Seattle/King County, WA Focus

Below are resources and groups in the Seattle/King County area of interest to progressives and liberals.


Local Candidates Running in King County/Seattle Area:

Geoff Simpson
Candidate for State House - District 47 (Incumbent)
King County



As a Navy veteran and a firefighter in Kent for 20 years, Rep. Geoff Simpson is no stranger to a tough fight. First elected to the House in 2000, Geoff has been a progressive champion in Olympia, focusing on improving our economy, fighting for consumer protections and even taking on his own party if necessary to stand up for working families. Every two years, the right-wing smear machine goes after Geoff because he's such a strong advocate for progressive values, and this year will be no different. Geoff Simpson has earned the endorsement of Progressive Majority and we're excited to help return him to Olympia.

Eric Oemig
Candidate for State Senate - District 45 (Incumbent)
King County



Senator Eric Oemig was supported by Progressive Majority when he first ran for Senate in 2006. Since his election, Eric has been a champion for reform and efficiency in government. Once a Republican stronghold, the 45th district of East King County has elected Democrats in recent elections and the current delegation is 100% Democratic. Re-electing Eric ensures we retain progressive representation in a swing district that has only recently trended democratic.

Cindy Ryu
Candidate for State House - District 32 (Open Seat)
King and Snohomish Counties



Cindy Ryu, a Korean-American, is running for the open House seat in the 32nd district in North King County and South Snohomish County. Cindy holds a MBA from the University of Washington and is active in a number of local community activities, including the local and state Democratic Party organizations, the Asian/Pacific Islander Community and the local business community. We helped Cindy in her race for Shoreline City Council in 2005, where she later became the first Korean-American mayor in the country when she was elected Mayor of Shoreline. Electing Cindy ensures we retain strong, progressive representation in one the most left-leaning districts in the state (democratic performance of 62.9%). She faces one Democrat and one Republican in the primary.

Click here to support and learn more about Cindy.

Carol Gregory
Candidate for State House - District 30 (Open Seat)
King County



Carol Gregory is running for the open House seat in the 30th district in Federal Way. After a sudden retirement by the same state representative she challenged in 2008 (and lost to by just 1,600 votes), Carol immediately jumped in. During her last campaign, Carol raised over $150,000; the most of any Democratic challenger in that election cycle. A former President of the Washington Education Association and former board member of Washington NARAL, Carol has a long history of activism for progressive causes. Carol is facing four Republicans in the race, but with the district's 54.9% democratic performance, none of them have raised significant funds as of yet. Carol has a top notch campaign team poised to take this swing district back for progressives in 2010.

Click here to support and learn more about Carol.

Luis Moscoso
Candidate for State House - District 1 (Open Seat)
King County



Luis Moscoso is running to defend an open seat in the 1st legislative district, located on the King-Snohomish county line, a community that tends to elect Democrats (55.5% democratic performance). Luis has decades of experience as an activist for social and economic justice. His extensive work with communities of color and labor organizations endeared him to the local party organization and the activist community. Luis recently acquired the endorsement of the Washington State Labor Council and has been endorsed by many individual unions. Luis has demonstrated his commitment to progressive values by "walking the talk." He has been the Secretary of the Washington State Democratic Party since 2005.

Click here to support and learn more about Luis.

Sharon Nelson
Candidate for State Senate - District 34 (Open Seat)
West Seattle, Vashon Island & Des Moines



Sharon Nelson is a Washington State Representative running for the open state Senate seat in the 34th district in Seattle. Sharon has been a strong progressive leader in the state legislature, serving as a member of the Blue/Green Alliance in the House. Sharon has long been a champion of environmental issues, working closely with Preserve our Islands to protect Vashon and Maury Islands, which are part of the 34th District and are critical to the future of the Puget Sound. If elected to the state senate, Sharon would continue to provide the energy needed to advocate for a progressive agenda in the Senate. She will continue to be a champion on consumer protection, protecting working families and, of course, on environmental issues, fighting a proposed barge loading facility that would negatively impact Maury Island.

Click here to support and learn more about Sharon.

Joe Fitzgibbon
Candidate for State House - District 34 (Open Seat)
King County



Joe Fitzgibbon is running for State Representative in the 34th district in West Seattle and Burien. Electing Joe ensures we retain strong, progressive representation in one the most left-leaning districts in the state (democratic performance of 71.3%) and would give voice to a largely underrepresented group: young people. At 23 years old, Joe would be the youngest member currently serving in the state legislature and nearly the youngest ever to be elected. Joe grew up in his district and is now a homeowner. For the past three years, Joe has served as the legislative assistant to the House member he seeks to replace: Sharon Nelson, a Progressive Majority endorsed candidate now seeking election to the State Senate. Joe will be an effective member of the Blue/Green Alliance, the progressive caucus in the State House. Joe is in a tough primary with two other Democrats and an Independent.

