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

Post-primary update: Architect, Candidate Favored to Win

The AIA/WA supported architect, Sue Lani Madsen, running in the 7th district was the clear leader after the Washington primary on Tuesday, August 19th. Madsen took the lead (formerly held by candidate Shelly Short) by over 400 hundred votes. Short has had some personal complications that may have contributed to her drop in popularity.

However, it could be that Madsen’s campaign to meet the people of the 7th district face-to-face is what has turned the tide in her favor. Madsen has a wealth of knowledge and personal insight regarding the 7th district as she is the founding partner of Madsen Mitchell Evenson Conrad, an architectural firm in Spokane, and owns another small business in Edwall.

Because the State has a top-two primary both Short and Madsen will be in the general election despite the fact that both candidates are in the same party. The AIA supports Madsen and hopes to help further her success. If Madsen wins she would be the only Washington state legislator from the architectural profession.

The Race is On

Filing week came to a close last week on June 6. Who is involved in state races is now set and the AIA Washington Council is reaching out to political candidates. Among the candidates the Council supports is Sue Lani Madsen, who is running in the 7th district. If Madsen wins she would be the only Washington state legislator in the architectural profession. Madsen is the founding partner of Madsen Mitchell Evenson Conrad, pllc.

The Secretary of State’s office makes it easy to view who has registered at their website. The site will allow searches both by Federal and State office; the Governor’s race is under the Statewide Office label. Make sure to click on the Legislative Offices tab to see who is running in your district.

Washington has races this year for all nine congressional seats, nine statewide office, three state Supreme Court positions and numerous legislative and local races. The races have drawn heaps of candidates this year.

The new top-two primary may be the reason for the increased amount of candidates. As of April 2008, Washington will allow the two candidates with the most votes to move on to the general election, even if they are from the same party. The primary election is Aug. 19, and the general election is Nov. 4.

In addition to the primary modification, candidates also no longer list their party affiliation, but instead list a preference. These changes have been the source of some confusion and amusement that may make the new primary system short lived. Regardless of the outcome, results of the 2008 elections promise to be interesting. Stay posted for new updates on AIA involvement.