The Washington State Governor’s race put the issue of political endorsements front and center when Republican candidate Rob McKenna decided not to attend the endorsement interview with the Washington Education Association. Jay Inslee subsequently received the WEA’s endorsement.

The League of Education Voters has consistently endorsed state legislative candidates, candidates for Governor, OPSI and occasionally statewide judicial contests. LEV strives to have an open and engaged process based on our values and that relies heavily on the track record of a given candidate. Each organization that confers formal endorsements in political races has a unique process for doing so.

Due to the sheer number of legislative races each cycle, LEV cannot realistically complete a full endorsement process for every candidate running for office. Additionally, we are cognizant of the need to have a process that values the contributions of consistent education champions while leaving room for leadership and alignment amongst newcomers.

LEV focuses on the entire education continuum, from early learning to higher education. Few candidates are going to agree with us, or lead, on every issue across such a vast landscape. So some of our endorsements go to candidates we disagree with, strongly, on given issues. However we respect honest differences and look to work together with any elected official where we agree.

Whomever we endorse, we call them a LEV Education Champion.

Who is a Champion?
A LEV Education Champion is an individual who has a proven track record of working to improve education for all children in Washington. This is measured through a variety of actions – like sponsoring a priority bill or budget, building strong relationships and utilizing their leadership to influence and negotiate with others to promote education proven values and strategies. Champions are individuals who exemplify the above qualities, and have a history of accomplishment, locally or at the state level.

Here is a list of our endorsements for 2010.

New for 2012
For the upcoming 2012 election, we will be inviting LEV Key Activists to take part in reviewing candidate’s questionnaires and to take part in interviews. Ultimately the LEV Board makes the decisions on who to endorse. Board members will base those decisions on their own experience and the information provided by staff and community members during the endorsement process. We value community input and are looking forward to the rich engagement with community members about who best will represent them.

How do we decide?
We look at each candidate through three main lenses:
1. We gauge, through experience or interviews and questionnaires, a candidate’s base alignment with LEV’s values and the potential to work together somewhere on the education continuum.
2. We look at a candidate’s track record of leadership in education. How effective are they as leaders? How dedicated are they to the State’s Paramount Duty? Are they responsive to their constituents?
3. Community support: Do community members active in education issues express support and confidence in a candidate?

We do not have hard and fast rules about how to weigh each area of consideration. That said, LEV values track records most, and we look to support candidates who have proven effective in making a difference for students.

We look forward to engaging you in our process for 2012, and announcing our full slate of endorsed candidates in the spring of 2012.

Happy Father’s Day, friends.

I heard a rumor that it’s summer. I’m having a hard time trying to convince my tomato plants. Onward.

Good Night and Good Luck: The news of the week in Washington; Chris Gregoire won’t seek a third term. After nearly 40 years in government, Gregoire’s hanging up the gloves to spend more time with family. Her departure clears the way for Congressman Jay Inslee to enter the race – state Attorney General Rob McKenna (R) announced his entry into the race last week. What role education will play in the race remains to be seen, but if McKenna’s opening salvo is anything to build on, we can expect a thorough education discussion over the next sixteen months. (Score sheet templates welcome!)

The Bold and the Brave: Speaking of education speak and politics, gubernatorial candidates (and others) will have to weigh the impact their education proposals play in the minds of voters. A new Education Week piece suggests that education reform has hurt the popularity of three republican governors.  Quick, run to the status quo! But before you lace up the Reeboks consider that the three governors discussed in the piece went full tilt at collective bargaining in the process. Their all or nothing approach wasn’t so much about leadership as it was having it their way. If you look to Illinois where major reforms were passed, the governor’s popularity grew. (albeit from a negative number to a positive number). The approach there was one of collaboration. Unlike here in Washington, where collaboration is king, they actually managed to craft and move a “landmark” bill that tackles difficult education issues with the support of the teacher’s union, business, community stakeholders and policy makers. When the goal is policy and not politics you can actually get what you want.

School Daze: A panel this week sponsored by Education Testing Services (ETS) and the Children’s Defense Fund suggested that much more attention is needed in the early years for African American boys. The focus was on how to improve outcomes for the 3.5 million black boys under nine years old. “We want to consider ways to position this vulnerable population for education success as early as possible in their lives…kindergarten and first grade have to be more like preschool,” to address children more holistically, to include social and emotional development, said Michael Nettles, a Senior Vice President at ETS. Data suggests that as young as 24 months, African American boys already lag behind their peers by half a year in cognitive development. Some solutions: better training and pay for preschool teachers, stronger training of elementary school principals to support more social, emotional development, flip the money currently used for incarceration to invest in early learning. As the saying goes, pay now, or pay later.

