CONGRESS:
Senator Maria Cantwell
202-224-3441 (DC)
1-888-648-7328 (Toll Free St. Offices)
Cantwell.senate.gov
Email from Website
Senator Patty Murray
202-224-2621 (D.C.)
206 553-5545 (Sea.); 253 572-3636 (Tac.)
Murray.senate.gov
Email from Website
Congressman Norm Dicks (6th District)
202-225-5916 (DC); 360-479-4011 (Brem.)
www.house.gov/dicks/
N.Dicks@House.gov.forward/Dicks
Congressman Jay Inslee (1st District)
202-225-6311(DC); 360-598-2342 (Kitsap)
www.house.gov/inslee
J.Inslee@House.gov.forward/Inslee

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE:
Governor Christine Gregoire
360-902-4111
www.governor.wa.gov
Email from Website

STATE LEGISLATORS:
State Legislature Homepage: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/legislature with
links to legislator’s individual websites Legislator’s email address format is as
follows – (1st 8 letters of last name)_
1st 2 letters of first)@leg.wa.gov
Example: rockefel_ph@leg.wa.gov.
Message Center Phone #: 1-800-562-6000
23rd District
Sen Phil Rockefeller (D) 360-786-7644
Rep Sherry Appleton (D) 360-786-7934
Rep Christine Rolfes (D) 360-786-7842
26th District
Sen Derek Kilmer (D) 360-786-7650
Rep Patricia Lantz (D) 360-786-7964
Rep Larry Seaquist (D) 360-786-7802
35th District
Sen Tim Sheldon (D) 360-786-7668
Rep Kathy Haigh (D) 360-786-7966
Rep Ike Eickmeyer (D) 360-786-7902

KITSAP COUNTY GOVERNMENT
http://www.kitsapgov.com//

In Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” there is a moment of tension when a rather lovable cartoon frog is slowly and unknowingly being boiled to death. Of course the simile Gore draws, likens us to the frog and the slowly boiling water to global warming. Fortunately he rescues the frog, in time, giving us hope we can rescue ourselves from global warming. I think there is another simile that could be drawn likening our elected officials to the frog and the water to our election system. In previous years the temperature has stayed roughly the same, so that most of the frogs/elected officials have rather enjoyed the warmth. In the past six years, though, the temperature has slowly risen, burning many officials and ultimately setting itself on a self-destructive course aiming to take down our democracy with it.

Last February I wrote an article “Start Small, Think Big” about public financing of campaigns, also known as the Clean Money initiative. At the time, I must admit that it seemed like something of a pipe dream. After all, I had been hoping for this since the early 70’s when I helped my sister work with Common Cause on a public financing bill. I think it failed then because the advocates could not agree on a structure. With the advent of a fully functional system now being successfully utilized in both Maine and Arizona, my motivation to work on it was reignited. Still after over 30 years I was not expecting the issue to move faster than a glacier. So I was pleasantly surprised to find momentum on Clean Money gaining speed. First, a resolution on it passed at our Kitsap Convention last spring, matched by several similar resolutions from other counties at the state convention, and was one of the few actually past at the convention itself. Second, at recent forums on Clean Money held in Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, and Everett over 700 people attended. A new poll released by the watchdog group Public Campaign Action Fund found 75% of voter’s nationwide support a voluntary system of publicly financed elections. Grass roots support is

definitely growing. Finally, three Clean Money bills are being seriously considered in Olympia this year. One concerning judicial races, backed by the Governor, stands a chance of passing.

Here’s the problem, though. Many elected officials still do not realize that the water is close to boiling. They are comfortable with the system of getting elected as is and remain unaware of how much deep-pocketed lobbyists are gaining more and more control of how they do business. Slowly they are pulled into illegal schemes by the likes of super lobbyist Jack Abramoff, thinking it is OK because everyone does it, only finding out too late, after they are jailed or defeated in a re-election bid, that the water is too hot. Though this last election might have served as something of a wake up call, most elected officials do not seem to have gotten the full message. For instance, right after announcing ethics reforms in Congress, many Democrats went to a major fund raiser attended by 200 lobbyists. Now days one of the chief qualifications for running for office is the ability to raise money. I find it particularly ironic that three of the sponsors of HB 1360, the comprehensive bill on public financing of all statewide and legislative races being proposed in Olympia, are also sponsoring HB 2062 which would create a public speedway authority enabling NASCAR to more easilyestablish a facility here in Kitsap. None of our 9 Kitsap County legislators favors HB 2062. NASCAR is doing an end-run around our county to buy its way into our community. If this is not deep-pocketed lobbying, I don’t know what is. Yet I believe these three legislators fail to see the conflict.

