2009 Election Update

While all of the ballots have been cast, most likely less than half have been counted. Washington’s vote-by-mail system significantly prolongs elections on the beginning and end of Election Day. In fact, Election Day has truly just become “Organize the ballots and count a few day.”

Nevertheless, some elections are clear enough to be called. To learn more about the Washington State General Election Results visit the Secretary of State at: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/.

Republicans Sweep Legislative Races

There were three legislative races held this year (all special elections) in the 9th 15th and 16th Districts.

The 9th District had two Republicans face-off in a “top two” election. Businesswoman Susan Fagan won that election. Notably, she is employed at Schweitzer Engineering and has links to the design profession.

In the 5th District, appointed incumbent, David Taylor, was easily re-elected. Of course, it didn’t hurt that his Democratic opponent dropped out of the race, endorsed him, and then moved to California.

The only seat to switch parties was the 16th District; where appointed incumbent Laura Grant (D) lost to Terry Nealy (R), who has roughly 58 percent of the vote.

This is the second consecutive election where the Washington House Republicans have gained a seat.

Architects Get Mixed Results in their Elections

There were several races with AIA members or other architects on the ballot.

The most notable race is for Tacoma Mayor; where Jim Merritt, FAIA, is locked in a tight battle. He trails by less than one percentage point, 117 votes. There are too many ballots that remain uncounted to determine the outcome of the Tacoma Mayoral race. It could take days, or even more than a week, for this race to be decided.

David Cooper, AIA, is winning re-election to be Mayor of Yarrow Point with about 66 percent of the vote.

Cynthia Richardson, AIA, was unopposed for her reelection to the Anacortes City Council.

John Cheney, AIA, is losing his reelection bid for Mount Vernon City Council. He has served on the council since 1985.

In the general election the final Washington architect of note, but non-AIA member, is Patsy Bonincontri. Bonincontri is running for Bellevue City Council. She was appointed to the position and is trailing at 48 percent. However, there is still a large number of ballots to be counted.

Ballot Measures

There were two, high-profile, statewide, ballot measures and a few local measures that the AIAWA tracked.

Initiative 1033 would have limited tax increases and required voters to approve new taxes. It is garnering only 44 percent of the vote and is expected to fail.

Referendum 71, “concerning rights and responsibilities of state-registered domestic partners” is narrowly passing with 51 percent of the vote. The election is very close and it is difficult to know the fate of this measure until more votes are counted.

In Spokane, three measures creating a “community bill of rights” are failing badly. This package of measures included many anti-business and anti-development provisions. Proposition 4, the main measure, was losing with over 75 percent of voters rejecting it.

In Seattle, the AIA Seattle supported, Proposition 1 is passing with 64 percent. The proposition creates a seven year property tax increase to “fund affordable housing and other housing needs of low-income households.”

National Results

Nationally, the Republicans won three key elections: the Virginia Governor, the New Jersey Governor and the New York City Mayor. These elections are seen as pivotal due to historical data. These elections often signal changes in party leadership.

Four years ago several Democrat wins in Virginia and New Jersey were seen as a repudiation of President George W Bush’s politics. The following year, Democrats had gains in the US House and Senate.

In 1993, Republican victories in these races were a harbinger of a Republican landslide in the 1994 midterm election. The midterm election, held during President Bill Clinton’s first term, led to more than a decade of GOP Control in the Congress. This year’s election results could be a cautionary flag to the Democrats and President Obama.

Don’t Forget to Support the Architects PAC for Washington

While the 2009 election season is rapidly receding, the AIAWA and the Architects PAC are preparing for 2010. In 2010, the entire Washington House and half of the Senate will be up for election. These races are getting more expensive every year. If AIAWA is to continue to have legislative success, then we must prepare for electoral success with the right candidates.

Your financial contribution to APAC helps us to project a strong image of the AIA to legislators and candidates. Previous success in electing architect-friendly lawmakers has resulted in legislative success. You can support APAC online at http://www.aiawa.org/apac.html.