School Daze II: New data out this week from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) was discouraging, to say the least. American students are dreadfully lacking in history proficiency. Only 20% of fourth graders and 17% of 8^th graders ranked “proficient” or “advanced,” while 12% of high schoolers met this level.  A spot of bright news in the report showed progress for African American and Hispanic students. Both improved scores by double digits. Poor results over all will surely re-ignite the debate about whether the focus on math and reading to meet requirements from No Child Left Behind are the culprit. Doesn’t explain why we wouldn’t use history as part of the reading assignments used to improve that skill.

Show Me the Money: The New America Foundation unveiled a cool new tool, a product of their Federal Education Budget Project. The project shows comparative analysis of K-12 funding, demographics and student outcomes as well as financial aid data and results for higher education. The Washington higher education data was enough to make me wish I’d gone to brunch this morning.

Show Me the Money II: Seattle’s Families and Education Levy kicked into high gear yesterday with a campaign launch event.  The diversity of support was warming – nearly as warming as the “Baby Dangerettes” who stomped and whistled their way into the hearts of supporters. The event was held at El Centro de la Raza, and attended by dignitaries from all levels of government, including, Mayor  Mike McGinn, former Mayor Norm Rice, City Council Member Tim Burgess, Seattle School Board Member Sherry Carr, State Representative Marcie Maxwell and representatives from the Seattle Education Association, Seattle Public Schools and the Families and Education Levy Oversight and Planning committees. While not all of us agree on everything, we do agree that this levy is critical to Seattle’s children.

That’s all she wrote this week. So sorry to have nothing pithy to say about that congressman who resigned or the new “children’s” book making waves. I figure you’ll get those nuggets elsewhere – everywhere.

Election night returns show the Snoqualmie Valley School District’s bond is failing with 55.7 percent of the vote. Although the bond received approval from a majority of voters, passage of the school bond requires 60 percent of the vote.

It’s still too early to call the election. The SnoValley Star reports that voter turnout has already surpassed the turnout of the previous election. Let’s hope the remaining ballots can turn the tide.

This is the second attempt to pass a bond that would add more classroom space to alleviate overcrowding in the school district. In February, the bond failed by one vote. The community rallied to pay for a hand-recount, however  final results still came one vote short of passing.

Parents and community members in the Snoqualmie Valley School District came through in a big way when they heard that the school bond was failing by one vote.

The final election results posted Feb. 23rd showed the bond received 5,972 approval votes (59.99%) out of 9,955 cast in the election. Just one vote was needed to receive the 60 percent supermajority required to pass a school bond.

The Snoqualmie Valley Star reported that the community responded within hours. A local parent setup a Facebook page to help raise money to pay for a recount in the election. A $2,650 check was hand-delivered to King County Elections the next day.

The hand-recount of the election is scheduled to begin this Thursday and the results released the following day.

At stake is more classroom space for a school district that is facing overcrowding. The 2010 Census numbers show Snoqualmie is the fastest growing city in our state, adding more than 9,000 residents in just 10 years (an increase of 550 percent).

Below is a list of February 8th election night returns for school levy and bond measures. All school levies are passing across the state, however a few are too close to call. School levies need a simple majority (50 percent plus one) approval of voters to pass.

Only a handful of the 18 bond measures across the state are passing. Bond measures need a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Kids and schools are counting on our YES votes to approve critical levies and bonds tomorrow. Please mail your ballot in today!

With more state cuts to public schools coming, schools need your support now more than ever. The levy funds a significant portion of your school district’s budget.

If your school district is running a bond or capital levy, your support will help upgrade or replace aging school buildings, infrastructure and equipment so students can learn in a safe and modern environment.

Below are the levy and bond measures on the February 8th ballot.

Kids and schools in your community are counting on your YES vote. We urge you to please mail your ballot by next Tuesday, February 8th.

View a list of schools with levy and/or bond elections on February 8th below. Links are provided to your school district or levy/bond website for more information.

Today is another national call-in day for early childhood education. Make a “Washington to Washington” call to tell President Obama to prioritize investments in our youngest learners.

We have a new Congress ahead of us, and we must do everything we can to get them started on the right foot for young children and their families. These first few weeks will serve as a critical test of the strength of our community and our allies in the other Washington. As you know, the battles over funding for FY 2011 are still not settled. After several temporary funding measures, Congress will have to act again before March 4, when the last continuing resolution (CR) they passed will expire.

