Elections 2009: SEIU members elect candidates who will stand up for healthcare
SEIU members worked hard to elect Dow Constantine as King County Executive and defeat Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033.
Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1033
Initiative 1033 was soundly defeated across the state, as working families recognized the damage it would do to our basic services including healthcare. Despite an increasing need for healthcare services, the funding for hospitals, mental health clinics, and other health care services like the Basic Health Plan have already been cut or eliminated.
Tim Eyman’s I-1033 would have made our health care crisis even more severe by making current state cuts permanent and costing our state thousands of jobs.
Send a message to your state legislators that Washington state doesn’t want to see more cuts to healthcare and education services.
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Dow is a former state senator and current Chair of the King County Council and has been a strong champion for working families. As a state senator he established the Gates Commission which called for restructuring our inadequate and regressive tax system. He has advocated for adequate funding for public health, mental health and other human services in King County. And he has been a reliable supporter of the rights of workers to organize and bargain for living wages and good benefits.
"Our healthcare system is under tremendous stress, and we need a leader like Dow who is committed to protecting Harborview and our public health system. As a Harborview nurse, I know how essential these services are to our community. Dow has a track record from when he was in the state legislature of always standing up for health care and for working families," said Georgetta Hachiya, a nurse from Harborview Medical Center and a member of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW."
The Harborview Board will have a few openings in the next two years, and SEIU members look forward to helping our new King County Executive select members for the Board who will continue to protect quality healthcare in King County.
Referendum 71
The rights of working families across the state will be protected through the passage of Referendum 71, which protects the existing domestic partnership law that provides legal protections for lesbian and gay couples and seniors who are in committed relationships. Referendum 71 allows similar protections that married couples have, including unpaid leave to care for a critically ill loved one, coverage for a partner in family health insurance, and to ensure hard-earned pension and death benefits will protect children when a parent dies. The approval of Ref. 71 ensures that important protections are not taken away from committed couples.
Amber Waldref: Spokane City Council
Amber is a fresh face to the Spokane city council, and is committed to holding employers accountable and keeping healthcare jobs in Spokane. SEIU members look forward to working with Amber on the issues that are important to working families.
Other races:
Snohomish Public Hospital District Commissioner (Stevens Hospital): Fred Langer
Edmonds City Council
Adrienne Fraley-Monillas
King County Council
Bob Ferguson
Larry Gossett
Lynnwood City Council: Kim Cole
Seattle City Council
Richard Conlin
Nick Licata
Mike O’Brien
Snohomish County Council
Dave Gossett
John Koster
Dave Somers