ELECTION 2022: Ballots arrive; senator campaigns in West Seattle

Two election notes:

BALLOTS ARRIVE: As noted here Wednesday, King County Elections has mailed the general-election ballots, and they’ve started arriving, so voting has begun. If you want to return your ballot via a county dropbox, West Seattle has three – the full countywide list is here. We recently previewed what’s on your ballot. You have until Tuesday night, November 8th, to vote, and you can choose a new way to track your ballot. Not registered to vote yet? Not too late to change that.

SENATOR CAMPAIGNS IN WEST SEATTLE: U.S. Senator Patty Murray just made a noontime campaign stop in West Seattle:

(WSB photo)

She spoke at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), accompanied by Mini Timmaraju, who is president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Murray is a Democrat running for a sixth 6-year term in the U.S. Senate, challenged in this election by Republican Tiffany Smiley. Murray chairs the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee. Her speech at C & P not only focused on reproductive rights but also touted, among other things, the federal funding that helped cover the cost of the West Seattle Bridge repairs. After the C & P event, she was off to campaign in other parts of the city, including the Rainier Valley and International District.

nwpolitico October 21, 2022 (1:30 pm)

I wish I would’ve known about this in advance of the event! I would’ve asked Senator Murray if she’ll commit to a sixth term being her final term.

WSB October 21, 2022 (1:53 pm)

The announcement was only made to political supporters so far as we know; we found out in a very roundabout way ourselves.
CAM October 21, 2022 (3:26 pm)

And why would she do that or would you assume that is desired by the majority of the people she represents? Since coming into office she has won by 17, 12, 5, 17, and 18 points. The only time anyone came close to her, even in a primary, was in 2010. The voters clearly don’t want anyone else that is offering themselves on the ballot. She’s doing an excellent job.
- Echo October 21, 2022 (4:38 pm)
  
  The 17th Amendment should have included either(and) term-limits for Senators, or a modification to a Senator’s terms. America missed an opportunity to modify Senators similar to what we accept as natural limitations to a President.
  
  I’m of the opinion that term-limits should be enacted for all elected federal positions. We should include limits for the non-elected positions of the Judicial branch, but approach it differently. The Constitution never equated for “career politicians” nor did it give the people appropriate regulation over Congress – and instead appropriated Congress to regulate itself. After 230+ years, the obvious flaws seem incurable.
  - CAM October 23, 2022 (10:39 am)
    
    You do have regulation over your elected representatives. It’s called voting, recalling, and the judicial branch. I am not opposed to setting some form of required limitations on the years judges can be appointed to positions so that they are more reflective of the choices people are making in who they are voting for currently rather than 30 years ago. I think we would lose the benefit of some great minds on the court but there are a LOT of great minds out there to pick from that don’t ever get a voice.
Michael Ostrogorsky October 21, 2022 (3:47 pm)

I am perfectly happy giving Senator Murray a sixth term, and see no reason to think I wouldn’t as well giving her a seventh term, especially considering the rightwing cultist nut jobs running against her!
- Odd son October 21, 2022 (4:29 pm)
  
  If you want the same, keep voting for the same. These attitudes are why Seattle has been in such a sad state. People are frustratingly, unbelievably stubborn.
  - KT October 21, 2022 (4:42 pm)
    
    Patty has been a good advocate for the people of this state…and this is no year to give Mitch McConnell any more power. He already packed the court by refusing to hold any hearings for Merrick Garland when he was nominated by a President Obama.
  - Voting Manion October 21, 2022 (4:59 pm)
    
    Well I certainly wont vote anti-abortion cult candidate in Smiley. I’m all for change but not change for the worse.
  - Michael Ostrogorsky October 22, 2022 (11:53 am)
    
    I ABSOLUTELY want the same! I am quite happy with my representation in Congress knowing that my Representative and Senators are NOT delusional reality-denying cultists but people who live in the real world like I do!
    - Scarlett October 22, 2022 (2:13 pm)
      
      Everyone claims to live in the “real” world.
Young 70 October 21, 2022 (7:26 pm)

The senator responded to the ageist question today on local television news by pointedly naming Mitch McConnell who is over 80, Jim Inhofe 87, Richard Shelby 87, Chuck Grassley 88.
All republicans.
Tennis shoe mom Murray did not step on any old Democrats’ toes such as Diane Feinstein, also 88.
Strom Thurmond was historically the oldest sitting senator at 100 years old.
I was at the CP event and Senator Murray did not appear or act as old as her 72, nor as old as many of the West Seattle seniors in attendance.

Marty October 21, 2022 (2:28 pm)

36 years of anyone is way too long. We desperately need term limits.

