Glenn Anderson is running for lieutenant governor, won’t seek re-election to Legislature
December 28, 2011
Rep. Glenn Anderson is running for Washington state’s lieutenant governor office in 2012. He said Wednesday that he will make a formal announcement in early January.
He also said that he will not run for re-election to a seventh consecutive term as a state representative. Since 2000, he has represented the 5th Legislative District, which includes Snoqualmie Valley.
At least four candidates will by vying for the seat — Anderson, the incumbent Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, former state Sen. Bill Finkbeiner and an independent candidate, Mark Greene. All have filed with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.
Washington voters turn liquor business over to private retailers
November 9, 2011
UPDATED — 5:10 p.m. Nov. 9, 2011
Costco has succeeded in replacing the state with private retailers in the liquor business in Washington state. Voters passed Initiative 1183 with nearly 60 percent of early returns.
Costco and other supporters of I-1183 put more than $22 million into the campaign for the initiative.
If early returns hold up, private retailers will take over liquor sales in Washington next June. The outlets selling liquor will increase from 328 to 1,428, including three possible locations in the upper Snoqualmie Valley, according to the state budgeting office.
At the same time, more than 900 state employees, including those working at the state-run liquor store in North Bend, will lose their jobs.
Incumbents, parks district propositions lead in early election results
November 8, 2011
Incumbents on Snoqualmie City Council and King County Fire Protection District No. 38 led in early returns on Tuesday.
In Snoqualmie, Councilman Jeff Nichols had staked a large lead with 71 percent of votes counted to challenger Kevin Ostrem’s 29 percent. However, less than 30 percent of potential votes have been counted, and election officials estimate turnout as high as 52 percent.
Councilman Kingston Wall led challenger Terry Sorenson with 53.3 percent of votes counted so far.
Glitch delays ballots for 11,000 Eastside voters, including Snoqualmie Valley residents
October 28, 2011
NEW — 5:15 p.m. Oct. 28, 2011
King County Elections officials said ballots for 11,000 Eastside voters — including more than 1,000 people in North Bend and Snoqualmie — did not go out last week as planned due to a glitch.
The elections office plans to mail ballots Saturday; voters should receive them early next week. The deadline to return ballots via mail, drop box or accessible voting center is Nov. 8.
Overall, the issue impacted 11,000 Eastside voters, including 1,118 in North Bend and 72 in Snoqualmie. Some Issaquah, Newcastle and Sammamish voters also face delays in receiving ballots.
King County Elections started mailing 1.1 million ballots to voters Oct. 19.
Dan Popp defends his School Board seat against Peggy Johnson
October 26, 2011
The third race in the Snoqualmie Valley School District school board elections this year is between the mom and the Popp.
Peggy Johnson, mother of four, and Dan Popp, father of five, square off in a November showdown that pits the incumbent Popp against the challenger Johnson.
Peggy Johnson
Drawing from volunteer experience with Eastside youths, and a desire to decrease bullying and increase graduation rates, Johnson said she is ready to take the issues facing the district head on.
The Fall City resident said the school board is inattentive to student and parent concerns, especially when it comes to providing a safe environment for children.
Johnson said the district must create an environment where students feel safe traveling to and from school and while they’re in the district’s facilities.
Port of Seattle is major economic engine for region, candidates say
October 26, 2011
In November, voters in King County, including those in Snoqualmie Valley, will be asked to choose from among four candidates hoping to serve as commissioners for the Port of Seattle.
The port includes both the seaport in downtown Seattle and Sea-Tac International Airport. According to the port’s annual report for 2010, the port collected $75.6 million in property taxes in 2009. The projection for 2010 was $73.5 million. Those collections come from all King County residents.
Bill Bryant
Dean Willard
“The port is an economic engine for the entire county, not just the city of Seattle,” said Charla Skaggs, corporate media officer for the port.
Both Skaggs and other port officials said thousands of jobs depend directly and indirectly on port operations. According to what is billed by the port as an independent report released in 2009, the port was directly and indirectly responsible for 190,000 jobs in the Puget Sound region.
Port facilities generated more than $17 billion in revenue for businesses who deal with the port or the port tenants who operate the maritime terminals. All in all, those employers and employees pay about $867 million in state and local taxes.
Finally, the 2009 report stated that more than 135,000 people are employed at regional businesses that have cargo moving through the Port of Seattle.
Snoqualmie Valley School Board
October 19, 2011
Candidates answered questions about issues facing the Snoqualmie Valley School District. Answers had to be 25 words or less. Read more questions and answers at www.snovalley-star.com.
click here to read question and answers for the school board
North Bend/Snoqualmie City Council
October 19, 2011
City Council candidates answered questions about issues facing their cities. Answers had to be 25 words or less. Terry Sorenson, who was running for Position 4, has all but dropped out of the race, saying he did not have time to campaign due to a family issue. Read more questions and answers at www.snovalleystar.com.
click here to read questions and answers for the city council
School board race presents choice between management styles
October 13, 2011
Craig Husa and Carolyn Simpson are enmeshed in a race for Husa’s spot on the Snoqualmie Valley School Board that looks as hard-fought as any in recent memory.
Simpson said the community needs a different philosophy to cure an unresponsive school board.
“Over the years, there’s been a significant focus on buildings,” she said. “We need to redirect that focus on students and what they need to accomplish.”
Craig Husa
Carolyn Simpson
Husa said that what the school district needs on its school board are leaders like himself and not micromanagers like Simpson. On a school board “you hire the professional educators, and you provide the governance for them,” he said. “You don’t micromanage.”
Both married with two children, the two candidates agreed that the district is good but can be better.
Husa said he believes the most pressing issue for the district is finding funding, but the lack of state cash cannot be an excuse for student failure.
Candidates bring different focuses to race for hospital commissioner seat
October 13, 2011
The race for a seat on Snoqualmie Valley Hospital’s board of commissioners features two candidates calling for improving existing services. Beyond that, the similarities are few. The two come from very different backgrounds and have very different priorities.
The race comes at a critical time in the hospital’s history. It has broken ground on a new $30 million facility on Snoqualmie Ridge.
Gene Pollard Occupation: Retired (former Foreign Service Officer and city official) Contact: genepoll@yahoo.com
Karyn Denton Occupation: Registered nurse Contact: karyn.l.denton@gmail.com
Only a few years ago, Public Hospital District No. 4, which runs the hospital, was in the red. The hospital’s designation as a critical access hospital and its subsequent transition to primarily a rehabilitation facility have turned its financial situation around. But to get in the black, the district did have to close two clinics to cut costs and free up money for new technology.
Despite the new facility, hospital administrators acknowledge that big questions about how the hospital is paid loom in the future.
Enter the two candidates running for Commissioner Position No. 3: Gene Pollard and Karyn Denton, who was appointed in July to a vacant position on the board.
Pollard’s campaign is focused on improving the hospital district’s decision-making process by making it more transparent and open to the public.
