SEPT. 5, 2008:NWLP
9/2/08
9:46 AM
Page 9
In Washington State
Labor-backed candidates make cut in ‘Top 2’ primary
There were no surprises for or-
ganized labor in Washington’s Aug.
19 primary. Incumbents outpolled
challengers in statewide races, and in
some parts of the state, the new “top
two” election system will result in
candidates from the same party fac-
ing off in the November general
election.
Voter turnout was low — 37 per-
cent.
The biggest news was that the
governor’s race was still very close,
four years after Democrat Christine
Gregoire beat Republican Dino
Rossi by less than 400 votes. This
time, Gregoire got 48.3 percent of
the vote to Rossi’s 46.3; voters will
choose between them in November.
“[The closeness of the race] rein-
forces the need for organized labor
to get information to our members
about why Gregoire is our recom-
mended candidate,” said David
Groves, spokesperson for the Wash-
Machinists calls
for Boeing strike
Negotiators for the Machinists
Union are urging their members to re-
ject a contract offer from Boeing and go
on strike Sept. 4. [The vote was sched-
uled Sept. 3, after this issue went to
press.]
Machinists Lodge 63 represents ap-
proximately 1,200 workers at the Boe-
ing plant in Gresham. The union held
voting at the football field at Mt. Hood
Community College. Some 26,000 of
the affected workers are in the Puget
Sound region, and about 800 work at
the defense-aircraft modification plant
in Wichita, Kan.
The Machinists Union cited several
reasons for rejecting the offer, includ-
ing the lack of job-security commit-
ments, increases in medical insurance
costs, and pay and pension increases
that didn’t meet expectations.
The union needs a two-thirds’ ma-
jority vote to strike. In 2002, workers
rejected the contract, but failed to get a
two-thirds vote to strike. If that hap-
pens, the contract is implemented.
ington State Labor Council, AFL-
CIO. WSLC is the premier labor
federation in Washington, where
union households make up roughly a
quarter of the electorate.
“Gregoire has been a strong advo-
cate on our issues, including appren-
ticeship, prevailing wage, and other
bread and butter issues,” Groves
said. “She’s successfully made the
point that you can have worker-
friendly policies and still be em-
ployer-friendly,” Groves said.
On its Web site, www.wslc.org,
the state labor council compares
Gregoire’s and Rossi’s records and
positions. The two candidates’ cam-
paigns could hardly have been more
different: Gregoire’s theme was
“One Washington,” while Rossi sup-
porters blanketed some parts of the
state with billboards saying, “Don’t
let Seattle steal this election.”
“We felt that was emblematic of
the divisive campaign Rossi is wag-
ing,” Groves said, “pitting business
against labor, Eastern versus Western
Washington, and rural vs. urban.”
Under the new Top Two system,
the primary serves to winnow the
field of candidates down to two for
the general election, in partisan of-
fices. Non-partisan positions, such as
seats on the state Supreme Court, are
unaffected.
So far there’s no sign that an anti-
Republican mood on the national
scene is affecting state and local
races in Washington: Republicans
got the most votes in four of the
eight statewide offices up for elec-
tion.
“Washington voters have an inde-
pendent streak and don’t often vote
party line,” Groves said. The WSLC
supported incumbent Republican
Secretary of State Sam Reed. Reed
won 59 percent of the primary vote.
In all other statewide partisan
races, the WSLC endorsed a Demo-
crat, who advanced to the general
election.
Incumbent Lieutenant Governor
Brad Owen, a Democrat, polled at
52 percent, more than twice his near-
est opponent.
Incumbent Insurance Commis-
sioner Mike Kreidler soared above
Republican challenger John Adams.
For state treasurer, WSLC-backed
Democrat Jim McIntire polled six
percentage points behind Republican
Allan Martin, but a third candidate in
the race, now eliminated, was also a
Democrat and got 15 percent of the
vote.
In the race for attorney general,
WSLC-backed former Pierce
County executive John Ladenburg
got 43 percent to incumbent Repub-
lican Rob McKenna’s 57 percent.
WSLC-endorsed incumbent State
Auditor Brian Sonntag, a Democrat,
got 59 percent to Republican Dick
McEntee’s 34 percent.
Republican incumbent Doug
Sutherland outpolled WSLC-en-
dorsed Democrat Peter Goldmark
for commissioner of public lands.
In the non-partisan race for super-
intendent of public instruction,
WSLC-endorsed incumbent Berge-
son got the most votes and will face
Randy Dorn in the November gen-
eral election.
In Southwest Washington, en-
dorsed Democrat Tim Probst, run-
ning for House Seat 1 in District 17,
captured 48 percent of the vote to
Republican runner up Joseph James’
33 percent. A third Republican can-
didate took 18.5 percent of the vote.
In other 17th District races only
Roger G. Worthington, P.C. leads the fight to find a cure
for
Mesothelioma cancer
caused by asbestos exposure
Since 1989, we have been dedicated to helping asbestos cancer patients
get justice in the courtrooms and help in the hospitals. In the last ten years,
we have recovered over $725 million for our clients.
$34 Million:
$20 Million:
$12.6 Million:
$10 Million:
$8.4 Million:
60 year-old Navy veteran and carpenter
54 year-old engineer
69 year-old psychiatrist exposed at home
54 year-old woman exposed via father’s clothes
60 year-old Navy veteran and crane operator
800-831-9399
For a free booklet of medical/legal information, including medical experts,
patient profiles, clinical trials and asbestos products, call us or visit our website.
www.mesothel.com
Mesothelioma typically
K
ramers/metro
m ai l i ng
s erv i ce
3201 N.W. YEON
PORTLAND, OREGON 97210
(503) 274-1638 FAX (503) 227-1245
THE ONLY UNION MAILER
IN OREGON
Visit our Web site at www.kramersmailing.com
MEMBERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 223
— Eric Brending, Owner —
SEPTEMBER 5, 2008
two candidates ran in House Seat 2
and for the Senate, so all will ad-
vance to the general election. The
same holds true in the 18th District,
and for the 49th District Senate and
House Seat 2 races. In House Seat
1, Democrat Jim Jacks received 54
percent of the vote to Republican
Debbie Peterson’s 27 percent. A sec-
ond Republican captured nearly 15
percent.
In the District 3 congressional
race, incumbent Democrat Brain
Baird outpolled three challengers
with just over 50 percent of the vote.
He will face runner-up Michael
Delaver, a Republican, in November.
Delaver got 20 percent of the vote.
We’ve helped hundreds
develops 20 to 60 years
after the first asbestos
exposure. Each year
about 3,000 new cases
of mesothelioma are
diagnosed in the U.S.
of patients find the best
doctors, coast to coast
and we’re known for
providing up-to-date
medical information
and patient education.
Asbestos lawyers for life.
Offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Dallas, Texas • Lawyers licensed in California, Oregon, and Texas
Roger G. Worthington, P.C. has donated more than $2.5 Million to medical research
working on a cure for mesothelioma — more than all the asbestos companies combined.
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
PAGE 9
