2008 Washington state
Progressive Majority
Endorsed Candidates

Peter Goldmark

Peter Goldmark has owned and operated his family's Okanogan ranch for more than 30 years. In 2006, Peter ran for Congress. It was a surprisingly competitive race against an entrenched incumbent in WA-5, a very conservative congressional district. Progressive Majority, along with members of our Washington Advisory Council, helped recruit Peter into the race for Commissioner of Public Lands. The Lands Commissioner is Washington state's highest environmental office; the position oversees the state's Department of Natural Resources. The conservative incumbent commissioner, Doug Sutherland, had continuely expressed skepticism regarding the causes and potential impacts of global warming.

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Helen Price Johnson

Helen Price Johnson, along with her husband, owns and manages a successful small business on Whidbey Island. She was elected to the South Whidbey School Board in 2001, and did represent the board on legislative issues at the state and federal level. In 2006 we helped elect Progressive Majority candidate John Dean to the Island County Commission. He is the sole progressive on the three-member commission. John introduced us to Helen in early 2007 as a possible candidate for a future campaign. After meeting with Helen, we knew she would be a great candidate for the Island County Commission. With her victory, we now have a progressive majority on the Island County Commission! In the summer of 2007, the four-term conservative District 1 incumbent stepped down from his seat. Subsequently, the Island County Planning Director, Phil Bakke, was appointed to fulfill the last year of his term, and was seeking election. Bakke had proven to be closely aligned with the conservative Republican majority on the board. We needed Helen on the Commission to stop Bakke from getting a solid conservative hold on this seat.

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Kevin Ranker

When Sen. Harriet Spanel announced her retirement from the Senate this spring, we recruited Kevin Ranker, a San Juan County Commissioner and former United Food and Commercial Workers member. Kevin is a passionate environmentalist who has worked tirelessly to protect ocean habitats in his work with the Ocean Foundation, Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Wilderness Network, and Friends of the San Juans. Kevin lined endorsements, including the Washington Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-choice Washington, SEIU 925 and 775, and Kevin was the official nominee of the 40th Legislative District Democrats.

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John Driscoll

John Driscoll is a first-time candidate, but long-time community advocate in Spokane. John works for the Spokane County Medical Society Foundation as the Executive Director of Project Access, providing universal, on-demand health care access for underserved people in Spokane County. John asked Progressive Majority for support after hearing of the work we did in 2006 on behalf of his future seat-mates, Sen. Chris Marr and Rep. Don Barlow. John's opponent, conservative incumbent John Ahern, is the sole Republican representing the 6th LD in the legislature. Ahern is extremely conservative, even asking during a committee hearing on domestic partnership legislation if 'we have a Gestapo situation' to prevent people from entering into domestic partnerships with their dogs. John is racking up the local and allied support necessary to win this race, including key endorsements from the Washington State Labor Council and Sen. Lisa Brown.

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Marko Liias

Marko Liias ran his first election to his appointed seat in the House of Representatives, 21st Legislative District. Marko was raised in Everett. He studied international politics at Georgetown University, and is currently seeking a graduate degree at the University of Washington. For four years, Marko operated as a small green builder, constructing homes in South Snohomish County. His business experience and commitment to building a better community were what propelled him into public service. We met Marko at Camp Wellstone in 2005, and successfully fielded him in a race for the Mukilteo City Council.

After helping elect Rep. Brian Sullivan to the Snohomish County Council in 2007, we watched as Marko recruited Democratic Party activists in a successful bid to secure his appointment to Sullivan's open seat in the suburban, progressive-leaning 21st Legislative District. Marko is one of six openly gay legislators in the State Legislature, and he is also the state's youngest legislator. In his first term in the legislature, he delivered real results to protect consumers, improved Washington state's K-12 education system, and expanded affordable housing. Marko is a champion for Washington families, and he is a leader in fighting for equal treatment for every citizen of our state.

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Larry Seaquist

A US Navy warship captain and Pentagon strategist, Larry launched a second career helping citizens and political leaders strengthen their communities by pioneering new methods of peace-building and conflict prevention in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Latin America. For the past several years Larry has also worked as a writer and lecturer, contributing opinion pieces to the Christian Science Monitor and other newspapers. We helped Larry win his 2006 race for the Washington State House, 26th Legislative District, and this year he was one of the Republicans' top targets. In his first term in the state legislature, Larry introduced numerous pieces of progressive legislation, several of which encourage development of a renewable energy industry and increased access to health care.

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Tina Orwall

While at Take Back America this spring, we got word that long-time Democratic incumbent Rep. Shay Schual-Berke was retiring from the Legislature, and we immediately got in touch with farm team member Tina Orwall. Tina is a career social worker, affordable housing advocate, and Chair of the 33rd District Democrats who has proven to be a tremendous campaigner in her first run for public office. Even with a strong primary opponent, Tina secured endorsements from numerous elected officials, the Washington Education Association, Washington State Labor Council, Washington Conservation Voters, and earned the nomination of the 33rd District Democrats. As co-chair of the King County Legislative Action Committee, Tina has spent time in Olympia advocating for progressive legislation such as improved access to health care, increased pay for teachers, and the Washington climate action bill. As a member of the Washington State House of Representatives, Tina will be a progressive policy leader.

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Jim Jacks

We met Jim Jacks at the Young Democrats Convention earlier this year, and recognized him as Progressive Majority material and put him into the farm team. Jim, 38, is the former SW Washington liaison for Gov. Gregoire, and was elected to replace retiring moderate Rep. Bill Fromhold in the 49th Legislative District in Vancouver. In addition to working for the Governor, Jim has served as a citizen advocate for the City of Vancouver and as a staff member of the Environmental Federation of Oregon and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. Jim was a first-time candidate, and he has been thankful for the fundraising and field advice we shared with him. This was an excellent opportunity to support a young candidate in SW Washington, the fastest growing suburban region of the state. Jim will be a progressive leader in the legislature, particularly in protecting the environment and advocating for smart growth.

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Charlotte Garrido

Kitsap County Commission District #2 is a targeted race for Progressive Majority. In 2007, we met with Charlotte Garrido, a former Kitsap County Commissioner, to gauge her interest and viability. Charlotte has been incredibly active in her community, as a former elected official, volunteer with Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development, YWCA domestic violence program director, and most recently as the Higher Education Planner for Washington State University. In that role, Charlotte was instrumental in bringing Kitsap County its first 4-year university. Charlotte's deep community ties and past electoral success led us to encourage her candidacy. We provided Charlotte with media training, issue research, voter targeting, and fundraising support.

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Sandra Romero

Sandra Romero was elected to an open seat on the Thurston County Commission. Sandra spent 12 years in the Washington State Legislature representing the area around Washington's capital city, Olympia. There, she was a leader on progressive issues like reproductive choice, healthcare and the environment. In the Legislature, she chaired the House Local Government and State Government Committees. Before her election to the State House, she served as a Democratic Caucus staffer and was a member of the Washington Federation of State Employees, Local 443. Most recently, Sandra worked in Pakistan teaching democratic methods of government. When a seat became open on the Thurston County Commission, Sandra called Progressive Majority. Thurston County is experiencing environmental growing pains as its population rapidly expands and, as a County Commissioner, Sandra will be dedicated to smart growth policies that will protect the region's diverse natural ecosystems.

Click here to support and learn more about Sandra.