CHAPMAN PILES UP ENDORSEMENTS; Mc ALLISTER LEADS IN FUNDRAISING

by | Jun 4, 2018 | Politics

Representative Mike Chapman (D) is collecting a pile of organizational endorsements in his re-election bid.  He is also far outpacing his Republican opponent in his fight to retain his seat representing the 24th District.  He can claim endorsements from :

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
Washington State National Organization for Women
Washington State Sierra Club
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
The Harry Truman Fund
Aerospace Machinists Industrial District Lodge 751
Olympic Peninsula Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO
AFT Washington, AFL-CIO
Olympic Labor Council, Port Angeles
Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters: (LU816, LU96, LU41, LU196, LU129)
Lee Whetham (Port Angeles City Councilor, Executive Secretary Olympic Peninsula Building and Construction Trades Council, member UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 32)
UA 32 Plumbers & Pipefitters
UFCW 21, Jefferson / Clallam
UFCW Local 367, Grays Harbor
IBEW Local 46, 76 & 77
The Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF I) Coalition
Washington Interior Systems Local Union No. 4
SEIU Healthcare 775
Sheet Metal Workers Local 66
Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union
Public School Employee’s Union (PSE)
SEIU Healthcare 1199NW
Washington State Council of County and City Employees AFSCME AFL-CIO
National Federation of Independent Businesses-Washington
Washington Restaurant Association
Washington Lodging Association
Washington Affordable Housing Council
Campaign for Tribal Self-Reliance by Washington Indian Gaming Assoc.
Premera Blue Cross
Washington Natural Gas
Washington State Council of Fire Fighters
Washington State Auto Dealers
Washington Health Care Association
SEIU 1199 NW – OMC Nurses
Washington State Dairy Federation
Washington Healthcare Association
Washington State Troopers
Washington State School Retirees’ Association
Washington State Potato & Onion Association
Washington Federation of State Employees
Washington Forest Protection Association
Washington Food Industry Association
Washington Beer & Wine Distributors
Washington State Bankers Association
Washington Association of Realtors
Washington State Hospital Association
Association of Washington Businesses
Grays Harbor Chapter of Master Builders
Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe
Quinault Nation
Quileute Tribal Council
Northwest Sportsfishing Industry Association
His latest campaign finance reports shows contributions of $29,880.  Included among the donors are corporations in the marine trades, logging and wood products, technology, energy, food and alcohol, health care and insurance industries and several tribes with gambling operations.
He is outpacing almost three-to-one his Republican challenger in fundraising.
Jodi Wilke, in her first race for any elected office, has been in constant motion since announcing her candidacy.  She held campaign kick-offs in Port Hadlock, Ocean Shores, and Port Angeles and has made several trips to the southern and far western sides of District 24.  She has worked auto shows, drag races, gun shows, festivals and parades, and was seen working a table at Port Townsend’s Rhody Parade cake party. She got an early jump on yard signs.  Placards featuring her signature bright red heart have popped up across the district. She has also been busy on local radio stations.
Wilke will need all her energy and stamina–and more–to try to compensate for Chapman’s huge lead in campaign money and organizational resources.  Her latest Public Disclosure Commission filing reports $11,516 in contributions (including $50 from Jim Scarantino, editor of Port Townsend Free Press, given before this website was launched).
Wilke has not announced any organizational endorsements.

McALLISTER HOLDS CASH ADVANTAGE IN DISTRICT 3 COMMISSIONER RACE

The four-way contest to replace Kathleen Kler as Jefferson County District 3 commissioner shows two candidates with strong fundraising advantages. Only the top two vote-getters will move on to the general election.  The primary election is August 7.  Only District 3 votes in this primary contest.

Ryan McAllister, who is running as a Democrat, thus far reports raising $7,892.  His top five donors account for $5,000, with the largest donation of $2,000 coming from Laurel Burik of Marrowstone Island.  Carla and Matthew Woodward of Port Hadlock each donated another $1,000.  (As previously disclosed, Jim Scarantino of this website made several small donations to McAllister before launching this project).

McAllister reports spending less than half of his funds, and has over $4,500 cash on hand.

Greg Brotherton, also running as a Democrat, reports raising $6,151.  His top five donors account for $2,250.  Two of his top five donors are his parents who reside in District 3 in Quilcene.  The other three reside in Port Townsend, outside the district.  One of those is Michelle Sandoval, a Port Townsend city councilor.

Brotherton has spent almost all his donated funds, and has only $580 remaining.  He has, however, loaned his campaign just over $3,035, which remains available to spend.

Jon Cooke is running as a Republican.  He is chairman of the Jefferson County GOP.  He reports raising $1,045.  He is his own campaign’s largest donor.

The fourth candidate, Craig Durgan, is running as a Democrat.  He reports a $795.18 in-kind contribution from himself, his only reported contribution.

