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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.

Ed Reform Endorsements Could Be Key in Local Elections

2010 Election, This Washington   June 22, 2010 at 3:40 pm Josh Feit

As most Cola readers know, our Olympia coverage gave a lot of ink (html?) to this year’s (and last year’s) education reform bills and the weird politics that found the GOP lining up with the Obama agenda this year, while the Democrats heeded to the teachers union for more moderate reform.

So, as the election season heats up, particularly in Seattle’s Eastside suburbs where education is always a major campaign issue, today’s list of endorsements from ed reform group Stand for Children is potentially this year’s sleeper kingmaking list.

There were some obvious endorsements on the list—which Stand For Children labeled “Change agents dedicated to making our students and schools a top priority”—like Seattle state Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) (who passed stricter standards on bad principals this year) and Eastside Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47) (who led the fight to expand the basic definition of eduation during last year’s session).

But there were also some noteworhty nods: In the race between three Democrats for West Seattle’s 34th District (also Vashon, Maury Island, and Burien), Mike Heavey got the endorsement over two other Democrats, Joe Fitzgibbon and Marcee Stone. Heavey has been more conciliatory to the ed reform groups, while Fitzgibbon and Stone have been more lockstep with the unions.

As for the Eastside races, there were two potential game changers. Incumbent Democrat state Sen. Rodney Tom (D-45, Bellevue) got the nod over his well-financed GOP opponent Gregg Bennett, who, as we reported earlier this month, has made education reform his key issue.

In good news for the Republicans, however, challenger Steve Litzow won the endorsement over incumbent Democratic incumbent State Sen. Randy Gordon (D-41) and GOP Rep. Glenn Anderson (R-5) got the Stand for Children endorsement over challenger Dean Willard.

Here’s the full Stand for Children list of endorsements (and here’s their reform platform); also worth noting is education reformer and incumbent state Rep. Ross Hunter’s (D-48) endorsement over strong GOP challenger Diane Tebelius:

Glenn Anderson; District 5; State House of Representatives
Andy Billig; District 3; State House of Representatives
Reuven Carlyle; District 36; State House of Representatives
Cathy Dahlquist; District 31; State House of Representatives
Bruce Dammeier; District 25; State House of Representatives
John Driscoll; District 6; State House of Representatives
David Frockt; District 46; State House of Representatives
Mike Heavey; District 34; State House of Representatives
Steve Hobbs; District 44; State Senate
Mike Hope; District 44; State House of Representatives
Ross Hunter; District 48; State House of Representatives
Laurie Jinkins; District 27; State House of Representatives
Steve Litzow; District 41; State Senate
Kris Lytton; District 40; State House of Representatives
Marcie Maxwell; District 41; State House of Representatives
Eric Oemig; District 45; State Senate
Tina Orwall; District 33; State House of Representatives
Kevin Parker; District 6; State House of Representatives
Tim Probst; District 17; State House of Representatives
Chris Reykdal; District 22; State House of Representatives
Geoff Simpson; District 47; State House of Representatives
Monica Stonier; District 17; State House of Representatives
Pat Sullivan; District 47; State House of Representatives
Rodney Tom; District 48; State Senate
Scott White; District 46; State Senate




  • ivan

    I get it now. Josh wants to be a flack for the Broad Foundation. Why else would he keep using phrases like “lockstep with the unions?” Why else would he keep calling a attempts at a corporate hostile takeover of our public schools “reform?”

    Here's a clue for you, Josh. We public school parents support our teachers. True “reform” will come from teachers and parents and students, not from beancounters, bureaucrats, or butt boys for rich conservatives.

  • jlynn

    I wouldn't exactly call the 47th district the eastside.

  • seabos84

    Mean mean mean Ivan – how is poor josh gonna get a nice job with those Gates / Broad astro turf orgs, pulling down 1 of tho$e 6 figure fat $alarie$, $pinning lie$ for billionaire$, if he doe$n't prove him$elf a good little lackey on Publicola?
    I don't think you, Ivan, have ever been blessed with working with these upper middle class AND aspiring upper middle class, highly credentialed, highly degreed, highly titled, highly paid high flyers! they're higher than everyone else cuz they're better than everyone else!
    (how else did they get those credentials and degrees? duh!)
    IF they don't salivate, grovel, snivel and debase themselves to the top layer, they'll never be let in the club!

    Josh – you just keep attacking teachers for systemic failures caused by those on top! Don't listen to mean mean mean Ivan! You too can be a $ychophant !

    rmm.

  • http://www.derekmyoung.com Derek Young

    We lost a couple great ones in Skip Priest and Fred Jarrett. Need some more to step up.