Labor council refuses to endorse Gregoire for governor

[icymist]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA%20Labor%20Council



Saturday, May 8, 2004 · Last updated 4:27 p.m. PT

Labor council refuses to endorse Gregoire for governor

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEATTLE -- The Washington State Labor Council shied away from backing any candidate for governor Saturday, refusing to endorse leading Democratic candidate Christine Gregoire.

After lengthy debate, delegates at a political endorsement convention voted about 54 percent in favor of a single endorsement of Gregoire, said council spokeswoman Karen Keiser.

The vote fell short of the two-thirds needed for any candidate to win endorsement.

Keiser said several roll call votes were taken before the decision was reached.

A motion to endorse two candidates - Attorney General Gregoire and King County Executive Ron Sims - also failed. The council did vote to oppose the leading Republican candidate, former state Sen. Dino Rossi.

(more)

[spokanelaw]

1. Simms vs. Gregoire

Among active Democrats in Spokane Ron Simms is quite popular. He is from Spokane; his family is well thought of, and he has many friends here. Ron did a great job speaking at our Magnuson Club in April.

Christine Gregoire spent time in Spokane as an Assistant Attorney General and is also respected. She is well connected with Gonzaga Law School. I estimate that Christine currently has more support among the well-heeled as well as the average Democrat.

I am a Gregoire supporter. What is the scoop around the State?

[icymist]

2. I was about to support Talmadge....

then he got sick and dropped out of the race. I'm not sure who I would vote for now, Gregorie or Sims. I hear that voting for Gregorie is like voting to keep things the same....like as with Locke. Sims is now holding the same office that Locke held before he became Governor. To tell you the truth, I'm not that impressed with either one. What's your best argument in support of Christine Gregoire?

[Cascadian]

3. No surprise there.

She is the most DINO candidate. To have her become governor would be the continuation of Locke's docile and Republican Lite policies. Sims looks like he is trying to woo those supported Talmadge which is a good idea. I am actually leaning towards supporting him though I have been critical of him in the past. We just cannot allow Dino Rossi to win.

John

[kurtyboy]

4. I spent a few hours with Chris (she's using that instead of the long versi

Last night at the Skagit County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. She was very well received, and delivered the best speech I've yet heard her make. That said, I am still undecided (I like Ron Sims too).

As for the rest of the evening, Mark Sidran also spoke (Candidate for Attorney General) and was also fantastic. But I have to defer to the Labor Council recomendation of Deborah Senn for the position. Sidran had too much to do with the detention of the WTO protesters a few years back.

On this evening, my wife and I had the pleasure of sharing a table with State Senators Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10th) and Harriet Spanel (D-40th), as well as the mayor of Coupeville, my local Public Defender, and our County Clerk. All were delightful converstionalists, and all told, our table had the better part of a couple of centuries of public service, cumulatively.

One of the fun things all tables got to do was caucus on a VP-choice to forward to John Kerry. Our table gave the nod to Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, but the overwhelming choice of the evening was John Edwards.

Over the evening, many jabs were taken at the GOP and the *, but everyone refrained from talk about the current crisis with the Iraqi POWs. It just didn't seem appropriate--

As an extra, I collected more than a hundred bucks for the Kerry campaign--without really trying!

[geniph]

5. Both Gregoire and Sims spoke at the King County convention

this last Saturday. Gregoire's speech was fine, but left me basically unmoved (like Locke does). Sims' speech, on the other hand, had the crowd on their feet and cheering. Ron's got my vote. I always liked him anyway, but he's definitely the firebrand in this race, and I'm tired of doormat Democrats.

[cmf]

6. He came to the Kitsap convention, too.

He had us on our feet cheering. He gave an awesome stump speech. The guy is engaging and charismatic. He's really trying to appeal to the left, but I'm skeptical because we all know his history so far is quite centrist. Add into the fact that he's done so much to piss people off (Sound Transit, Brightwater, etc.) I'm worried that people might vote against him and we'll end up with that arsehole Rossi.

That being said, Gregoire is Locke II and I don't want more of that.

Therefore, I'm cautiously for Sims.

[eridani]

7. Yes, and I was surprised

Just revised my opinion of him--used to think he was just a political hack.