It's Filing Week for 2009 Primary & General Election

Yesterday marked the first day of filing for the 2009 elections. This includes local government, municipal and county offices (except in Pierce County), cities, school districts and special purpose districts.

There are also mayor's elections in Seattle and Tacoma, county executive in King County and a special election for auditor in Pierce County. Filing ends Friday. The primary is August 18 and the general election is November 3.

You can see who has filed at these links:

Secretary of State
Pierce County
King County

Architect and Legislative Candidate Sue Lani Madsen in the News

The Spokesman Review ran an article today that highlighted the legislative contest featuring architect Sue Lani Madsen, AIA. The architectural community in Washington remains keenly interested in Sue Lani’s efforts to be a part of state government. If elected, she will be the first architect to serve in the legislature in more than 20 years. Sue Lani has been an AIA member since her days as a student at Washington State University. Active at the local and state level, she has helped the AIA regarding land use planning, licensing, liability and tax policies. The article details Sue Lani’s integrity and broad experience in the local community. Here are a few quotes from the article.

• “Madsen, 52, is a founding partner in the architectural firm of Madsen Mitchell Evenson and Conrad.”

• “Sue Lani Madsen graduated from Ferris High School in Spokane and earned two bachelor's degrees from Washington State University. She began practicing architecture in 1981 and formed her own company in 1999.”

• “Madsen said her clients have been mostly in the 7th District, including rural hospitals, school districts and community organizations.”

• “Her community service ranges from assistant battalion chief in Edwall's volunteer fire department to president of the Washington Rural Health Association. She also has been president of the Spokane regional chapter of the American Institute of Architects.”

The race is becoming controversial because of her opponent’s (Shelly Short) significant financial problems, “But Short is encumbered with unpaid bills and a husband who was charged in August with aggravated first-degree theft.” The article reports:

• “Short has a $36,129 Internal Revenue Service lien, a state tax warrant seeking $1,120 and a $12,328 judgment for delinquent credit-card debt.”

• “Short was $2,495 in arrears on her property taxes for 2007 and the first half of 2008, including penalties…”

• “Court records also show a woman who worked for the Shorts' Your Body Electric natural remedies business sued them in February 2007 for $5,044 in alleged unpaid wages.”

• “Three months ago, the state Employment Security Department filed a tax warrant against the [Shorts’] family business in an effort to collect $1,120. State officials said that was the balance on unpaid unemployment insurance premiums that originally totaled $3,842.”

For more information about Sue Lani Madsen’s race, visit her website at http://www.suelanimadsen.com/.

Spokesman Review Endorses Architect Sue Lani Madsen for Legislature

From the October 15 Spokesman Review:

7th District, House Position 1: Both of the finalists for this seat would bring more energy and ideas to the position than retiring Rep. Bob Sump. Both have a pro-business, social conservative viewpoint. Both see the job as more than just voting no on the majority's agenda.

Sue Lani Madsen owns an architectural business and her family also runs a small ranching business from their spread in Edwall. Her key strengths are in business and health care issues. She is past president of the Washington Rural Health Association and serves on a rural advisory committee for the Washington Health Foundation. She acknowledges that the employer-based health care model is inadequate in trying to expand access to care. She points to the excessive mandates for insurance companies as one problem. Madsen also wants to work in the Legislature on strategies to recruit and retain medical workers in rural communities.

Like Madsen, Shelly Short is bright and engaged on the issues that are most important to the district. Her knowledge is derived from her years working for state Rep. Joel Kretz, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and former U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt.

Short has the endorsement of Sump and the Building Industry Association. Madsen is favored by the National Federation of Independent Business.

We could recommend either candidate were it not for the controversy over Short family's personal finances. At a time when the Shorts were struggling with credit card debt, her husband Mitch Short was accused of dipping into the Northeast Washington Fair Association checking account. He now faces a theft charge. Shelly Short may not be culpable, but explanations thus far leave us uneasy.

Madsen is a safe, solid choice.

For more information on Sue Lani Madsen’s campaign visit her website at www.suelanimadsen.com