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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

More Fallout from this Weekend’s Labor Revolt Against the Democrats

News, Politics, This Washington   May 17, 2010 at 12:54 pm Josh Feit

In today’s Morning Fizz report on the Washington State Labor Council’s rebellion against specific Democrats who have bucked union interests—they symbolically refused to endorse Democratic leaders like House Speaker Frank Chopp (he doesn’t have an opponent) and strategically refused to endorse state Sen. Rodney Tom (D-48) (he’s in a tight race)—we failed to mention that WSLC actually did endorse a Democrat insurgent, Lillian Kaufer, who’s running against one of labor’s foes, state Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-44, Snohomish).

Hobbs, along with Sens. Tom and Chris Marr (D-6, Spokane) and Derek Kilmer (D-26, Bremerton), scored the lowest on the WSLC voting scorecard, getting 50 percent. None of them got the WSLC endorsement, but WSLC went further in Hobbs’ case, and endorsed his Democratic challenger Kaufer, whose thin bio doesn’t sport much more than paralegal and appearing in court on behalf of foster children. (Tom and Marr have GOP challengers, but the WSLC did not endorse them.)

Kaufer’s issues page is pretty generic too (and doesn’t seem particularly labor-focused), but with Hobbs supporting furloughs for state workers, not voting to suspend I-960, voting to allow the UW to set its own tuition, and voting against the final revenue package (four key votes for the WSLC), it looks like they were willing to get behind most any Democrat willing to take him on.


  • PCO37

    Shame on the WSLC COPE for not endorsing one of its biggest champions, Sen. Adam Kline (D-37). Without a big turnout in the 37th and 43rd LDs, US Senator Patty Murray will have a tough time winning against Dino this fall.

  • Starx

    Kaufer isn't a Democrat. Hobbs got the party nomination and sole endorsement so Kaufer will have to run with out the party support.

    Thin bio is right. Josh, you should look into it. A few public records requests and the whole thing unravels pretty quickly for Kaufer.

    Here's a start – take a look at GhostFaceStarX on Twitter…

  • starkishulten

    Yea, look into GhostFace and Starx. It's Kevin Hulton, Hobb's Legislative aide. Nice. When your candidate can't defend his awful voting record, try to attack and make up stuff about his opponent.

  • David Kelley

    That's funny, the Washington State Labor Council seems to think that Lillian is a Democrat, much to the detriment of your candidate. I wonder who else thinks Lillian is the real Democrat in this race? Let's ask the voters of the 44th that question, hmm?

  • http://lillianslies.blogspot.com Starx

    I bet the WSLC is really wishing they would've run a basic background check on Kaufer…. the public records keep leaking…tax evader, hypocrite, multiple identities…it's too good to make up. Lillian keeps digging a bigger hole with each new lie and subsequent denial.