These are my endorsements for statewide offices on Tuesday's ballot. These endorsements reflect only my personal opinions and not necessarily those of other Sound Politics contributors.
Governor: Dino Rossi is running to be the governor for all the people of Washington state and will focus on creating jobs by improving the business climate. His Democratic opponent, Christine Gregoire, would turn the state over to her electoral base of government employee unions, segregationists, out-of-state trial lawyers and Hollywood Idiotarians.
Attorney General: Rob McKenna.
Commissioner of Public Lands: Doug Sutherland
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Re-elect incumbent Terry Bergeson. Although I'd prefer a more aggressive reformer to impose greater fiscal discipline and accountability on the ossified educational establishment, Bergeson is the clear choice over challenger Judith Billings. Bergeson believes in holding students and educators accountable to measurable outcomes. Billings is a teacher union puppet who wants to lower standards, scrap accountability and abolish parental choice.
Secretary of State: Incumbent Republican Sam Reed lost my vote when he promoted the idiotic "Top Two" Louisiana-style primary that would effectively render all state races non-partisan and thus destroy the major parties. Democrat Laura Ruderman won my endorsement by stating her opposition to the Louisiana primary and confirming her support for a partisan primary. Those who can't bring themselves to vote for a Democrat should vote for Libertarian Jacqueline Passey.
State Auditor: Re-elect Democrat Brian Sonntag. He's an effective, independent watchdog who sends shivers down the spines of incompetent agencies everywhere.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 31, 2004 04:51 PM | Email ThisNice to see you're not just a Republican partisan! I've voted for Sonntag at the recommendation of my former business partner, who previously worked with Sonntag and called him (seriously) "the straightest man in politics or government I have ever worked with." His support for performance audits is stellar.
As for Bergeson, after hearing her speak last spring at the first Tacoma School of the Arts graduation, I can definitely concur with your recommendation. While she's nothing like dream candidate (what's Milton Friedman doing these days?) she's a real breath of fresh air compared to the competition.
Posted by: Kirk Parker on October 31, 2004 05:30 PMSame here, dude! Shame you had to slime Kerry (http://www.usefulwork.com/shark/archives/002958.html) but I'm voting statewide:
ROSSI, OWEN - LT. GOV, McKENNA, MARSHA RICHARDS - SPI (write-in protest vote... unless begged by said hero to do otherwise), RUDERMAN & SONNTAG!
Posted by: Josef on October 31, 2004 05:43 PMBut I heard both on the radio a few days back and it made me sick. Terry came across as a typical education bureaucrat. "There's not enough money.... we need adequate resources... and again..." And when asking about strikes by teachers the interviewer had to repeatedly push off nonanswers until they both admitted that they support teacher strikes. Despite over 20 court decisions that these strikes are illegal and none that they are legal.
That's malfeasance of office: supporting breaking the law in the area you are responsible for. And she always has the excuse: It's not my fault, it's yours; you didn't provide "adequate" funding. Of course they would consume the entire state budget and still be complaining.
We would be better off electing a business person or retired military person with budgeting and leadership experience and lots of questions to run our schools than one of these entrenched bureaucrats. None of the above for me.
Posted by: Ron Hebron on October 31, 2004 08:36 PM