If a grass roots movement gets strong enough, politicians finally take notice and suddenly decide they need to change course. It is time to rescue our politicians from the hot water and show them the way to save our democracy so we can return to being a government of the
(Continued on next page)

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Letters@thenewstribune.com
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KITSAP CO. DEMO. WEBSITE
http://www.kitsapdemocrats.com/

WA ST FED OF DEM WOMEN
http://www.wademwomen.org/

KC DEMO. WOMEN’S OFFICERS:
President: Jo Fox Burr
    360-613-4042/ foxburr@comcast.net
Vice Pres: Lucy Johnson
    360-613-1602
Secretary: Yvonne Saddler
    360-697-1278/ ymsaddler@earthlink.net
Treasurer: Ginger Sommerhauser
    360-337-7334/
    jim.sommerhausen@comcast.net

people and not of lobbyists. Come listen to our next speaker talk on Clean Money campaign reform and join the movement to change the financing of elections.

NASCAR HEARING IN OLYMPIA – 2/20
Tuesday, Feb 20, 6-8 pm, there is a hearing in Olympia on a bill that would create a public speedway authority making it easier for NASCAR to establish a facility in Kitsap County. No Kitsap legislator supports it. NASCAR is bringing a car, and three drivers to lobby for passage. We need to counter this with a significant presence at the hearing. Carl Olson, Kitsap Co. Dem Chair, has rented a bus to transport people to the hearing, leaving at 3 pm from So. Kitsap High School No. Parking Lot. Space is limited. If you want a seat contact Carl immediately 360-616-0459 kitsapdemocrat@yahoo.com. A small donation would be appreciated.

JOSH BROWN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND Recently Commissioner Josh Brown was hit with a frivolous lawsuit claiming that he did not live in the district to which he was elected as the County Commissioner. The claim was that even though he rented an apartment in the district he actually lived with his parents outside the district boundaries. The judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the complaint and that even if Josh Brown had presented no defense the ruling would have been the same. Nevertheless the legal fees incurred by Josh Brown are very large. Please help us defray these fees incurred by sending a check to the Josh Brown Legal Defense Fund; PO Box 27; Silverdale, WA 98383

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Kitsap Co. Dem. Women
Date:       Feb 28 (Wednesday)
Time:      11:30 am lunch
Place:     Angel’s Buffet
               4111 Wheaton Way, Brem.
Topic:     Public Financing of Elections

Kitsap Co. Dem. Central Com.
Date:    Mar 19 (Monday)
Time:    6 pm dinner; 7 pm meeting
Place:    Events Ctr at the Fairgrounds.

Young Democrats of Kitsap County
Date:         Mar 22 (Thursday)
Time:        7:00 pm
Place:        LanWerx Cafe in Silverdale

23rd Leg District District Activities
Date:         Mar 4 (Sunday)
Time:         4 - 6:00 pm
Place:         Poulsbo Fire Hall
Speakers:  Josh Brown, Phil Rockefeller,
                   Sherry Appleton, and
                   Christine Rolfes

26th Legislative District Meeting
Date:    Mar 1 (Thursday)
Time:    6 pm dinner; 7 pm meeting
Place:    S. Kitsap H. S. Stage 2 Aud.
              425 Mitchell Ave., P. Orchard

35th Legislative District Activities
Date:    Mar 10 (Saturday)
Time:    1:00 – 3:00 pm
Place:   N. Mason Timberland Lib
             23081 NE St Rt 3, Belfair

When Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) was asked what he thought about the President, he said "Well, I really think he shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all."