We need you take a moment today, Friday, January 14th, to call the White House at 1-202-456-1111 and urge the administration to protect, sustain, and maintain critical funding for early childhood programs. It’s the new year, time is ticking and we must do everything we can to keep the increases that we won in the Economic Recovery Act for child care, Head Start, and Early Head Start. If this funding is not continued 300,000 children across the country, including many in Washington State, will be eliminated from early learning programs.

Please call 1-202-456-1111 on Friday. In the message you leave, ask them to:

• Protect funding for child care, Head Start, and Early Head Start to help us build a smarter, healthier, and stronger America

• Sustain the $1 billion funding for Head Start/Early Head Start as well as the $1 billion funding for child care during FY 2011, and

• Maintain these levels into FY 2012.

Yes, ballots are still being counted, and there are several races yet to be decided. Stay tuned.

State Supreme Court

1. Jim Johnson – reelected
2. Barbara Madsen – reelected
3. Still in Play: Richard Sanders – 50.11% v. Charlie Wiggins 49.89%

State Senate

Democratic majority in Senate 31-18

7 needed to change leadership of Senate

4 seats have changed hands: Democratic Majority 27-22
1. Michael Baumgartner (R) over Chris Marr (D) – 6th LD
2. Steve Litzow (R) over. Randy Gordon (D) – 41st LD
3. Andy Hill (R) over Eric Oemig (D) – 45th LD
4. Joe Fain (R) over Claudia Kauffman (D) – 47th LD

1 seat still in play
1. Steve Hobbs (D) 50.61% vs. Dave Schmidt (R) 49.39% – 44th LD

State House

Democratic majority in House 61-37

12 needed to tie and 13 to change leadership

3 seats have changed hands: Democratic majority 58-40
1. John Ahern (R) over John Driscoll (D) – 6th LD (narrowing margin)
2. Mark Hargrove (R) over Geoff Simpson (D) – 47th LD
3. Paul Harris (R) over Monica Stonier (D) – 17th LD

Additional 6 still in play
1. Luis Mosoco (D) 50.75% vs. Heidi Munson (R) 49.25% -1st LD
2. Dawn Morrell (D) 50.09% vs. Hans Zeiger (R) 49.91%– 25th LD
3. Katrina Asay (R) 50.74% vs. Carol Gregory (D) 49.26% – 30th LD
4. Kathy Haigh (D) 50.88% vs. Dan Griffey (R) 49.12% – 35th LD
5. Vincent Buys (R) 50.45% vs. Kelly Linville (D) 49.55% – 42nd LD
6. Roger Goodman (D) 50.97% vs. Kevin Haistings (R) 49.03% – 45th L

State Senate

Democratic Majority in Senate 31-18

7 needed to change leadership of Senate

3 seats have changed hands

1. Michael Baumgartner (R) over Chris Marr (D) – 6th LD
2. Andy Hill (R) over Eric Oemig (D) – 45th LD (narrowing margin)
3. Joe Fain (R) over Claudia Kauffman (D) – 47th LD

4 seats still in play

1. Tracey Eide (D) 51.66% vs. Tony Moore (R) 48.34% – 30^th LD
2. Steve Litzow (R) 51.20% vs. Randy Gordon (D) 48.80% – 41st LD
3. Steve Hobbs (D) 50.61% vs. Dave Schmidt (R) 49.39% – 44th LD
4. Rodney Tom (D) 51.45% vs. Greg Bennett (R) 48.55% – 48th LD

State House

Democratic majority in House 61-37

12 needed to tie and 13 to change leadership

3 seats have changed hands

1. John Ahern (R) over John Driscoll (D) – 6th LD (narrowing margin)
2. Mark Hargrove (R) over Geoff Simpson (D) – 47th LD
3. Paul Harris (R) over Monica Stonier (D) – 17th LD

Additional 15 still in play

1. Derek Stanford (D) 52.58% vs. Dennis Richter (R) 47.42% – 1st LD (Pos. 1)
2. Luis Mosoco (D) 50.36% vs. Heidi Munson (R) 49.64% -1st LD (Pos. 2)
3. Brian Blake (D) 52.36% vs. Tim Sutinen (R) 47.64% – 19th LD
4. Steve Tharinger (D) 52.30% vs. Jim McEntire (R) 47.70% – 24th LD
5. Dawn Morrell (D) 50.11% vs. Hans Zeiger (R) 49.89%– 25th LD
6. Larry Seaquist (D) 52.13% vs. Doug Richards (R) 47.87% – 26th LD
7. Troy Kelley (D) 52.73% vs. Steve O’Ban  (R) 47.45% – 28^th LD (Pos. 1)
8. Tami Green (D) 51.41% vs. Paul Wagemann (R) 48.59% – 28th LD (Pos. 2)
9. Katrina Asay (R) 51.14% vs. Carol Gregory (D) 48.86% – 30th LD
10. Kathy Haigh (D) 50.93% vs. Dan Griffey (R) 49.07% – 35th LD
11. Marcie Maxwell (D) 53.03% vs. Peter Dunbar (R) 46.97% – 41st LD
12. Vincent Buys (R) 50.55% vs. Kelly Linville (D) 49.45% – 42nd LD
13. Hans Dunshee (D) 51.89% vs. Bob McCaughan (R) 48.11% – 44th LD
14. Roger Goodman (D) 50.44% vs. Kevin Haistings (R) 49.56% – 45th LD