Click here to support and learn more about Joe.

Joe McDermott
Candidate for King County Council - District 8 (Open Seat)



Joe McDermott is a Washington State Senator running for an open seat on the King County Council, the state's biggest population center. Joe has been a strong advocate for education, elections, the environment and civil rights during his 10 years in the state legislature, where he is one of six openly gay legislators. If elected to the King County Council, however, Joe would be the first openly gay member of this body, ensuring that key decisions made at the county are inclusive of the many LGBT individuals and families living in Seattle and beyond. Joe would like to see the county extend services to include human services and enhanced public health. He intends to leverage his experience and relationships in the state capital to advocate that the legislature open up new funding sources and lift restrictions on existing ones to allow the county to do so.

Click here to support and learn more about Joe.

Randy Gordon
Candidate for State Senate - District 41 (Incumbent by appointment)
King County



Appointed in 2010 to replace retiring Senator Fred Jarrett, Randy is a Bellevue attorney who owns his own law firm, Gordon Edmunds Elder PLLC. He is an Adjunct Professor at Seattle University School of Law, specializing in products liability and remedies. During his first session, Randy sponsored seven bills, one of which provided children from birth to three years old with educational support for developmental disabilities. Randy has a demonstrated commitment to progressive values and has already proven his effectiveness in the State Senate. Randy will be defending his seat for the first time this cycle. Randy is definitely among the most progressive members of the legislature and has a tough fight against a well funded Republican who has ran in this district before.

Click here to support and learn more about Randy.

Derek Stanford
Candidate for State House - District 1 (Open seat)
King and Snohomish Counties



Derek Stanford is running for one of two open seats in the suburban 1st district, which straddles the King and Snohomish county line. Derek works in the telecommunications industry, and is a member of WashTech, Local 37083 of the Communication Workers of America. He is running to fill the seat opened by the retirement of Al O'Brien, and plans on making job growth and education his top priorities. Electing a champion for working families like Derek will help tilt the balance of power in Olympia.

Click here to support and learn more about Derek.


SeattleActivism.org provides information on upcoming events, actions, and meetings as well as links to organizations and resources in the Seattle area related to progressive activist issues.

LOCAL EVENTS: You can find local events in King County/Seattle through this event calendar.


ALTERNATIVE ENERGY IN SEATTLE:

Seattle Advocates of Renewable Energy: a group of interested citizens who want to learn more about Renewable Energy and Sustainability. Our goal is to foster discussion, networking, and action on these important issues. We meet on the fourth Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 pm at the First Seattle Presbyterian Church.

Seattle Peak Oil Awareness (www.seattleoil.com) has been active for 2 1/2 years (it actually started out life as a Meetup.com group)!

Seattle Peak Oil Awareness is a local citizens action network offering information and practical ideas for living in a time of reduced energy availability. Working in small, focused groups we advocate healthy, sustainable living choices for all interested residents in the Puget Sound region. Read more here.


Center for Women and Democracy:
MISSION STATEMENT: To promote women’s full representation, participation and leadership, while respecting the political, economic and social diversity in cultures worldwide.

PROGRAMS:

Kicking Up Our Heels
Our annual “Kicking Up Our Heels” celebration of Washington state women leaders and their successes at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia, is an integral part of our vision supporting women’s full and equal participation in public life and leadership. Beginning in 2002, this celebration continues to grow in popularity.

Food For Thought
Food for Thought (FFT) is a dinner and lecture series that showcases cutting edge research and issues on women and democracy while encouraging participants to network. This program has been very successful and has attracted nationally and internationally renowned speakers to Seattle, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, author/activist Gloria Steinem, and former Lt. Governor of Maryland Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend.

International Leadership Delegations
International delegations continue to be a focus of the Center. In the past, we have organized delegations to Cuba, Sweden and the Baltics, and South Africa, and participated in delegations to the Ukraine. In April of 2007, we organized a highly successful delegation to Chile. Our most recent delegation in November 2009 was to the beautiful Kingdom of Morocco where 38 American women leaders were able to connect with women making a deep impact in politics, education, law and human rights.

Women’s Leadership
The Women’s Leadership committee works to advance young women’s leadership abilities, knowledge and success in diverse organizations and through seeking mentoring opportunities and highly focused leadership trainings for CWD members. NEW Leadership is a mentoring program for young women throughout the Puget Sound region through the U.W. in collaboration with the Center.

You can also find local events through the Center for Women and Democracy


Washington State Jobs with Justice
Aims to improve working people's standard of living, fight for job security, and protect workers' right to organize. It is a multi-issue coalition that has grown to include more than 100 organizations and over 6,000 individuals.