All figures were derived from the latest available PDC filings.  This story was corrected since first publication.

HAAS LASHES OUT AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTER FOP ENDORSES KENNEDY [Updated]

by | Jun 3, 2018 | Politics
Area law enforcement has broken a tradition of noninvolvement in the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s race to endorse challenger James Kennedy’s bid to oust incumbent Michael Haas.
On May 20, 2018, the Fraternal Order of Police, North Olympic Lodge #31, issued its endorsement of Kennedy in the race between the two Democrats.  This is reportedly the first time they have ever endorsed a candidate for Prosecuting Attorney.
FOP Lodge #31 represents law enforcement officers in Jefferson, Clallam, and North Kitsap County.
Kennedy’s campaign website also lists individual endorsements from current prosecutors and law enforcement officers and their families.

In response to the FOP endorsement, Haas attacked the organization representing local law enforcement in a post at the Re-elect Haas for Prosecutor Facebook page.
His post links to an article by Paul Butler, a Georgetown University law professor, that attacks the national Federation of Police as a racist institution.  Butler is known for advocating that black jurors refuse to convict black defendants regardless of the evidence.
We asked Haas if he was accusing local law enforcement officers of being racists and how he could work with them as Prosecuting Attorney after this attack.  He has not responded to our request.  We will update this post with any response from Mr. Haas.
Haas’ website lists endorsements from defense attorneys.  We could not identify any endorsements from law enforcement officers or current prosecutors.
In the course of researching this story, we have learned of a growing divide between the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney and local law enforcement.  One cause repeatedly mentioned to us has been Mr. Haas’ recent dismissal of rape charges and his treatment of the alleged victim.
On April 26, 2018, on a motion from Haas, rape charges were dismissed against Patrick McAllister.  His previous conviction for rape had been reversed and remanded for retrial.  Haas criticized the previous prosecution and told the court dismissal of the charges without retrial was the right decision to make “legally and ethically.”
Wendy Davis, whose Facebook page identifies her as manager of the Kennedy for Prosecuting Attorney campaign, has described Haas’ handling of that case as “social injustice.”  “In our County,” she wrote on her Facebook page, “women’s and victim’s rights appear to have been set back decades.”  Davis was an employee of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office when Haas was elected but later resigned.  She is now employed at the Port Townsend Police Department.
Kennedy has accused Haas of failing to protect the victim and acquiescing in highly aggressive defense tactics, which caused Dove House to hire their own attorney and which subjected the woman to unusually intrusive and humiliating treatment.  His charges against Haas’ handling of the case can be read byclicking here.
Mr. Haas has not responded to these accusations.
Port Townsend Free Press will begin looking into the McAllister rape case as this matter will likely surface repeatedly from now until the November election.  We will examine the case file and utilize public records requests and conduct interviews when possible.  Please look for our reporting here.

UPDATE:

Kennedy issued the following statement on Facebook in response to this story:
I understand that this has become rather controversial so I would like to clarify a few points.
1) I am being endorsed by the LOCAL North Olympic Lodge, which only represents members of our LOCAL law enforcement community. This is NOT the national organization, I have nothing to do with them and I do not support the national organizations past endorsements. This is a LOCAL race, so let’s keep things local ok?

2) I did not request this endorsement. I had requested individual officers to endorse me, but many were hesitant. They remember my opponent expressing delight at the opportunity to “fry” a cop, when given the chance. They remember him calling them “keystone kops”, and they also recall his active attempts to get a particular deputy fired and possibly criminally charged after he took office. Consequently, many officers thought it would be better for them to show their support by having their local lodge endorse me, which I graciously accept.

3) I received this endorsement because I fostered an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect with our local law enforcement. That does not mean we see eye to eye on everything all the time, but that we can approach each other honestly and as professionals to find ways to make our respective departments work better. You simply cannot successfully serve the public as Prosecuting Attorney while having an openly hostile relationship your law enforcement community. That helps no one.

SEATTLE’S TAX ON JOBS COULD BE JEFFERSON COUNTY’S GAIN [Updated]

SEATTLE’S TAX ON JOBS COULD BE JEFFERSON COUNTY’S GAIN [Updated]

by | Jun 1, 2018 | Politics

Area legislators indicate support for tax credit for economically depressed counties.
But Tharinger ridicules.

Jefferson County could use a break.  A Pierce County legislator wants economically struggling counties like Jefferson to get a tax credit equal to the new tax on jobs recently passed in Seattle.

Even more ambitious plans to help rural counties may be in the works.

Senator Steven O’Ban, a Republican representing Pierce County, aims to stimulate rural job growth through a $275 business and occupation tax credit to employers for each new qualifying job they create in those counties suffering the highest unemployment rates.  To qualify for the credit, a job position would have to pay more than the county’s average wage.

