I started posting on HowieinSeattle in 11/04, following progressive American politics in the spirit of Howard Dean's effort to "Take Our Country Back." I decided to follow my heart and posted on seattleforbarackobama from 2/07 to 11/08.--"Howie Martin is the Abe Linkin' of progressive Seattle."--Michael Hood.
Pelz's letter comes after a back and forth battle being waged on the blogs by venture capitalist Nick Hanauer, a prominent Democrat donor, and Mary Lindquist, president of the Washington Education Association, the state's largest teachers union.
Hanauer argues the state is dragging its feet on education reforms and says the WEA is standing in the way. Lindquist disagrees, writing in one letter: "We do not have the luxury of theorizing from behind locked doors of high rise office buildings in downtown Seattle. We work with students every day."
Pelz said his views on the matter are largely driven by watching what his wife, a school teacher, goes through. MORE...
That doesn't mean Kucinich will get a warm welcome if he tries to make the move. Dwight Pelz, chairman of the Washington state Democratic Party, said Kucinich called this week and indicated that he was looking at running in the state next year.
Kucinich spokesman Nathan White said Pelz may have misinterpreted the conversation and that the congressman simply made contact to be polite due to rumors about his future.
Either way, Pelz told Kucinich that he didn't support the idea.
"He is not an attractive candidate for Congress in Washington state," Pelz said in an interview. "We could lose if he was our candidate." MORE...
…but my guess is that Rep. Kucinich's appearance at a fundraiser for my LD Democratic organization has very little to do with speculation about his possible interest in the 1st District Congressional seat and a lot to do with his relationship with our State Senator, Maralyn Chase, one of the most prominent local supporters of his presidential campaigns. MORE...
“This is the guy you all see at the State of the Union addresses. He’s always at the same spot, waiting for the president. Dennis Kucinich has a big ego, and he likes the spotlight. He’s been in the state twice and now he’s looking for a place to run for Congress? I would say it’s tremendously unusual,” Pelz said.
This past weekend, Kucinich held a fundraiser in Tacoma, made a stop in Bainbridge Island and led an immigration rally in Seattle, fueling reports he could be testing his appeal. (SNIP) Washington Rep. Jim McDermott, a liberal congressman from the Seattle area, gave Kucinich his blessing to run in Washington – and noted that he is not a native Washingtonian, either.
“I came from Chicago and now represent Seattle. If Dennis decides to run in Washington, I think it’s fine,” McDermott said. MORE...
Howie P.S.: Congressman Jim, as some may recall, represented Seattle in the Washington State Senate for several terms before he ran for Congress.
ASOTIN, Wash. -- They say it's all about traditional values and pushing back against the government.
And there were some strong words spoken on Saturday at the Take Back America Rally hosted by the Lewis and Clark Tea Party Patriots.
"How many of you have watched the movie 'Lonesome Dove?'" asked one speaker from the podium. "What happened to Jake when he ran with the wrong crowd? He got hung. And that's what I want to do with (Sen.) Patty Murray."
In the days after the speech, Democrats have rushed to Murray's defense, claiming the speakers' words amount to hate speech.
"She (Murray) understands that people are, you know, anxious. The unemployment is high, the economy is not going well," Dwight Pelz of the state Democratic party. "There's a lot of anxiety out there, but that doesn't justify hatred, and doesn't justify threats of violence."
The senator's office had no comments on the issue.
Approximately 500 people gathered for the rally at the Asotin County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
"We are getting people together to try to tell the government that we don't like what's going on," said Doug Schurman, the group's co-chairman. "We don't like their spending. We don't like their unaccountability, and we want it to change."
Schurman said the group is trying to get more people involved in the movement to "save our nation."
Speaker Phil Teasley echoed the sentiment, stating more Americans need to step up and be heard.
"We have sat around for so long and the mess we are in is because we are so complacent," he said. "So the better educated we are, the better educated the people can make a decision on the politicians."
In addressing the crowd about state sovereignty and education, Teasley said federal agendas are pushing out state curriculum.
"I want to get the parents involved with their kids," he said. "I want them to meet their teachers. I want them to get involved with the PTA, if they want to. I want them to run for school board because if you know what your kids are being taught, then it's so much easier to find things ... coming in that we don't want."
The next tea party event is scheduled to be held on April 11 at the Lewiston Community Center.
Howie P.S.: Traditional media like to define the tea-baggers as "populists." They should reconsider expanding their descriptions. MSNBC's First Read picked up the story late Wednesday. According to The Google, so far local media (other than KOMO) are looking the other way.
UPDATE: Washington state Democratic Chair Dwight Pelz puts the eventual HC bill in historical context: "An Historic Victory."
California Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey said in a joint statement Wednesday. "For Congress to achieve true health care reform we must have a meaningful conference process that integrates both bills into the best possible piece of legislation for the American people."
On the eve of a historic health care vote in the Senate, liberal Democrats in the House have launched a full-throated defense of the public option — a sign of battles to come when party leaders try to meld the two bills.
“Now that the Senate is poised to pass its version of a health care reform bill, it is time to turn to reconciling it with the House legislation," California Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey said in a joint statement Wednesday. “For Congress to achieve true health care reform we must have a meaningful conference process that integrates both bills into the best possible piece of legislation for the American people."
Their top priorities:
"A public option — If the bill requires people to buy health insurance, there must be a public option to bring down costs by providing lower-cost competition to private insurers and choice to consumers."
"Affordability protections — The legislation must protect lower and middle-income individuals by ensuring that subsidies make coverage affordable and that Medicaid patients have access to primary care physicians."
"Tighter market regulations — New regulations must keep premiums reasonable and end abusive practices. Insurance companies should no longer be exempt from anti-trust laws and any premium increases must be reviewed before they take effect."
“Employer mandates — If individuals are required to buy insurance, employers should be required to provide it.
“Tax surcharges — Health care reform should be financed by tax surcharges on the wealthy not excise taxes on health insurance plans offered to many workers and union members.
They're not as critical of the Senate package as New York Rep. Louise Slaughter; Lee and Woolsey, who serve as chairwomen of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, respectively, even go out of their way to thank the Senate majority leader and Sens. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) for adding a provision on health care disparities and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) for helping to secure $10 billion for community health centers.
But it's clear that they're not going to roll over, as some senators have suggested they should. “We look forward to working with the House and Senate leadership to ensure that the final legislation provides affordable and comprehensive health care to people who need it.”
The Mallahan for Mayor Campaign is honored to announce the endorsement of Dwight Pelz, the former Democratic State Senator and King County Councilmember from South Seattle, and current Chair of the State Democratic Party. Pelz emphasized Mallahan's progressive Democratic values, his commitment to rebuilding Seattle's economy, and his get-things-done leadership style as reasons for his support.
"Joe Mallahan will be a great mayor of Seattle," Pelz said. "He has the experience and understanding of economic issues that our city needs now. Joe will make sure that we find sensible transportation solutions, invest in public safety, provide better services for seniors, and create more living-wage jobs."
"Joe is an idealist without illusions--he's a former Obama delegate and community organizer who benefits from two decades in the private sector creating jobs and finding creative solutions to complex problems, Pelz said. "Joe has vision and is a pragmatic leader driven by a social conscience. It's a rare leadership blend and one of the many reasons that I enthusiastically support Joe's election."
Pelz continued, "I've been disappointed time and again by Joe’s opponent, Mike McGinn. He’s a one-issue candidate, now a no issue candidate, who clearly doesn’t get our biggest issue ---Seattle’s flagging economy and loss of good, family wage jobs. I am confident that as Mayor Joe will take steps to put Seattle’s economy on the road to recovery."
Pelz's support comes on the heels of last week's endorsement by Governor Chris Gregoire. Mallahan is the only candidate to receive an "Outstanding" rating by the Municipal League. He's been endorsed by the King County Democrats, the King County Labor Council, Seattle Police and Firefighters, the Alki Foundation and Joe is the only candidate in this race to get five A’s, the highest possible rating, from SEAMEC.
"I'm delighted by Dwight's endorsement," Mallahan said. "We're both social justice Democrats and we both want to work together to ensure that all the citizens of Seattle, especially those on the margins, have an advocate in the mayor's office. I'm looking forward to working with Dwight and other progressive community leaders to move forward on building a better future for Seattle."
Pelz, a former community organizer, represented the 37th legislative district in the state senate for six years and served on the King County Council from 1997-2005, representing south Seattle. Pelz has been Chair of the State Democratic Party since January 2006.
Howie P.S.: Dominic Holden (SLOG), sounding a little desperate to discredit Pelz and to lower the net worth of his endorsement, has penned "Dwight Pelz: A Conservative Democrat." I'm confident that this is the first time Pelz has been tagged with that particular label. Even though I make no pretense of "objectivity" (whatever the hell that is) let the record reflect I was employed for a time by the organization Dwight helped to start (he was its first Executive Director), Washington Fair Share. This occurred some time ago, in the last part of the last century.
Last year a group of "political reformers" (financed by Republican business leaders) successfully passed a measure making county government non-partisan. Today that reform is just three months old, but already poised to fail its first major test. Ron Sims has just completed 12 magnificent years of service as our County Executive and has announced that he will leave to join the Obama Administration. Rather than pick a strong leader to succeed Ron, there is talk of choosing a "caretaker."