Here are the latest election results:

Measures

Fail
• 1098 (income tax) – fail (35/65)
• R-52 (state bonds for schools) – fail (44/56)
• 1082 (deregulation of workers comp) – fail (41/59)
• 1100 (Costco liquor) – fail (47/53)
• 1105 (distributor liquor) – fail (36/64)

Pass
• 1053 (2/3 majority for tax) – pass (65/35)
• 1107 (repeal candy, soda, gum and bottled water tax) – pass (62/38)

State Senate

Democratic Majority in Senate 31-18

7 needed to change leadership of Senate

3 seats have changed hands
o Michael Baumgartner (R) over Chris Marr (D) – 6th LD
o Andy Hill (R) over Eric Oemig (D) – 45th LD
o Joe Fain (R) over Claudia Kauffman (D) – 47th LD

4 seats still in play
o Tracey Eide (D) 51.26% vs.Tony Moore (R) 48.74% LD- 30th
o Steve Litzow (R) 51.64% vs. Randy Gordon (D) 48.36% – 41st LD
o Steve Hobbs (D) 50.33% vs. Dave Schmidt (R) 49.67% – 44th LD
o Rodney Tom (D) 51.02% vs. Greg Bennett (R) 48.98% – 48th LD

State House

Democratic majority in House 61-37

12 needed to tie and 13 to change leadership

3 seats have changed hands
o John Ahern (R) over John Driscoll (D) – 6th LD
o Mark Hargrove (R) over Geoff Simpson (D) – 47th LD
o Paul Harris (R) over Monica Stonier (D) – 17th LD

Additional 15 still in play
o Derek Stanford (D) 52.24% vs. Dennis Richter (R) 47.76% – 1st LD (Pos. 1)
o Luis Mosoco (D) 50.03% vs. Heidi Munson (R) 49.97% -1st LD (Pos. 2)
o Brian Blake (D) 52.00% vs. Tim Sutinen (R) 48.00% – 19th LD
o Steve Tharinger (D) 51.53% vs. Jim McEntire (R) 48.47% – 24th LD
o Dawn Morrell (D) 50.11% vs. Hans Zeiger (R) 49.89% – 25th LD
o Larry Seaquist (D) 51.96% vs. Doug Richards (R) 48.04% – 26th LD
o Troy Kelly (D) 52.55% vs. Steve O’Ban (R) 47.45% – 28th LD
o Tami Green (D) 51.30% vs. Paul Wagemann (R) 48.70% – 28th LD
o Katrina Asay (R) 51.75% vs. Carol Gregory (D) 48.25% – 30th LD
o Kathy Haigh (D) 50.86% vs. Dan Griffey (R) 49.14% – 35th LD
o Marcie Maxwell (D) 52.57% vs. Peter Dunbar (R) 47.43% – 41st LD
o Vincent Buys (R) 51.04% vs. Kelly Linville (D) 48.96% – 42nd LD
o Hans Dunshee (D) 51.34% vs. Bob McCaughan (R) 48.66% – 44th LD
o Kevin Haistings (R) 50.11% vs. Roger Goodman (D) 49.89% – 45th LD
o Ross Hunter (D) 52.18% vs. Diane Tebelius (R) 47.82% – 48th LD

Here are the latest education-related election results:

Measures

Fail
• 1098 (income tax) – fail (35/65)
• R-52 (state bonds for schools) – fail (44/56)
• 1082 (deregulation of workers comp) – fail (42/58)
• 1105 (distributor liquor) – fail (36/64)

Pass
• 1053 (2/3 majority for tax) – pass (65/35)
• 1107 (repeal candy, soda, gum and bottled water tax) – pass (62/38)