O’Ban is preparing the legislation for the 2019 session and wants the credit to take effect next year.

O’Ban’s proposal comes in response to Seattle’s imposition of a $275 tax on full-time jobs at the city’s large employers.  Business leaders and legislators have expressed fears that the adverse economic effects of the tax and the hostility being expressed against the city’s successful businesses could ripple across the state.  “Washington shouldn’t lose jobs because our largest city’s tax policy punishes job growth,” O’Ban says on his official website.

“Our rural counties have low cost housing and a low cost of living,” he said in the press release announcing his plan.  “Concentrating our jobs in one metro area isn’t in the best interest of the state.  It benefits everyone to encourage companies to move out into rural areas.  No one’s going to have to sit in a two-hour commute or pay a toll in Aberdeen.”

Or Jefferson County, which is suffering an unemployment rate of 6.4%, almost 30% higher than the state average of 4.8%.

Jefferson County also suffers from low wages.  According to the Washington Employment Security Division, the average annual wage in Jefferson County was $36,381, far below the state average of $59,073.

Other counties shown in green stand to benefit under O’Ban’s legislation.

Pierce County recently announced its intention to extend a tax credit for each “family wage” job created.

Port Townsend Free Press reached out to the legislators representing Jefferson County for their response to O’Ban’s proposal and found qualified support for the idea, no outright opposition and even more ambitious plans to boost rural economies.

Mike Chapman(D), State Representative for District 24, said in a written response to The Port Townsend Free Press:  “While this may seem like a good idea to spur economic growth in rural Washington, and while I would probably vote for it if the bill makes it through committee and comes to the full House for a vote, as the Chair of the House Democrats rural economic development team it is not an approach I would champion.  I’m much more committed to long-term, permanent B&O tax reform. A reform I’ve been working on the first two years I’ve been in the Legislature would eliminate all B&O tax for about 80% of the businesses in Washington and even a higher percentage in the 24th Legislative District and all of rural Washington. This reform would spur economic growth, provide meaningful tax relief and lead to increased wages and new jobs in rural Washington. It’s a heavy lift, for sure, but one I remain committed to as long as I’m serving in the Legislature.”

Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D), through his Senior Communications Specialist, Rick Manugian, released the following statement:  “Good local jobs always have been, and always will be, my number-one priority. I look forward to working with my colleague, Sen. O’Ban, and others on any efforts to create jobs.  We have some options for tax credits in this state, and Rep. Mike Chapman has been a leader in small business tax credits. I’m especially supportive of Mike’s efforts because his knowledge of our district puts him in a position him to devise solutions that could create jobs that may be more relevant and practical for our local communities than a statewide, one-size-fits-all approach. We are fortunate to have Mike working for us.”

Steve Tharinger (D), State Representative for District 23, did not respond to our request for his views in time for the first publication of this story.  We have since received his response and here it his.  He sets himself apart from his challenger, Jim McEntire, whose position follows at the end of this report:

Writes Tharinger:  “Creating jobs and opportunity in rural Washington is my top priority. It’s been a pleasure working with my seatmate, Rep. Mike Chapman, who’s leading the effort on rural development. What we’ve learned from touring the state and attending economic development summits in places like Aberdeen, Moses Lake and Port Townsend is that real progress requires a combination of solutions. You need a skilled workforce, better infrastructure and health care along with incentives like tax credits. As chair of the House Capital Budget Committee, I’ve focused my energy on building that infrastructure, including schools, colleges and parks, along with more funding for rural broadband.

“Senator O’Ban’s  $272 per head tax incentive is just a symbolic poke in the eye of Seattle not a real pragmatic solution for rural economic development. We need more pragmatism less symbolism in addressing the  challenges of the job creation in rural Washington.”

Chapman is being challenged for re-election by Republican Jodi Wilke.  She issued this statement:  “Steve O’Ban has provided a clever and appropriate answer to Seattle Democrats’ tax on family wage jobs, commonly referred to as the ‘head tax.’ The bottom line? If you don’t want those jobs, we’ll take them. I couldn’t agree more. As an opener this proposal offers a solution that’s a win for all concerned, except maybe Seattle. Does it solve all of the problems we should address with the B&O tax? No, but it does provide an answer to companies who’ve been given the cold shoulder in the Emerald City–the rural counties love you and we’re open for business!”

Tharinger’s Republican challenger, Jim Mc Entire, issued this statement: “I ‘ve looked at Senator O’Ban’s proposed jobs Business and Occupation tax credit and I like it very much.  I’m in favor of any and all workable ideas to encourage good-paying jobs in high unemployment counties like the three in the 24th Legislative District.  Well done Senator O’Ban!  Further, this is the opposite of the family-wage job-killing tax recently enacted by the Seattle City Council and Mayor.  What were they thinking?”