Echo October 21, 2022 (4:38 pm)

Yes.
PSPS October 21, 2022 (5:38 pm)

Um … we do have term limits. They’re called elections.
CarDriver October 21, 2022 (7:26 pm)

Marty/ Echo. Having high seniority politicians has gotten Washington a LOT of infrastructure money and contracts for Boeing and the shipyards-other business and farmers too. Don’t ever recall hearing ANY group or individual complain and demand the money go back. Why??
- Scarlett October 22, 2022 (9:44 pm)
  
  Because money talks and BS walks. You find out how deep one’s politics convictions run when there is money at stake. Just a general observation, not directed at either Marty or Echo in particular.

Jeff October 21, 2022 (2:55 pm)

Voting Manion, Murray, and for RCV!!!! Everyone else do the same!

Question Authority October 21, 2022 (3:50 pm)

Manion will be more crime and failed policy just like her boss has caused all these years.
- Voting Manion October 21, 2022 (4:56 pm)
  
  Voting Manion too. She is way more articulate and has more experience. Ferrell wants poor people in jail and wants to make being poor a crime, it’s absurd. Manion all the way!
KT October 21, 2022 (4:43 pm)

Agreed!

Azimuth October 21, 2022 (3:12 pm)

So many judges unopposed

Mj October 21, 2022 (3:49 pm)

CAM – Senator Murray policies have resulted in a significant, over 50%, increase in my health care premium. I had a high deductible preventive care plan that was all I needed that thanks to her and her colleagues I can no longer get. I have contacted her office several times to raise my concerns to no avail!

KT October 21, 2022 (4:45 pm)

She didn’t cancel that policy, the insurance companies did.
Voting Manion October 21, 2022 (4:57 pm)

That has nothing to do with Murray…
HealthCareIsARight October 21, 2022 (6:44 pm)

Well we could just let the ACÁ be cancelled then you could be dropped for any preexisting condition. How about that as an option?
CarDriver October 21, 2022 (7:34 pm)

Mj. Smiley promised you-and everyone else lower insurance costs? Did she-or any other politician guarantee it?
CAM October 23, 2022 (10:46 am)

MJ I agree with you that the government should take greater control over the way Private For Profit Health Insurance Companies have destroyed our healthcare system in this country and turned it into a mad max style kill or be killed system. I’m glad to see you advocating for the government to take a more progressive approach to regulating healthcare costs and gradual movement towards a national healthcare system. It is a magical fairyland filled with treats for all I promise you.

WSnative October 21, 2022 (5:02 pm)

I also would have liked to have known in advance about her campaign stop in WS. I have some questions for her. For instance why she tweeted that should the republicans win the majority they would scrap both medicare and SS. Disgusting. Additionally I would liked to have asked her about the reply to my best friends email to her requesting assistance. Like myself he is a Viet Nam veteran. He is highly decorated and was seriously wounded and is still dealing with health issues resulting from his wounds. He has been trying for over a year to have his claim with the VA processed without success. Her office replied and thanked him for contacting her office and asked him to donate to her campaign. She could care less about Veteran’s. BTW we are both lifelong WS residents, graduates WSHS graduates. She needs to go.

CAM October 21, 2022 (7:23 pm)

The republican party has been actively working to eliminate medicare and social security piece by piece for decades. The disgusting part is that they are lying to you about it.

uncle loco October 21, 2022 (5:02 pm)

When is the debate between her and Smiley?

WSB October 21, 2022 (6:31 pm)

There are two events coming up 10/23 and 10/30, according to this story:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/2nd-patty-murray-tiffany-smiley-event-announced-in-wa-senate-race/

Rhonda October 21, 2022 (5:13 pm)

This family is voting for Tiffany Smiley. We need change.

M October 21, 2022 (7:19 pm)

Same here. Go Smiley! We need change.
CarDriver October 21, 2022 (7:36 pm)

Rhonda. What changes did she promise you-and everyone else would see. Did she guarantee they’d happen?
- Rhonda October 21, 2022 (8:25 pm)
  
  Murray has broken promises for 30 years. Smiley has policies my family and I believe in. We are 100% opposed to Murray’s positions and track record. Smiley wants to put America first. Murray has put violent criminals and the corporate elite first for 3 decades.
  - CAM October 23, 2022 (10:23 am)
    
    Okay Rhonda, but what is Smiley going to do that you are in support of? “Put America first” isn’t actually a plan it’s a slogan with a jingoistic flavor intended to make people scared of other options.
- K October 21, 2022 (9:36 pm)
  
  Well, someone with no experience is bound to produce change in the form of less getting done. So there’s that.
smoosh October 22, 2022 (2:05 am)

Given all your silly uninformed comments on this blog this is completely unsurprising.