Succession of office is an important test of our democracy. When a government official resigns or passes away, provisions are made for that position to be filled and for government to continue.
For partisan offices, state law assigns the political parties a role which has allowed vacancies to be filled in an orderly, timely, and predictable fashion. The Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) from the affected jurisdiction meet and choose three member of the party of the departed official, and forward that list to the County Council or County Commissioners, who pick one person.
Last month I traveled to Walla Walla to chair the meeting at which the PCOs convened to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Bill Grant. The PCOs designated three Democrats as suitable replacements, and forwarded that list to the 12 County Commissioners from the four counties in the 16th Legislative District. On February 21st Laura Grant-Herriott, Bill Grant's daughter, was chosen for the position and immediately sworn in.
A similar meeting took place 12 years ago when the PCOs met at the gym of Nathan Hale High School to designate a list of three Democrats to fill the last year of the term of then-County Executive Gary Locke, who was departing to be Governor. On that day, an impassioned Ron Sims stood up and gave a compelling speech about the challenges facing King County - and his ability as a leader to meet them. On that day no one called for a "caretaker" or a "placeholder." Ron was the choice of the PCOs and served for 10 months as the appointed Executive, then was elected to the post three times.
The PCOs and the Democratic Party will play no role in 2009 in filling this most recent vacancy. By state law governing vacancies in a non-partisan office, the nine members of the King County Council are charged with the responsibility of naming the next County Executive. But with some of the Council members vying for the job themselves, the Council appears unable to assemble five votes for a strong successor.
Today, instead of the terms "executive" and "leader," we hear talk of choosing a "caretaker" or a "placeholder." We hear cliches about "letting the voters decide the next County Executive, not the Council members." This is not the time for a placeholder. This is the time for the nine members of the King County Council to provide leadership. They need to take a hard vote and appoint a leader, not a caretaker.
King County faces enormous challenges. The County's economic model was in tatters before this current economic crisis began. 2009 will require real leadership in the Executive's office to maintain our courts, our public defenders and prosecuting attorneys, our jails, the Sheriff's office, environmental protection, and basic services.
Voters who chose to make the County government non-partisan were promised that government would work better because party loyalties disrupt decision-making. What we see instead is this decision being postponed because of personalities, not parties.
Political parties make our democracy function better. Congress could not make basic decisions without majority and minority caucuses. Our State Legislature would never adjourn on time without the discipline and structure provided by the parties. It is time to hold the refomers accountable for their reform and ask whether non-partisan government has improved or hindered decision making in King County?
In the past the role of the PCOs and the parties allowed us to fill the vacancy in the County Executive position with a strong leader. The five Democrats on the County Council can continue that tradition by appointing a strong Democrat as our next County Executive.
John McCain will be in Washington next Tuesday, and we want to give him a special welcome.
Five years ago, George Bush stood in front of a banner saying "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq. And John McCain has stood with Bush in this disastrous war every step of the way. Now - five years, 4,000 lost lives, and at least $500 billion later - John McCain says keeping our troops in Iraq for 100 years would be fine with him.
McCain is bringing his campaign to give Americans a 3rd Bush term to our state next week, and when he steps out of his limo on May 13th, we're planning to make sure "it's written in the skies" that his views are out of step with those of Washington voters. The plan is to hire an airplane that will carry a special message to Republican John McCain, and everybody else who is paying attention. Can you help us by donating just $25?
McCain and the Republicans have been tight-lipped about his plans in the Puget Sound area, but we believe he'll be landing at Boeing Field around lunchtime, doing a mid-afternoon event in Seattle, and headlining a 5 pm fundraiser in Bellevue where people are being charged as much as $33,100 per person.
What are you doing this Tuesday afternoon? Are you interested in joining your fellow Democrats to demonstrate and personally let John McCain know you disapprove of his campaign to give Americans a 3rd Bush term in the White House? If so, please RSVP at 100years@wa-democrats.org, and we will send you times and locations once McCain and the Republicans finally disclose his schedule.
I know that this Democratic nomination process is taking longer than any of us imagined - or would have hoped. Thank you for your continued support. I know that we can all join together in the belief that a Democratic president - whoever he or she may be - is much better than John "100 Years in Iraq" McCain.
All the best,
Dwight Pelz Washington State Democrats Chair
p.s. The Democrats don't have a nominee yet, but we do know what the alternative is - a 3rd Bush term with Republican John McCain. Let's join together on May 13th to remind voters what John McCain really stands for - perpetuation of this war by someone who's "fine" with 100 more years in Iraq.
"It's time for us to end this," added Dwight Pelz, Washington State party chairman and undecided superdelegate. "The candidates are tearing each other apart, and it's not good for the party. I think we need to have a candidate."
Photo by dinazina.
Barack Obama
