlikely, he said, adding that lawmakers will focus on spending cuts and other efficiencies before reaching for new revenue.

“I could definitely say that’s not going to be the first thing we look at,’’ Tom said.

“There’s still a lot of anxiety out there in the economy, and consumer spending is still not

rocking and rolling.’’Senate Republican budget

chief Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, countered that majority Demo-crats shouldn’t start counting on new revenue just yet.

While the recession may have hit bottom, the state’s economic recovery is expected to be long and slow.

Zarelli said that means Wash-ington must focus on making government more efficient, and ensure that its growth doesn’t outpace the economic recovery.

“We’ve got to understand that as difficult as it is for us, it’s even more difficult for the average man or woman on the street,’’ Zarelli said.

The great unknown in any debate over higher taxes is a pair of voter initiatives that restrict state revenues.

Initiative 960, already on the books, requires a difficult two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. Lawmakers could suspend that law with a simple majority vote next year.

But if I-1033 is approved by voters in November, it would place a new cap on the growth of the state’s main checking account, with any excess revenue dedicated to property tax relief.

“If I-1033 passes, I think we just all go home and bury our heads in the sand,’’ Tom said.

Gov. Chris Gregoire“We’re without options”

But North Olympic Penin-sula government officials say self-control isn’t the problem.

They say they are just get-ting by.

Jefferson County Assessor Jack Westerman told county commissioners on Oct. 12 that I-1033 would “repeatedly and permanently shrink” the coun-ty’s revenue base — no matter the state of the economy, in good times and bad.

Jefferson County already faces a $2 million shortfall for 2010 based on budget requests from department heads who have already been told the lar-der is bare.

In Clallam County, commis-sioners Chairman Mike Doherty said Oct. 13 that commissioners are asking for “serious cuts” from department heads who are preparing their 2010 budgets.

“We can’t afford to spend down our reserves,” Doherty said, adding the board may impose a 12-day unpaid fur-lough on all employees in 2010 and close the courthouse one day a month to make ends meet, as recommended by county Administrator Jim Jones.

Those are only what Doherty called “first-tier” cuts.

The board will impose even more onerous “second tier” cuts if I-1033 passes, Doherty said, adding nothing has been pro-posed just yet.

“To every one of the depart-ments, we are saying be pre-

pared in case 1033 passes, that we will have to do much more in the way of cuts than we are doing right now.”

Doherty said he drew some hope from poll numbers that seemed to be pointing in the right direction for initiative opponents who poured $1.5 into the anti-I-1033 campaign in the first two weeks of October.

An Oct. 5 KING 5/Survey-USA poll had 45 percent of respondents in favor, 32 percent opposed and 22 undecided.

That compares with a Sept. 22 Rasmussen poll in which I-1033 was favored by 61 per-cent and rejected by 31 percent, with 8 percent undecided.

But Eyman attributed the tighter KING 5/SurveyUSA numbers to the vagueness of the poll question.

The poll question said the initiative “would limit spending for state, county, and local gov-ernments,” while the actual lan-guage voters will read on their ballots says the initiative “would limit growth of certain state, county and city revenue.”

The KING 5/SurveyUSA poll also did not include the I-1033 provision that says property taxes will be lowered with excess revenue, Eyman said.

In addition, the poll question did not include the provision that says if voters approve the measure, governments can use revenues above the threshold with voter approval, and that annual city, county and state budgets would be adjusted for inflation and population growth.


By cUrt WooDWarDthe associateD Press

OLYMPIA — Hoping to strike a nerve with recession-weary vot-ers, perpetual anti-tax activist Tim Eyman returns to the ballot with a plan to put government on a strict diet, cut property taxes and give voters the final say on tax hikes.

Initiative 1033 may be the most sweeping project yet from Eyman and Co.’s direct-democ-racy factory, which over the years has brought Washington cheaper car tabs, 1 percent annual prop-erty tax increases, and govern-ment performance audits.

But a broad coalition of estab-lishment figures is betting that Eyman has reached too far.

Piloting a multimillion-dollar campaign, with support from big public-sector unions and notable names in business, the opposition is aiming for the voters’ self-inter-est along with their heartstrings.

Reheating a strategy from campaigns past, opponents are listing a truckload of government services that could get whacked under I-1033, with the most sym-pathetic getting top billing.

The first TV advertisement focuses on K-12 education, mak-ing teacher Jenny Rose the public face of the campaign — framed by a blackboard and American flag, Rose warns that I-1033 will cut state financing for schools, driving class sizes up.