WSeaRes October 21, 2022 (6:53 pm)

We need term limits for all elected positions from local, state and federal! Corrupt career politicians such as Pelosi, McConnell, Biden & Patty Murray just to name a few feel no pressure to do what’s right for constituents and are all bought and paid for by special interest groups! And people were shocked that Trump won in 2016!? I wouldn’t be shocked if he ran in 2024 and won again and definitely expect republicans take the majority in the senate & house in 2022. Both sides have their fair share of issues but right now people are tired of stock market taking a dump (since Biden took over), rising cost of groceries and gas, rising crime in liberal cities, homeless issue not being fixed and solved once and for all as well as all the senseless covid mandates that led to many qualitied people losing their jobs over vax mandates. Continuing to do the same thing (vote blue no matter who) and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. For those that can’t see the mess our city, state and country are in are in full denial and completely delirious! We need term limits for all elected officials and then we will all be better off from it…. We also need to end the 2 party system!

smoosh October 22, 2022 (2:06 am)

Weird that you name only moderate democrat politicians. Would you prefer a 1 party system?
Clay S October 22, 2022 (9:03 am)

Oh boy. That’s sure a lot to unpack…

Young 70 October 21, 2022 (7:39 pm)

Tiffany Smiley’s truth lacking attack ads should keep her out of politics, but we are in the (hopefully) post-Trump era of Republicans where outright lies are their currency, facts and truth be damned.
I wonder how many of these pro-Smiley folks commenting continue to falsely claim Trump won?
I would enjoy their responses.

Scarlett October 23, 2022 (11:30 am)

Conspiracy theories of stolen elections are false on both sides of the aisle, whether it’s Trump’s bleating or Stacie Abrams bleating about voter suppression in Georgia. Having worked elections in several states, there are strict protocols and layers of security and frankly ballot tampering is the very furtherest thing from anyone’s mind. The reality is far more routine and boring.

TJ October 21, 2022 (7:54 pm)

“Ferrell wants poor people in jail and being poor a crime”? What a lazy comment. No, people are just tired of being poor as a excuse for lenient sentences for crimes. Like drug addicts too. This area has basically decrimanized drug use, but people care sick and tired of their drug use as an excuse for their crimes. Not holding people accountable for their supposed injustices has gotten this area into this mess, and it won’t get better until all are held to the same standard

Ivan Weiss October 21, 2022 (8:40 pm)

“Not holding people accountable” is just as lazy a comment as any other. Prosecutors have been handing out tough sentences since time immemorial, and yet crime continues regardless. No doubt you know what doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result defines. Don’t you? “Lock ’em up and throw away the key” continues to fail, and people like you continue to push it.
Derek October 21, 2022 (8:59 pm)

Personally I’m voting Manion because I don’t believe in jailing a problem created by capitalism. I don’t believe in punishing people for the effects. It’s time to punish the cause. I’m all about restorative justice. Ferrell is supported by Republicans. Enough said.
- Question Authority October 21, 2022 (10:15 pm)
  
  I’m all about punishing the cause as well, the people who cause all the crime and steal from others. One’s private belongings are not up for free grabs just because your poor or have a drug addiction, people want accountability and are tired of crime.
  - CAM October 23, 2022 (10:33 am)
    
    You can’t build enough jails to house the number of people you and Ferrell want in them and you can’t staff the ones you do have to run them safely (for the staff or the inmates). You won’t work your way out of this issue by locking people up. It’s a knee jerk, emotional response to what is a societal crisis that has existed since people began forming communities. We are where we are today because we put in place mandatory minimums and harsh (and racist) sentencing laws between the 80s and the 90s and we are reaping the rewards of the decisions made back then. We are not enough years away from those events yet for the changes being implemented now to show the effects needed to support the purpose underlying sentence reform (beyond basic justice).
    - Scarlett October 23, 2022 (12:48 pm)
      
      And who spearheaded the 1994 Crime Bill? Senator Joe Biden who advertised himself as the racial healer when he announced his 2020 presidential intentions. That aside, I agree that the long term solution isn’t building more and more prisons.
- Question Authority October 22, 2022 (8:37 am)
  
  I’m all for restorative justice as well, where criminals restore safety in the community by serving time for crimes they commit. I fully support counseling, treatment and life skills assistance while and after being incarcerated, but do the penalty you deserve for breaking the law and violating others safety.

Derek October 21, 2022 (9:03 pm)

Tiffany Smiley is the biggest liar I’ve ever seen. How is she allowed to blatantly lie on the air? She should be paying fines. Her phony use of her husband is also laughable. Murray is the easy choice.

E October 22, 2022 (7:13 am)

Term limits

Aaron October 22, 2022 (9:29 am)

Term limits benefit lobbyists and corporate special interests far more than they benefit little people like you and me.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/01/18/five-reasons-to-oppose-congressional-term-limits/
- Scarlett October 23, 2022 (6:35 pm)
  
  I looked at the Brookings piece and a number of objections come to mind. For example, the argument that legislating is profession and requires expertise gained over years in office, is in practice far from reality. Has any legislator read the hundreds of pages contained in any major legislative bill? Probably not, they simply vote on party lines. So, what happens is they require special interests to parse the the details and tell them how to vote. We need term limits.