With 49.5% of the vote, it’s too soon to tell if Initiative 1351 will pass. If approved by voters, the initiative would lower public school class sizes in grades kindergarten through 12. Washington’s pupil-teacher ratio ranks 47th nationally, and both the state and national teachers unions were the primary supporters of the campaign. State Superintendent […]
Author Archives: Kathleen Reynolds
Posted inElections
Initiative 594 leading–Washington just got safer
Owning a gun is a big responsibility, one which increases the risk of suicide or homicide for gun owners and their families. In Washington state, nearly 6,000 people were killed with a gun in the last decade. Thankfully, today Washington voters are making a decision that will save lives, by passing Initiative 594 by a […]
Posted inElections
Bernie Talmas ahead in Woodinville despite anonymous attacks
A shadowy group that targeted Woodinville Mayor Bernie Talmas with attack ads and robocalls may have impacted his election returns, but Talmas is still making a good showing this evening, capturing 54% of the vote for Woodinville City Council. Talmas is the only Woodinville City Council member out of four running for office who attracted a […]
Posted inEducation
Education supporters agree: Restoration of majority rule is an opportunity
People from who care about kids are celebrating Thursday’s Washington Supreme Court ruling striking down the provision at the heart of Tim Eyman’s I‑601 clones. Parents, teachers and other advocates for great public schools agree that simply cutting funding from other vital public services and reallocating the money to education — the only option on […]
Posted inUnscheduled Programming
Gun control supporters rally in Seattle
A large crowd of gun control supporters, mobilized by StandUP Washington, marched from Seattle’s Westlake Park to a rally at the Seattle Center this Sunday afternoon. The mood was somber, as victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting were remembered, but there was also a spirit of resolve. The event had a dual purpose, to remember, but […]
Posted inUnscheduled Programming
McAuliffe retains seat
State senator Rosemary McAuliffe has retained her seat in Washington’s first legislative district. Republicans needed to take her seat to gain the majority in the senate. They ran an “education” candidate, Dawn McCravey, who supported charter schools which McAuliffe blocked in her education committee. To offset McCravey’s ed reform support, teachers came out on force […]
Posted inUnscheduled Programming
Mood buoyant at 45th LD party in Kirkland
State representative Roger Goodman just gave a short, jubilant victory speech to a roomful of his supporters. Goodman has a wide lead of over 12 percentage points over his Republican opponent Joel Hussey. Goodman is proud to have ran “an honorable” campaign versus an opponent who reached deep into his bag of dirty tricks. He […]
Posted inOur Environment, Policy Topics
Wolves’ comeback breeds tensions
A controversial and divisive figure is rearing its scruffy head in Washington. Absent from our state for at least seventy years, the wolf is making a vigorous comeback. And while Native Americans honor it in story, animal lovers appreciate its ecological role (not to mention its family loyalty and intelligence), many ranchers distrust it because […]
Posted inCivil Liberties, Elections, Healthcare, Policy Topics
Wanted: Women willing to run for office
At a time when women’s reproductive rights are under attack in state legislatures across the country, there might soon be no female Democratic governors to push back. The only two such governors left in office — Washington’s Chris Gregoire and North Carolina’s Bev Purdue — are leaving office in 2013, and only one state, New […]
Posted inElections, Unscheduled Programming
Flynn and Carson have hefty lead in Redmond City Council race
In the first of just two contested Redmond City Council races, Tom Flynn has a significant lead over his opponent Joel Wright: Tom Flynn 56.56% Joel L. Wright 42.89% For a first time candidate, Flynn ran a strong campaign, garnering the endorsement of four of the seven current city council members. In the second race, […]
Posted inElections
Slimy Kemper Freeman mailer misleads voters
Kemper Freeman must have a lot to lose on Election Day. A campaign mail piece that he sent to Bellevue voters this week, smearing progressive city council candidate John Stokes, reeks of desperation. Freeman had a difficult time finding filth to throw at Stokes, who is running against Freeman’s chosen candidate, Aaron Laing, so he […]
Posted inElections, Unscheduled Programming
A conversation with John Stokes, Part 3: The Belleuve community supports its schools by working together
This is the third and final segment of a series of posts covering my recent conversation with Bellevue City Council candidate John Stokes. John and I are connected through our education advocacy work and I know him to be a well-informed and dedicated advocate for children. In part one of our conversation, posted last week, […]
Posted inElections, Unscheduled Programming
A conversation with John Stokes, Part 2: Let’s bring light rail and smart growth to Bellevue
Last week, I met up with Bellevue City Council candidate John Stokes in a Redmond coffee shop. John and I are connected through our education advocacy work and I know him to be a deep thinker and a dedicated advocate for children. I wanted to find out more about his decision to run for office […]
Posted inElections
A conversation with John Stokes, Part 1: A progressive vision for Bellevue
Earlier this week, I met up with Bellevue City Council candidate John Stokes in a Redmond coffee shop. John and I are connected through our education advocacy work and I know him to be a deep thinker and a dedicated advocate for children. I wanted to find out more about his decision to run for […]