Local community and labor leaders founded Washington State Jobs with Justice in 1993 to unite diverse organizations in a multi-issue coalition that has grown to include more than 154 organizations and over 5000 individuals. Individual activists sign the Jobs with Justice pledge to be there five times a year for someone else's struggle as well as their own. By creating strategic alliances locally and among organizations nationally and developing a broad base of support, Jobs with Justice coalitions are re-building the infrastructure that gives communities a sense of their own power.

Check out their calendar of events here.


Seattle Young People's Project
A youth led - adult supported - social change organization dedicated to assisting youth express themselves, and to take action on the issues that affect their lives.

Most young people cannot vote, do not have financial resources, and are generally not given credit by the adult world for having intelligent opinions. Young people are excluded from the political process and from decisions impacting their schools, neighborhoods and communities.

Young people have first hand experience with the issues that are impacting them, but their voices are ignored and misrepresented in the media. Adults are seen as the “experts” on what young people need. Well it’s time for youth to be heard and seen about their views.

Click here to get involved


For those who want to mix social and political fun, here are Drinking Liberally groups in the Seattle area:

Seattle
Every Tuesday of each month, 8:00 pm
Montlake Ale House, 2307 24th Ave E
Hosted by Nicholas Beaudrot | Chris Mitchell

Seattle Eastside
First and Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm
Angelo's Restaurant, 1830 130th Ave NE
Hosted by Norman Furlong | Doug Hightower | Rich Erwin


KING COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY:

The King County Democrats embrace the principles of the Democratic Party, and work across King County to promote those principles by building a strong party organization, recruiting candidates and electing Democrats. The organization works closely with the Washington State Democrats, the 16 Legislative District Democratic organizations, and our elected officials.

Involvement in your local Democratic Party is your chance to get to know your local elected officials and give them your opinions. It is also the backbone of the Democratic Party, helping to determine who wins primaries as well as general elections. Whether you want to simply elect more Democrats or elect BETTER Democrats, this is where to begin. Here are a variety of meetings you can attend to be involved in local politics:

King County Young Democrats
2nd Tuesday of each month
Varies, please see website

King County Democrats
4th Tuesday of each month
Renton Carpenters Hall
231 Burnett Avenue North, Renton

Here are the meeting times/places for all the legislative districts in King County:

1st LD Democrats
1st Thursday of each month
Martha Lake Community Center
16300 Motor Place
Lynnwood, WA 98037
More info

5th LD Democrats
3rd Wednesday of each month
King County Library Admin.
960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah
More info

11th LD Democrats
3rd Tuesday of each month
Carpenters Hall
231 Burnett N., Renton
More info

30th LD Democrats
1st Wednesday of each month
Federal Way Senior Center
4016 S. 352nd St., Federal Way
More info

31st LD Democrats
3rd Wednesday of each month
Marion Grange Hall
27725 Buckley-Sumner Highway East, Buckley
More info

32nd LD Democrats
2nd Wednesday of each month
American Legion Hall
14521 17th Ave NE, Shoreline
More info

33rd LD Democrats
3rd Monday of each month
Normandy Park Congregational Church
19247 1st Ave. S, Normandy Park
More info

34th LD Democrats
2nd Wednesday of each month
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. SW, Seattle
More info

36th LD Democrats
2nd Wednesday of each month
Phinney Neighborhood Association
6532 Phinney Avenue North
More info

37th LD Democrats
Rainier Velley Cultural Center
3515 S. Alaska St. (at Rainier Ave S.)
Seattle WA 98118
More info

41st LD Democrats
3rd Wednesday of each month
East Shore Unitarian Church
12700 SE 32nd Street
Bellevue, WA 98005
More info

43rd LD Democrats
3rd Tuesday of each month
Univ Heights Comm Center
5031 University Way NE, Seattle
More info

45th LD Democrats
1st Wednesday of each month
Redmond Community Center
16600 NE 80th St., Redmond
More info

46th LD Democrats
3rd Thursday of each month
Olympic View Elementary School
425 NE 95th St., Seattle
More info

47th LD Democrats
1st Wednesday of each month
Machinists' Hall
A Street SW at 2nd St. SW, Auburn
More info

48th LD Democrats
3rd Wednesday of each month
NW Arts Center
9825 NE 24th St, Bellevue
More info


Biofuels in Seattle: Here are some gas stations that offer biofuels for cars. It should be noted that any diesel engine can accept up to 20% Biodiesel (B20) and newer diesel engines can take up to 100% Biodiesel (B100).

Propel Fuel Stations around Seattle that offer biofuels: (I came across them through their carbon offset program)

* Seattle, South Lake Union Flagship
609 Westlake Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109

* Seattle, Ballard Neighborhood
4420 Leary Way NW
Seattle, Washington 98107

* West Seattle
3500 SW Barton Street
Seattle, Washington 98136