Adjacent posts
Ideas for what to read next
Ideas for what to read next
Enjoyed what you just read? Make a donation
Thank you for reading The Cascadia Advocate, the Northwest Progressive Institute’s journal of world, national, and local politics.
Founded in March of 2004, The Cascadia Advocate has been helping people throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond make sense of current events with rigorous analysis and thought-provoking commentary for more than fifteen years. The Cascadia Advocate is funded by readers like you and trusted sponsors. We don’t run ads or publish content in exchange for money.
Help us keep The Cascadia Advocate editorially independent and freely available to all by becoming a member of the Northwest Progressive Institute today. Or make a donation to sustain our essential research and advocacy journalism.
Your contribution will allow us to continue bringing you features like Last Week In Congress, live coverage of events like Netroots Nation or the Democratic National Convention, and reviews of books and documentary films.
NPI’s essential research and advocacy is sponsored by:
Tuesday, August 6th, 2019
Alex Ybarra well positioned to retain Matt Manweller’s old seat for the Republican Party
Only two candidates filed to run in this year’s special election for State Representative Position #2 in Washington’s 13th, a rural legislative district that spans most of Lincoln, Grant and Kittitas counties and includes cities like Ellensburg and Mattawa. One is a Republican and one is a Democrat.
The 13th is currently represented exclusively by Republicans, with State Senator Judy Warnick and State Representatives Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra.
Ybarra is in the incumbent in the seat that was vacated by Matt Manweller of Ellensburg after sexual assault allegations resurfaced against him in 2018.
Challenging Ybarra is Democrat Steve Verhey, who is contending for the State House with a campaign focused on fixing Washington’s upside down tax structure, widely regarded as one of the most regressive in the country.
Verhey currently serves as Chairman for the Kittitas County Democratic Party, Chair of the Environment and Climate Caucus of the Washington State Democratic Party and on the Washington State Democratic Central Committee.
Ybarra has a long history with the Grant County Public Utilities Department and has previously served as president of the Quincy School Board. He has also served on the board of the Washington State School Directors Association.
Although he was a freshman in the minority this past legislative session, Ybarra did sponsor a bill that was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee.
House Bill 1621 gives colleges and universities more flexibility in admitting education applicants by changing basic skills assessment requirements for acceptance into teach preparatory programs.
“We need to encourage more people to choose this noble profession. Good teachers, just like students, should not be defined by a single test,” said Ybarra. “By removing this barrier a broader range of candidates can be admitted into these programs.”
As of 9:15 PM, Ybarra led with 62% of the vote (14,403 votes), and Verhey had 26% (6,097 votes). Both Ybarra and Verhey were guaranteed to move on to the November 5th general election; in this round, the race was a beauty contest.
# Written by Caitlin Harrington :: 10:11 PM
Categories: Elections
Tags: WA-Leg
Comments and pings are currently closed.