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By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Tonight the 34th District Democrats endorsed King County Council chair Joe McDermott for the 7th Congressional District seat that longtime Rep. Jim McDermott is giving up.
He pointed out that he’s never run for something without his home district’s endorsement. More than 70 34th DD members were eligible to vote; 44 of them supported him.
Before the endorsement vote, the group heard from six candidates:
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES SPEAK: 5 minutes were allotted to each declared candidate who was present – roughly 3 minutes of speech, then a few questions. They spoke in alphabetical order. We recorded each on video – the text does not cover everything they said, but the video does (updated 1:47 am: we’ve added all candidates’ clips):
STATE SEN. PRAMILA JAYAPAL: “I have spent the last 25 years of my life fighting for others to be able to achieve their American dream.” That’s part of what Sen. Jayapal told the 34th DDs, after recounting a few things that happened earlier in the day in Olympia, including the rejection of anti-transgender legislation.
She lauded her fight to “lift up” people, and promised to be a “strong progressive voice,” focused on four issues: Income inequality, expanding Social Security and Medicare, climate, and debt-free college. In response to a question, she described herself as a “huge supporter of single-payer health care.” She was also nominated for endorsement and received 22 votes.
FORMER BURIEN MAYOR ARUN JHAVERI: He described himself as the first mayor of Burien when it incorporated in the early ’90s; he also has worked for the federal government.
“We need people like myself who represent a cross-section of the community at large,” he said, saying he knows the district from Burien to Edmonds to Shoreline to Vashon to Seattle. “One of the things I want to do is work on climate change,” he said, adding that he was a delegate to the UN conference in Paris. He was also nominated for endorsement and received 3 votes.
KING COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR JOE McDERMOTT: “This is home for me,” he begins, going on to say he believes the country is on the verge of more progressive change, but listing problems including income inequality and gun violence.
“We need to change. How are we going to do that? First, we need to overturn Citizens United.” That, he said, would “stop independent expenditures for corrupting our politics.” Among the questions he was asked, by a rep of Veterans and Friends of Puget Sound, was: What will you do for veterans? McDermott mentioned health care and housing. He also was asked what he will do to further the cause of Duwamish Tribe recognition. He said he will “continue working” on that.
JEFF STILWELL: He declared himself “that fresh face, that fresh voice,” and said he had fresh ideas such as putting unions back in the forefront.
He said gutting federal programs has got to stop, and declared that the gender wage gap has got to stop. Asked about his background, he said he has 15 years of job creation in the arts.
STATE REP. BRADY WALKINSHAW: Responding to McDermott’s discussion of money he mentioned a pledge taken in a race across the country. He said they should sign a People’s Pledge in this race. He talked about his background in “international development.”
Overall, he said, “If things are going to get better in this country, they’re going to get better because of regions like ours, stepping up to show the way.” He said the new congressmember needs to carry on Jim McDermott’s legacy on foreign policy. He was one of the four nominated for endorsement and received 3 votes.
DONOVAN RIVERS: This candidate spoke out of alphabetical order because he arrived later in the meeting. He emphasized the need for mental-health treatment – “There’s no reason why all these folks on the street should be living on the street.”
And he spoke about the importance of Social Security, and the fact young people don’t understand it “because we haven’t revitalized the program.” (His section was shorter because no one had a question for him.)
LT. GOVERNOR CANDIDATES: The 34th DDs also heard from two Lieutenant Governor candidates (State Sen. Cyrus Habib spoke last month), State Sen. Karen Fraser, who listed issues about which she cares, including “democracy,” and detailed her history of being elected 10 times as a Democrat, and State Rep. Jim Moeller, House Speaker Pro Tem, who declared himself “a liberal” and said he’s the only candidate who’s debated Rs and Ds.
STATE AUDITOR CANDIDATE: Jeff Sprung spoke, saying he wants to restore trust in the office, since the current state auditor is under indictment. He says he’s been a lawyer for whistleblowers so he has experience recovering money for taxpayers.
RAISE UP WASHINGTON: Former City Council candidate Jon Grant is working for this ballot measure now and told the 34th DDs that it needs a quarter-million signatures to get onto the ballot. He pitched for volunteers to help make that happen within the next four months. Read about it here.
JUDICIAL CANDIDATES: Steve Rosen, Johanna Bender, and Eric Newman, who also spoke last month, spoke to the 34th DDs again tonight. She clarified that “none of the judicial candidates here are running against each other.”
Also at the meeting:
TOM RASMUSSEN TRIBUTE: “His accomplishments are many and legendary,” is part of the inscription in a plaque presented to the former City Councilmember toward the start of tonight’s meeting. It also called him “the soul of the West Seattle community, working tirelessly …”
Chair Marcee Stone-Vekich and vice chair Ted Barker led the presentation. Rasmussen said, “12 years have gone by really, really fast.” And he noted he expected to become a precinct committee officer (PCO) later in the evening – which indeed he did. He was among more than a dozen appointed tonight, including Joe McDermott’s mother.
A great group of new Precinct Committee Officers who will walk and doorbell to elect Democrats this year! pic.twitter.com/shXYIkG6nB
— 34th Democrats (@34dems) February 11, 2016
WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES: Executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, West Seattle resident Rachel Berkson, was asked to provide an update on women’s-health issues in Olympia. She said supporters are pursuing legislation including 12 months of contraception and a “pregnant workers’ fairness act,” which says you shouldn’t be fired for being pregnant, and should have rights to water, bathroom breaks, health-care appointments. “We’re trying to reframe the debate about, what does it really mean to stand with women?”
HOW THE CAUCUSES WORK: March 26th is Democratic caucusing day.
Things you can do now, or soon, if you want to participate:
*Go to state party website and commit to caucus – www.wa-democrats.org
*Starting 2/15, pre-register for the caucus at http://wacaucus2016.appspot.com
*Area Caucus Coordinator Training – 2/20 at Puget Ridge Cohousing, 9:30-11:30 am
14 caucusing locations – you can find them via a lookup on the 34th Dems’ website.
Questions? 34demscaucus@gmail.com or 206-651-5098
The 34th District Democrats meet on second Wednesdays, 7 pm, at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Watch 34dems.org for updates between meetings.
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