Nick Harper is a young, energetic, grassroots campaigner who is reframing the debate.
In his interview with PubliCola, he shifted our discussion on housing issues by saying basic housing, not mortgages, is the issue: “The real discussion from the state’s perspective needs to be around making sure that, first and foremost, all people have access to some form of safe and secure, affordable housing.”
And he defended state employees and union workers—this year’s political bogey man—with a smart counterpunch. Harper believes that, instead of demonizing state employees, private-sector workers should be demanding the same benefits packages that state employees get.
His endorsements are piling up. The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC), Washington Conservation Voters, and the Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club have all given Harper the nod over incumbent Democrat Sen. Jean Berkey, who, the WSLC is intent on taking out to make an example of as a wayward Democrat.
We don’t actually think Berkey is that bad on labor issues. She has a lifetime rating of 87 percent and only went astray on 3 votes out of WSLC’s eight must-haves last session. So, for example, while she voted against the unions on state furloughs, she totally voted their way on major green jobs bill, repealing 960, and for collective bargaining rights.
Berkey, however, is lacking on energy and leadership. As one environmental lobbyist told us, she votes our way (on killing the TransAlta tax break, for example), but she’s not leading the charge. Harper, the Conservation Director for the Cascade Land Conservancy, is ready to take it up by reframing basic issues.
