Campaign season starts as candidates file for November election
May 23, 2012
The ballot voters receive in the mailbox by late July is all but certain to contain some familiar names, as elected officials campaign for higher offices and other candidates try another run for elected office.
The period for candidates to enter races up for election on the August and November ballots ended May 18 in a buzz of activity.
Local voters face choices in countywide, legislative, statewide and federal offices. Read more
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.
Snoqualmie Valley must wait until Dec. 13 for outcome in recount of public hospital district race
November 30, 2011
Six votes separate the two challengers for a seat on Public Hospital District No. 4’s board of commissioners. The slim difference triggers a hand recount of the more than 9,000 votes cast in the race.
King County Elections staff will recount ballots on Dec. 12 and post results the following day.
Three other races have triggered automatic recounts: Enumclaw School District Director No. 4, City of Bellevue Council Position No. 1 and City of Des Moines Council Position No. 6.
King County Council looks to add checks in ballot-printing system
November 30, 2011
A computer hiccup nearly cost 11,000 people the opportunity to vote in this year’s general election.
The problem occurred when voter information from King County’s database was being prepared to send to the vendor that prints the ballots.
During the process, the county’s computer crashed and was rebooted. But in doing so, information for 11,000 Eastside voters, including more than 1,000 in the Snoqualmie Valley, was left out.
Latest election returns favor leaders in close races in Snoqualmie Valley
November 10, 2011
Vote returns Thursday all but put an end to three close races in Snoqualmie Valley.
Snoqualmie Valley School Board candidate Geoff Doy increased his lead over incumbent Caroline Loudenback. Doy, who ran on a reform platform, leads by 80 votes with 40 percent of all potential votes tallied. King County election officials had expected a 52 percent turnout across the county.
Doy trailed on Election Day, but overtook Loudenback on Wednesday.
With Initiative 1183′s passage, Snoqualmie Valley grocery stores expect to get into liquor business
November 10, 2011
With the passage of Initiative 1183, which replaces the state with private retailers in the liquor business, Snoqualmie Valley grocers are considering adding liquor to their stores. At the same time, employees at state-run liquor stores and the businesses that serve them face an uncertain future.
I-1183 allows private stores bigger than 10,000 square feet to begin selling liquor in June. The initiative also allows for some smaller stores in remote areas to sell hard alcohol beverages. It also privatizes distribution of liquor by April. The shift is estimated to net the state and local governments about $80 million annually for the next six years.
The state budgeting office estimates that the number of liquor retailers in Washington will jump from 328 to more than 1,420.
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.
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.
Si View park district asks voters to protect its budget
October 13, 2011
Si View Metropolitan Park District faces an uncertain future. It is in danger of losing more than half of its operating budget due to a state cap on property levies and declining property values. By Mary Miller{
[An earlier version of this story's headline incorrectly referred to the propositions as a "tax hike." They do not increase the overall taxes paid by property owners.]
With its financial back against the wall, the Si View Metropolitan Park District has put two propositions on the November ballot asking voters to save the district from having its budget cut by more than half.
With such a drastic cut, the district would barely be able to keep its doors open, according to district officials.
