Article by Erik Smith. Published on Monday, June 06, 2011 EST.
As Filing Week Opens, Just Two Legislative Positions on Ballot
Initiatives Will Have to Provide Excitement This Year – Rockefeller Position Won’t be on Ballot
By Erik Smith
Staff writer/ Washington State Wire
OLYMPIA, June 6.—It looks like this year’s initiative campaigns will have a big responsibility this year.
They’re going to have to keep the entire state entertained, because there really won’t be much else on the ballot.
Filing week opens today to little fanfare and even less excitement. Candidates have until Friday to file papers. It’s an off-year election. So that means there won’t be any presidential, congressional, state-level or legislative races on the ballot – except where there are vacancies to fill.
There are only two of those. Legislative openings give voters in Vancouver and the Spokane Valley reason to stay awake. But as for the rest of the state, the top-of-the-ticket races will be this year’s still-uncertain slate of initiatives. That won’t start firming up until the last of the campaigns submit signatures July 8.
Rockefeller Seat Won’t Come Up
Normally there’s at least one big question that is answered during filing week. Will some undecided officeholder run for reelection? Will some widely-rumored candidate will enter the race? But this year really the most remarkable thing seems to be the fact that there is no race that crosses a county line. That means the secretary of state’s office in Olympia won’t bother to register candidates, and all envelopes must be addressed to county elections offices.
The Spokane legislative race is likely to be contested in the primary. The 4th District Senate seat was vacated by state Republican Sen. Bob McCaslin just before his death this year. County commissioners named Republican Jeff Baxter to the vacancy, but both current state Rep. Matt Shea and former state Rep. Mike Padden have expressed interest in the position.
In Clark County’s 49th District, Democrat Sharon Wylie must stand for election this fall. She was named to replace state Rep. Jim Jacks, who resigned under mysterious circumstances this year and who later cited alcoholism.
Meanwhile, one other legislative vacancy won’t be on the ballot. State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, announced his resignation on the final day of the legislative session May 25, to take a position on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. His resignation takes effect June 30.
By leaving office after filing week, Rockefeller keeps his position off the fall ballot. Kitsap County commissioners will appoint the replacement instead, but they are required to choose from members of the same party. Already the plan is clear – Christine Rolfes, also of Bainbridge Island, has announced her intention to seek the seat.
Initiatives the Big Question Mark
The absence of races that will grab the state’s attention turns the spotlight on initiatives. So far it’s hard to see what will emerge there. There are only three active campaigns right now.
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman is gathering signatures for I-1125, a measure that would restrict bridge and highway tolls and prevent the Legislature from delegating decisions to the state Transportation Commission. Animal-rights activists are pushing Initiative 1130, requiring that egg-laying hens be housed in cages that permit movement.
And the Service Employees International Union is seeking signatures on either one or two initiatives, both of which would reenact the oft-delayed home-care training program mandated by voters in 2008. Last month, signature gatherers were carrying two SEIU petitions, I-1163 and a broader measure, I-1167, which would also restore cuts to the state home care training program and eliminate a pair of tax breaks to pay for it. The union says it has made no decisions as to which it will pursue.
Meanwhile, an initiative that would privatize the state liquor stores, I-1183, awaits court approval before signature gatherers hit the streets.Your support matters.
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