TBD
• 1100 (Costco liquor) – 52 against, 48 for

State Senate

Democratic Majority in Senate 31-18

7 needed to change leadership of Senate

3 seats have changed hands
o Michael Baumgartner (R) over Chris Marr (D) – 6th LD
o Andy Hill (R) over Eric Oemig (D) – 45th LD
o Joe Fain (R) over Claudia Kauffman (D) – 47th LD

4 seats still in play
o Tracey Eide (D) 51.06% vs.Tony Moore (R) 48.94% LD- 30th
o Steve Litzow (R) 52.21% vs. Randy Gordon (D) 47.8% – 41st LD
o Steve Hobbs (D) 50.14% vs. Dave Schmidt (R) 49.86% – 44th LD
o Rodney Tom (D) 50.57% vs. Greg Bennett (R) 49.43% – 48th LD

State House

Democratic majority in House 61-37

12 needed to tie and 13 to change leadership

3 seats have changed hands
o John Ahern (R) over John Driscoll (D) – 6th LD
o Mark Hargrove (R) over Geoff Simpson (D) – 47th LD
o Paul Harris (R) over Monica Stonier (D) – 17th LD

Additional 13 still in play
o Derek Stanford (D) 51.6% vs. Dennis Richter (R) 48.4% – 1st LD (Pos. 1)
o Heidi Munson (R) 50.64% vs. Luis Mosoco (D) 49.36% -1st LD (Pos. 2)
o Steve Tharinger (D) 51.53% vs. Jim McEntire (R) 48.47% – 24th LD
o Dawn Morrell (D) 50.02% vs. Hans Zeiger (R) 49.98% – 25th LD
o Larry Seaquist (D) 51.87% vs. Doug Richards (R) 48.13% – 26th LD
o Tami Green (D) 50.97% vs. Paul Wagemann (R) 49.03% – 28th LD
o Katrina Asay (R) 51.96% vs. Carol Gregory (D) 48.04% – 30th LD
o Kathy Haigh (D) 50.82% vs. Dan Griffey (R) 49.18% – 35th LD
o Marcie Maxwell (D) 51.85 vs. Peter Dunbar (R) 48.15% – 41st LD
o Vincent Buys (R) 51.4% vs. Kelly Linville (D) 48.6% – 42nd LD
o Hans Dunshee (D) 50.87% vs. Bob McCaughan (R) 49.13% – 44th LD
o Kevin Haistings (R) 50.75% vs. Roger Goodman (D) 49.25% – 45th LD
o Ross Hunter (D) 51.62% vs. Diane Tebelius (R) 48.38% – 48th LD

Levies and Bonds

Maintenance and Operations Levies
• Bainbridge Island – passing with 62.1% yes votes
• Bellingham School District – passing with 59.1% yes votes
• Benge #122 – passing with 71.4% yes votes (total of 28 votes in the election)
• Seattle School District – passing with 64.35% yes votes

Bonds (School bond require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.)
• South Whidbey School District – failing with 42% yes votes
• Colton #306 – failing with 52.1% yes votes
• Elma – failing with 49.9% yes votes
• Eastmont School District – failing with 57.6% yes votes

Capital Levies
• Monroe School District – failing with 40.44% yes votes
• Bainbridge Island – passing with 55.9% yes votes
• Griffin – passing with 51.8% yes votes

If ever there was a morning made for Bill Clinton’s folksy empathy, this is it. “I feel your pain,” I can hear him saying in that almost-whispered, gravelly voice he used when he really wanted us to know that he was feeling our pain. Last night’s election coverage showed a tsunami of red sweeping across the country. (While the results were stunning, the mainstream media still found a way to make coverage over the top. Vote-pocalypse! Tea-riffic! Major Prediction!) Forget about red and blue for a minute. What color is fear or anger?

Voters were mad, to be sure. Just ask the incumbent members of Congress who’ll be packing up their offices next month. But they were also scared, owing to a crummy economy. Marry that with the distrust many feel for a government that seems to do nothing but argue with itself and you get the kind of results we saw last night. Whether this “throw the bums out” approach will move us forward as a country will come into clearer focus next January when all the newly elected get seated. The “work together” platitudes being shared today will be waste paper in the bird’s cage by then. I’d bet the sentiment won’t be far behind, but then I’ve been to more than one Congressional rodeo.

Closer to home, nearly everything having to do with increasing taxes went down by a two to one margin – except for local school levies. Proof that voters can hold conflicting points of view – and vote on them! No on 1098, which would have provided more stable revenue for schools. Yes on property tax increases to support local school districts. As was the trend nationwide, lots of change in the state legislature. We’ll sort through the wins and losses elsewhere on our site with the focus on how these changes affect education and the momentum to improve education for all kids in Washington.

