OLYMPIA— The Association of Washington Business, Washington state’s oldest and largest statewide business association, has approved its slate of legislative and ballot measure endorsements for the 2010 elections. AWB’s board of directors approved the candidate and ballot measure endorsements Thursday during its fall board meeting, held in conjunction with the association’s 21st Annual Policy Summit at Semiahmoo.
“This fall, voters will have the opportunity to make some crucial decisions about the future of our state, how we position ourselves to emerge from this recession,” said AWB President Don Brunell. “The leaders we send or return to the Legislature will face many pressing issues, including how to deal with a growing $4.5 billion budget deficit. During our Policy Summit this week, our members continued to express their concerns about the economy, taxation, job creation and competitiveness. AWB’s endorsements reflect those concerns, and those of the 7,000+ small, medium and large employers we represent.”
“Employers are frustrated,” added Gary Chandler, AWB vice president of government affairs. “They’ve made cuts, prioritized spending and done everything in their power to keep their doors open and people employed. But they’re not seeing state government do the same thing, and that’s driving a lot of the conversations around candidates and the ballot measures. Our members have been very vocal about the need to cut spending and reset state government. Our endorsements are an indication of this concern.”
Endorsements of both candidates and ballot measures are the result of a months-long process based on member input and candidate interviews. In the case of incumbents, any legislator with an 80 percent or higher voting record with the association receives an automatic endorsement.
AWB board members voted Thursday to endorse Initiative 1100 (liquor privatization), oppose Initiative 1105 (revising state liquor laws) and endorse Initiative 1107 (repealing candy, soda and bottled water tax). The association previously announced its support for Initiative 1053 (restating a 2/3rds for tax increases) and Initiative 1082 (allowing private insurance carriers to sell workers’ compensation insurance) and opposition to 1098 (adding a state income tax).
The following candidates received endorsement Thursday from AWB’s board of directors:
· 1 House Pos. 1 Dennis Richter R Bothell
· 1 House Pos. 2 Heidi Munson R Bothell
· 6 House Pos. 2 Rep. John Driscoll D Spokane
· 17 House Pos. 1 Rep. Tim Probst D Vancouver
· 17 House Pos. 2 Paul Harris R Vancouver
· 18 House Pos. 1 Ann Rivers R La Center
· 21 House Pos. 1 Ed Borey R Mukilteo
· 21 House Pos. 2 Elizabeth Scott R Edmonds
· 22 House Pos. 1 Jason Hearn GOP Lacey
· 23 House Pos. 1 Pete DeBoer R Kingston
· 24 House Pos. 1 Dan Gase R Port Angeles
· 24 House Pos. 2 Jim McEntire R Sequim
· 25 House Pos. 2 Hans Zeiger R Puyallup
· 26 House Pos. 2 Doug Richards R Port Orchard
· 26 State Senate Derek Kilmer D Gig Harbor
· 27 House Pos. 2 Jon Higley R Tacoma
· 28 House Pos. 2 Paul Wagemann R Lakewood
· 30 House Pos. 1 Shawn Sullivan R Federal Way
· 30 House Pos. 2 Katrina Asay R Milton
· 30 State Senate Tony Moore R Federal Way
· 31 House Pos. 2 Christopher Hurst Ind D Enumclaw
· 32 House Pos. 1 Art Coday R Shoreline
· 32 House Pos. 2 Gary Gagliardi R Shoreline
· 32 State Senate David Baker R Kenmore
· 35 House Pos. 1 Daniel Griffey R Allyn
· 35 House Pos. 2 Linda Simpson R Bremerton
· 40 House Pos. 1 Mike Newman R Mount Vernon
· 40 House Pos. 2 John Swapp R Anacortes
· 41 House Pos. 1 Peter Dunbar R Mercer Island
· 41 State Senate Steve Litzow R Mercer Island
· 42 House Pos. 1 Jason Overstreet R Blaine
· 42 State Senate Doug Ericksen R Bellingham
· 44 State Senate Steve Hobbs D Lake Stevens
· 45 House Pos. 1 Kevin Haistings R Carnation
· 45 State Senate Andy Hill R Redmond
· 47 House Pos. 1 Mark Hargrove R Covington
· 47 State Senate Joe Fain R Covington
· 48 House Pos. 1 Diane Tebelius R Bellevue
· 48 House Pos. 2 Rep. Deb Eddy D Kirkland
· 48 State Senator Gregg Bennett R Bellevue
· 49 House Pos. 2 Craig Riley R Vancouver
The following legislators have previously received an endorsement from AWB based on their voting record:
· 2 House Pos. 2 JT Wilcox R McKenna
· 4 House Pos. 1 Rep. Larry Crouse R Spokane
· 4 House Pos. 2 Rep. Matt Shea R Spokane Valley
· 5 House Pos. 2 Rep. Glenn Anderson R Fall City
· 5 House Pos. 1 Rep. Jay Rodne R North Bend
· 6 House Pos. 1 Rep. Kevin Parker R Spokane
· 7 House Pos. 1 Rep. Shelly Short R Addy
· 7 House Pos. 2 Rep. Joel Kretz R Wauconda
· 7 Senate Sen. Bob Morton R Kettle Falls
· 8 House Pos. 1 Rep. Brad Klippert R Kennewick
· 8 House Pos. 2 Rep. Larry Haler R Richland
· 8 Senate Sen. Jerome Delvin R Richland
· 9 House Pos. 1 Rep. Susan Fagan R Pullman
· 9 House Pos. 2 Rep. Joe Schmick R Colfax
· 10 House Pos. 1 Rep. Norma Smith R Clinton
· 10 House Pos. 2 Rep. Barbara Bailey R Oak Harbor
· 12 House Pos. 1 Rep. Cary Condotta R East Wenatchee
· 12 House Pos. 2 Rep. Mike Armstrong R Wenatchee
· 13 House Pos. 2 Rep. Bill Hinkle R Cle Elum
· 13 House Pos. 1 Rep. Judy Warnick R Moses Lake
· 13 Senate Sen. Janéa Holmquist R Moses Lake
· 14 House Pos. 1 Rep. Norm Johnson R Yakima
· 14 House Pos. 2 Rep. Charles Ross R Naches
· 15 House Pos. 1 Rep. Bruce Chandler R Granger
· 15 House Pos. 2 Rep. David Taylor R Moxee
· 15 Senate Sen. Jim Honeyford R Sunnyside
· 16 House Pos. 1 Rep. Maureen Walsh R Walla Walla
· 16 House Pos. 2 Rep. Terry Nealey R Dayton
· 18 House Pos. 2 Rep. Ed Orcutt R Kalama
· 20 House Pos. 1 Rep. Richard DeBolt R Chehalis
· 20 House Pos. 2 Rep. Gary Alexander R Olympia
· 25 House Pos. 1 Rep. Bruce Dammeier R Puyallup
· 26 House Pos. 1 Rep. Jan Angel R Port Orchard
· 28 House Pos. 1 Rep. Troy Kelley D University Place
· 31 Senate Senate Pam Roach R Auburn
· 35 Senate Senate Tim Sheldon D Potlatch
· 39 House Pos. 1 Rep. Dan Kristiansen R Snohomish
· 39 House Pos. 2 Rep. Kirk Pearson R Monroe
· 44 House Pos. 2 Rep. Mike Hope R Lake Stevens
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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