At its Spring Board Meeting last week in Spokane, AWB’s Board of Directors voted to endorse JT Wilcox, the Roy Republican running for state representative in the 2nd Legislative District, and Nancy Wyatt, the Kent Republican running for state representative in the 47th Legislative District.
Both candidates are members of AWB, the state’s largest business association, and therefore qualified for automatic endorsements.
“Wilcox Farms is one of the oldest family businesses in the state and JT Wilcox worked there for many years, helping it through a period of tremendous growth,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “JT understands the challenges that business owners face every day, and our board was pleased to endorse him.”
As president and chief operating officer for the Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce, Nancy Wyatt is on the front lines helping help small-business owners succeed, Brunell added. “She has seen the hardship business owners have endured during the recession, and the tough decisions they have made to keep the doors open. With Washington lawmakers facing another difficult legislative session next year — and another multi-billion budget shortfall — this is exactly the kind of perspective we need in Olympia.”
In addition, the board voted to give early endorsements to the following incumbents: Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman (9th District); Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee (15th District); and Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton (16th District).
Legislators with a combined two-year score of 80 percent or higher on AWB’s voting record qualified for automatic endorsements. Thirty-two state representatives seeking re-election met the criteria this year, as well as six state senators. A complete list of all incumbents receiving AWB’s automatic endorsement is available here.
AWB board members will take up additional political endorsements at the annual Policy Summit in September.
About the Association of Washington Business
Formed in 1904, the Association of Washington Business is Washington’s oldest and largest statewide business association, and includes more than 7,000 members representing 650,000 employees. AWB serves as both the state’s chamber of commerce and the manufacturing and technology association. While its membership includes major employers like Boeing, Microsoft and Weyerhaeuser, 90 percent of AWB members employ fewer than 100 people. More than half of AWB’s members employ fewer than 10. For more about AWB, visit http://www.awb.org/.
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