SW Washington
election guide
VANCOUVER — Some union
members in Southwest Washington
are getting active as political season
heats up, and are helping to elect
union-endorsed candidates for local,
state and federal offices.
Top priorities are re-electing
Maria Cantwell to the U.S. Senate
and Deb Wallace to State House Po-
sition 2 in Legislative District 17,
said firefighter Mike Phillips, secre-
tary-treasurer of the Clark, Skama-
nia and West Klickitat Counties
Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Both candidates are Democrats and
face well-funded Republican chal-
lengers. Wallace is a former mem-
ber of United Food and Commercial
Workers and has a good voting
record as tallied by the Washington
State Labor Council. Cantwell has
disagreed with labor on trade policy
and other issues, but her Republican
challenger Mike McGavick would
likely be an active opponent of
unions on most issues, if elected.
One Southwest Washington Re-
publican candidate also had the
AFL-CIO endorsement: State
House incumbent Richard Curtis
(District 18, Position 1), a former
firefighter, didn’t often vote in ac-
cord with the union recommenda-
tion. But local union leaders felt
they could work with him and is-
sued a “limited” endorsement,
meaning he can list them as an en-
dorser, but won’t get union financial
or volunteer support.
The Washington State Labor
Council (WSLC), the state-level
AFL-CIO body, also weighed in on
three statewide ballot measures.
Initiative 937, in line with what
the labor-backed Apollo Alliance
has been proposing, would put
Washington in the forefront of re-
newable energy by requiring that 15
percent of the state’s electricity
come from renewable sources like
wind and solar by 2020. WSLC
urges a “yes” vote.
WSLC recommends union mem-
bers vote “no” on Initiatives 920 and
933. Initiative 920 would repeal the
state estate tax. Initiative 933 would
require local governments to pay
landowners for complying with land
use regulations — or else waive the
regulations.
The following are the state and
local AFL-CIO recommendations
for candidates on the ballot in
Southwest Washington:
Brian Baird, Our Congressman
Common Sense • Leadership • Proven Results
✓ Restoring the sales tax
deduction
✓ Supporting common sense
tax relief
U.S. Senate – Maria Cantwell (D)
✓ Fighting meth and
keeping our communities
safe
U.S. House – Brian Baird (D),
Third Congressional District
Washington Supreme Court –
Susan Owens, Position 2
✓ Making government
accountable
Washington Court of Appeals
Div. 1, Dist. 3, Pos. 1 – Mary Kay
Becker
Div. 2, Dist. 3, Pos. 1 – Joel
Penoyer (unopposed)
✓ Balancing the budget
✓ Working for a top quality
education
W ASHINGTON S TATE
L EGISLATURE
Brian Baird,
Democrat for Congress
15th District
Senate – Tomás Villanueva (D)
17th District
House 2 – Deb Wallace (D)
18th District
House Position 1 –
Richard Curtis (R) limited
House Position 2 –
Julie McCord (D)
Paid for by Brian Baird for Congress (360) 696-1993 • P.O. Box 5016, Vancouver, WA 98668 • www.BrianBaird.com
THE UNION PLUS ® MORTGAGE PROGRAM
Provided Exclusively by Chase Home Finance
49th District
House 1 – Bill Fromhold (D)
House 2 – Jim Moeller (D)
Clark County Clerk – Sherry
Parker (D)
Clark County Commissioner –
Steve Stuart
Clark PUD Commissioner –
Jim Malinowski
Ballots are expected in the mail by
Oct. 27 and must be postmarked no
later than Nov. 7 to be counted.
Southwest Washington union
members interested in joining labor’s
electoral efforts can contact Mike
Teefy at 360-624-8427.
When it comes to mortgages, we’re
taking a stand for Union members.
Chase is backing union members with the Union Plus® Mortgage Program — a home
purchase and refinancing program exclusively for union members, their parents and children.
• FREE Mortgage Assistance Benefit
If you are unemployed or disabled.
• A wide variety of mortgages
Choose from fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and low- or no-closing costs options.
• Special Lending
First-time homebuyer and less-than-perfect credit programs.
• Savings on closing costs
Member-only savings on new purchases and refinance.
It all adds up to more home-buying power.
Contact your local Union Plus® Mortgage Specialist
866-729-6016
866-729-6016 Ext. 3016
Union Plus is a registered trademark of Union Privilege. Eligibility for mortgage assistance begins one year after closing on a Union Plus Mortgage through Chase
Home Finance. This offer may not be combined with any other promotional offer or rebate, is not transferable, and is available to bona fide members of participating
unions. For down payments of less than 20%, mortgage insurance (MI) is required and MI charges apply. All loans are subject to credit and property approval. Program
terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Not all products are available in all states or for all loan amounts. Other restrictions and limitations apply.
©2005 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All Rights Reserved. P-UP 104 2A-7604 10/05
OCTOBER 20, 2006
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 13