The Election Day verdict could reveal whether voters think state and local governments have suf-fered enough during the reces-sion, or are cruising along rela-tively unscathed.

But the outcome also could hinge on how much voters trust their government, and whether they want to assert more control over the system, said Western Washington University political scientist Todd Donovan, an expert on ballot measures.

“If you take Eyman out of it, and you take the groups that are against it out of the equation, people like to have more say,” Donovan said.

“If they approve it, is that an anti-government message? Or is that just good old-fashioned Washington populism?”

Initiative 1033 borrows pieces from earlier smaller-government measures, enacted both here and in other states.

At its heart is a cap on reve-nue: The main checking accounts of city, county and state govern-ments would only grow fast enough to keep pace with the rate of inflation and yearly population growth.

Any tax money that comes in above the cap would automati-cally flow into a separate account, which would replace property tax revenue in the following year, cut-ting a taxpayer’s expected bill.

Governments could collect rev-enue above the limit only by get-ting voter approval for new taxes.

Some sources of income would be exempt from the cap, including federal money on the state level and the state’s constitutionally

protected Rainy Day Fund.An official estimate prepared

by the state Office of Financial Management says I-1033 could drain nearly $6 billion from the state general fund over six years.

Cities would lose about $2 bil-lion during that stretch, and counties would lose close to $700 million.

Eyman said I-1033 will supply some tough love that govern-ments need to keep their spend-ing at reasonable, sustainable levels.

Quoting from one of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s state of the state speeches, Eyman says Washing-ton government takes far too many rides on the “fiscal roller coaster” — spending like mad when times are good, such as during the recent housing bubble, and then cutting back severely

when the money runs out.With I-1033, he said, govern-

ments will still be allowed reve-nue increases. They’ll just be more modest and predictable.

But the opposition campaign, keying on a steady stream of headlines about state and local budget cuts, says this is the worst possible time to put the clamps on government’s ability to grow.

State and local budgets have downsized and patchworked their way through the worst recession in 70 years, No on I-1033 spokes-man Scott Whiteaker said.

By setting 2009 as the base-line, opponents say Eyman is lin-ing the state up for a “permanent recession.”

“The worst that it’s been is the best that it could get,” Whiteaker said.

The strict cap, they say, also

doesn’t take into account that costs of public services can increase much faster than infla-tion and population growth.

And its generic formula ignores the different economic realities of different areas of the state, opponents say.

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Seattle or Dayton or Walla Walla,” Whiteaker said.

“It doesn’t matter what your city’s needs are. You’re going to be under this one-size-fits-all stan-dard.”

For many of those concerns, Eyman said he’s built I-1033 with a “safety valve” — if politicians don’t have enough money under the revenue cap, they can always go to the voters for permission to raise more taxes.

That will likely make taxes a last resort, Eyman said, forcing elected leaders to look for savings first.

“The only time we’re going to have to vote is when they fail. And you’d like to believe that they’re not going to want to fail, that they’re going to work very hard,” Eyman said.

Whiteaker countered that such a system will simply become too unwieldy for governments, and could lead to ballot overload for voters.

Rather than stick with our established form of representa-tive democracy, where voters hire people to make decisions on their behalf, the electorate could wind up signing off every time a city needs to fix the streets, Whiteaker said.

And in emergencies, such a system wouldn’t give the govern-ment enough flexibility to respond, he argued.

“You can’t really have an ini-tiative to respond to a flood. You can’t have an initiative to respond to an outbreak of swine flu,” Whiteaker said.

________

For more information:Yes on I-1033:

http://www.permanent-offense.org.No on I-1033:

http://noon1033.org.


Will recession affect I-1033 outcome?

the associateD Press

Tim Eyman holds his daughter, Riley, 1, as he updates a tally board held by Mike Fagan, after Eyman turned in petition signatures for Initiative 1033 at an elections office at the Capitol in Olympia in July. The measure is on the ballot now distributed for the Nov. 3 election.


Puzzles and games JUST FOR KIDS!

W A S H I N G T O N S E C R E T A R Y O F S T A T E

Ballot findCount the ballot boxes.

How many do you find?


KIDS: Vote in the secretary of state’s 2009 Student Mock Election! It’s easy. Vote online anytime the week of Oct. 26-30. Go to www.vote.wa.gov and click on “Just 4 YOU.”

See how other Washington students voted when results are posted online on Friday, Oct. 30!

Total number of boxes: 10

Documents

Jefferson County Voter Guide