Fortunately, education is a bipartisan issue. The legislature just got more bipartisan. We’ll leave the handwringing and post-election messages of doom to others. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of places to do it. Welcome to all who will prioritize and fight for an excellent public education system in Washington. The elections might be over, but the real race starts now.

Here are the results based on initial returns for levy and bond elections across the state for the November 2, 2010 election. These numbers will continue to change as ballots are counted.

Maintenance and Operations Levies

• Bainbridge Island – passing with 60.6% yes votes
• Bellingham School District – passing with 58.2% yes votes
• Benge #122 – passing with 71.4% yes votes
• Seattle School District – passing with 63.8% yes votes

Bonds*

• South Whidbey School District – failing with 42% yes votes
• Colton #306 – failing with 52.1% yes votes
• Elma – failing with 49.9% yes votes
• Eastmont School District – passing with 57.6% yes votes

*School bond require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Capital Levies

• Monroe School District – failing with 39.8% yes votes
• Bainbridge Island – passing with 54.7% yes votes
• Griffin – passing with 50.8% yes votes

More results due out this late afternoon…stay tuned.

Levies

Maintenance and Operations Levies

• Bainbridge Island – passing with 60.6% yes votes
• Bellingham School District – passing with 58.2% yes votes
• Benge #122 – passing with 71.4% yes votes
• Seattle School District – passing with 63.8% yes votes

Bonds*

• South Whidbey School District – failing with 42% yes votes
• Colton #306 – failing with 52.1% yes votes
• Elma – failing with 49.9% yes votes
• Eastmont School District – failing with 57.6% yes votes

*School bond require a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Measures

• Initiative 1098 (income tax) – fail (34/66)
• Referendum 52 (state bonds for schools) – fail (43/57)

Supreme Court

Richard B. Sanders: 585,420 | 51.27 %
Charlie Wiggins: 556,484 | 48.73 %

* LEV-endorsed*

Legislative

Senate

* LEV-endorsed

* Chris Marr, D-Spokane (6th LD): 11,779 | 44.33 %
Michael Baumgartner (R): 14,795 | 55.67 %

* Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor (26th LD): 20,692 | 57.93 %
Marty McClendon (R): 15,030 | 42.07 %

* Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way (30th LD): 10,393 | 50.86 %
Tony Moore (R): 10,041 | 49.14 %

* Karen Keiser, D-Kent (33rd LD): 10,742 | 58.78 %
Jack Michalek (R): 7,532 | 41.22 %

* Sharon Nelson, D-Seattle (34th LD): 17,430 | 100.00 %

* Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle (36th LD): 22,764 | 81.64 %
Leslie Klein (R) Problemfixer Party): 5,121 | 18.36 %

* Randy Gordon, D-Bellevue (41st LD): 15,139 | 47.25 %
Steve Litzow (R): 16,903 | 52.75 %

* Ed Murray, D-Seattle (43rd LD): 19,497 | 100.00 %

* Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens (44th LD): 14,694 | 50.01 %
Dave Schmidt (R): 14,686 | 49.99 %

* Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland (45th LD): 13,476 46.50 %
Andy Hill (R):15,503 | 53.50 %

* Scott White, D-Seattle (46th LD): 18,738 | 100.00 %

* Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent (47th LD): 10,580 | 44.12 %
Joe Fain (R): 13,398 | 55.88 %

* Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue (48th LD): 11,954 | 49.72 %
Gregg Bennett (R): 12,087 | 50.28 %

* Nick Harper, D-Everett (38th LD): 11,782 | 58.89 %
Rod Rieger (Conservative Party): 8,225 | 41.11 %

House

* LEV-endorsed

* Glenn Anderson, R-City (5th LD): 19,229 | 60.24 %
David Spring (D): 12,692 | 39.76 %

* John Driscoll, D-Spokane (6th LD): 12,060 | 46.09 %
John E. Ahern (R): 14,104 | 53.91 %

* Kevin Parker, R-Spokane (6th LD):19,505 | 100.00 %

* Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake (13th LD): 24,751 | 100.00 %

* Tim Probst, D-Vancouver (17th LD): 17,934 | 53.36 %
Brian Peck (R): 15,675 | 46.64 %

* Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo (21st LD): 12,736 | 53.06 %
Elizabeth Scott (R): 11,267 | 46.94 %

* Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds (21st LD): 13,432 | 55.59 %
Ed Borey (R): 10,729 | 44.41 %

* Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island (23rd LD): 17,188 | 55.15 %
James M. Olsen (R): 13,977 | 44.85 %

* Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup (25th LD): 16,589 | 49.72 %
Hans Zeiger (R): 16,775 | 50.28 %

* Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup (25th LD): 20,956 | 63.25 %
John Thompson (D): 12,176 | 36.75 %

* Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor (26th LD): 18,167 | 51.46 %
Doug Richards (R): 17,137 | 48.54 %

* Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park (32nd LD): 16,611 | 61.97 %
Gary (G) Gagliardi (R): 10,196 | 38.03 %

* Tina Orwall, D-Normandy Park (33rd LD): 12,359 | 100.00 %

* Fred Finn, D-Olympia (35th LD): 19,717 | 53.10 %
Linda Simpson (R): 17,413 | 46.90 %

* Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton (35th LD): 19,061 | 50.63 %
Daniel (Dan) Griffey (R): 18,583 | 49.37 %

* Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle (36th LD): 21,554 | 100.00 %

* Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton (41st LD): 16,306 | 51.19 %
Peter Dunbar (R): 15,547 | 48.81 %

* Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham (42nd LD): 16,720 | 47.83 %
Vincent Buys (R): 18,239 | 52.17 %

* Frank Chopp, D-Seattle (43rd LD): 20,191 | 84.32 %
Kim Verde (R): 3,754 | 15.68 %

* Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish (44th LD): 14,829 | 50.38 %
Bob McCaughan (R): 14,608 | 49.62 %

* Larry Springer, D-Kirkland (45th LD): 15,547 | 54.55 %
Mark Isaacs (R): 12,954 | 45.45 %

* Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland (45th LD): 13,930 | 48.80 %
Kevin Haistings (R): 14,613 | 51.20 %

* Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle (46th LD): 19,221 | 82.50 %
Beau Gunderson (I): 4,076 | 17.50 %

* Pat Sullivan, D-Covington (47th LD): 12,998 | 55.22 %
Rodrigo M. Yanez (R): 10,540 | 44.78 %

* Ross Hunter, D-Medina (48th LD): 12,124 | 50.77 %
Diane Tebelius (R): 11,756 | 49.23 %

* Jim Jacks, D-Vancouver (49th LD): 17,185 | 57.50 %
Bill Cismar (R): 12,701 | 42.50 %

* Andy Billig, D-Spokane (3rd LD): 8,660 | 59.91 %
Dave White (GOP): 5,794 | 40.09 %

* Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver (17th LD): 15,484 | 46.35 %
Paul Harris (R): 17,922 | 53.65 %

* Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater (22nd LD): 23,651 | 59.45 %
Jason Hearn (GOP): 16,131 40.55 %

* Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma (27th LD): 12,620 | 53.95 %
Jake Fey (D): 10,773 | 46.05 %

* Carol Gregory, D-Federal Way (30th LD): 9,592 | 47.79 %
Katrina Asay (R): 10,480 | 52.21 %

* Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw (31st LD): 14,116 | 52.74 %
Shawn Bunney (R): 12,650 | 47.26 %

* Kris Lytton, D-Anacortes (40th LD): 19,072 | 55.47 %
Mike Newman (R): 15,311 | 44.53 %

* David Frockt, D-Seattle (46th LD): 18,054 | 100.00 %

In case you were watching Sunday Night Football like some of us, 60 Minutes sent veteran reporter Lesley Stahl to our great state as part of a segment on taxes on the wealthy. The focus, of course, was on Initiative 1098 (which LEV has endorsed), and Bill Gates, Sr., who is the driving force behind the ballot measure.

Watch Stahl try to get Gates, Sr., to call local corporate CEOs “greedy.” Poor Gates, Sr. Leslie Stahl is one crafty interviewer.

At any rate, check out the whole segment below, and please mail in your ballot. We would never ask you to call anyone greedy.

Folks, we’re going to make this easy on you. If you haven’t filled out your ballot, we’re giving you this cheat sheet of sorts (get the details on our PAC site) to make things easier to vote on issues and candidates that are pro education and pro kids.

Ballot Measures:

Vote YES on:

Initiative 1098
Referendum 52
Seattle School Levy

Pro-Education Incumbents:

These legislators have taken a leadership role on education and children’s issues in Olympia. *Denotes LEV PAC targeted candidates.

Senate

• Chris Marr, D-Spokane (6th LD)
• Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor (26th LD)*
• Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way (30th LD)
• Karen Keiser, D-Kent (33rd LD)
• Sharon Nelson, D-Seattle (34th LD)
• Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle (36th LD)
• Randy Gordon, D-Bellevue (41st LD)*
• Ed Murray, D-Seattle (43rd LD)
• Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens (44th LD)
• Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland (45th LD)*
• Scott White, D-Seattle (46th LD)
• Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent (47th LD)*
• Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue (48th LD)*

House

• Glenn Anderson, R-City (5th LD)
• John Driscoll, D-Spokane (6th LD)
• Kevin Parker, R-Spokane (6th LD)
• Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake (13th LD)
• Tim Probst, D-Vancouver (17th LD)*
• Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo (21st LD)
• Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds (21st LD)
• Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island (23rd LD)
• Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup (25th LD)
• Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup (25th LD)*
• Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor (26th LD)
• Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park (32nd LD)*
• Tina Orwall, D-Normandy Park (33rd LD)
• Fred Finn, D-Olympia (35th LD)
• Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton (35th LD)
• Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle (36th LD)
• Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton (41st LD)*
• Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham (42nd LD)
• Frank Chopp, D-Seattle (43rd LD)
• Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish (44th LD)
• Larry Springer, D-Kirkland (45th LD)
• Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland (45th LD)*
• Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle (46th LD)
• Pat Sullivan, D-Covington (47th LD)*
• Ross Hunter, D-Medina (48th LD)*
• Jim Jacks, D-Vancouver (49th LD)

New Candidates

These promising, new candidates will continue the momentum behind education reform and funding in the Legislature.

Senate

• Nick Harper, D-Everett (38th LD)

House

• Andy Billig, D-Spokane (3rd LD)
• Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver (17th LD)
• Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater (22nd LD)
• Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma (27th LD)
• Carol Gregory, D-Federal Way (30th LD)
• Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw (31st LD)
• Kris Lytton, D-Anacortes (40th LD)
• David Frockt, D-Seattle (46th LD)

Yesterday LEV turned out in full force at Yessler Community Center on behalf of U.S. Senator Patty Murray. We joined teachers, parents and community members to advocate for continued support of early learning programs, Pell grants and federal support for community colleges.

Senator Murray shared great stories about her own personal path to politics, and her dedication to quality education was inspiring! Vote Murray!

After the huge success at the rally, LEV caravaned down to Auburn to lend support to state Senator Claudia Kauffman’s campaign with a night of phonebanking. It was a long day of campaigning but well worth the time and energy spent if it means two victories for education champions.

If you’ve got an iPhone, now there’s another way to check who’s winning (and losing) on election night.

The Washington Secretary of State has an app available for download that will show election results for statewide ballot measures and federal, judicial and legislative offices after 8 pm on November 2nd.

Download the free app by searching for “WA State Election Results” in the app store from your iPhone or from the iTunes store.

With one week left to vote, King County is reporting a mail ballot return of only 15 percent. If this is indicative of ballot returns around the state, it’s important that you encourage your friends and family to vote.

The school districts below are counting on education voters to vote for levies and/or bonds on your November 2nd ballot.

Maintenance and Operations Levies

• Seattle School District
• Bainbridge Island
• Bellingham School District
• Benge #122

Bonds*

• South Whidbey School District
• Colton #306
• Elma
• Eastmont School District

*Although levies now require a simple majority vote, school bonds still need a 60 percent supermajority to pass.

Capital Levies

• Monroe School District
• Bainbridge Island
• Griffin

It’s sad but true. Less people vote on a candidate or issue further down the ballot — even for state representative positions one and two. Many races are decided by only a couple hundred votes, so neglecting to make a decision on each one can affect the outcome.

Unfortunately, the long November 2nd ballot will contribute greatly to voters feeling ballot fatigue. The ballot starts off with six complex initiatives to the people and three other statewide measures.

To get the word out about pro-education ballot measures and candidates in the progressive community, LEV participated in FUSE Washington’s Progressive Voters Guide. The Guide lists the recommendations of environmental, choice, labor, youth, ethnic and community-based organizations.

While many of our endorsements align with other organizations in the Guide, some such as state representative, position one in the 25th Legislative District should make progressive voters rethink the best choice in the race.

So if you want to know if a candidate for state representative is good on education AND the environment, check out the Progressive Voters Guide.

And remember to vote all the way down the ballot!

With Washington voters receiving their ballots in the mail last week, a group of education advocates hit certain districts on Saturday to give their support to candidates who strongly support schools and kids.

LEV sent 22 volunteers out to doorbell for 48th district Democrats Rodney Tom and Ross Hunter (and the I-1098 and R-52 campaigns). We also had a group of 10 high school students travel with two LEV staffers to Claudia Kauffman’s (D-47th) campaign. We managed to visit 1,700 homes to remind people to vote!

If you hadn’t heard, Kauffman had a high-profile volunteer drop by to help her go door-to-door on Saturday – that would be Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Thanks to the Washington Bus for the photo.