Here are our endorsements for 2011. Download them in pdf form.
Initiatives and Levies
NO on Initiative 1125
OneAmerica Votes joins the labor, business and environmental community in opposing Initiative 1125. The initiative, which would limit the use of tolling funds to certain transportation projects, would have a terrible impact on public transit around the state and leave many low and moderate-income workers, including immigrants and refugees, who rely on public transit to get to work without affordable transportation options.
YES on Initiative 1163
OneAmerica Votes supports Initiative 1163, which requires basic certification and training requirements for long-term care workers. Initiative 1163 is nearly identical to Initiative 1029, which passed by a large margin in 2009, but had its implementation delayed on multiple occasions by the legislature. Because both long-term care workers and clients are disproportionately immigrants and refugees and people of color, this would be a positive step forward in promoting better working conditions and better care for our communities.
NO on Initiative 1183
OneAmerica Votes opposes Initiative 1183, the latest attempt by big box stores to privatize liquor sales. If Initiative 1183 passes, minors will have more access to alcohol and the number of stores serving liquor will grow significantly. We believe that any effort to dramatically increase the availability of liquor in our communities is not the direction our state should be heading.
YES on City of Seattle Families and Education Levy
OneAmerica Votes supports the City of Seattle Families and Education Levy. This year’s levy provides additional resources to help English Language Learners who are falling well behind their peers through in-class interventions and outcome measurement as well as out-of-classroom community supports. We believe the levy represents a significant opportunity for Seattle to take a positive step forward in its efforts to support immigrant and refugee children and families.
Candidates
Bruce Harrell for Seattle City Council, Position 3
OneAmerica Votes endorses Bruce Harrell for Seattle City Council, Position 3. Bruce earned his endorsement through his commitment to race and social justice issues, including his role in moving forward the Race and Social Justice Initiative at the City. In addition, Bruce has worked hard during his time in office to protect vital funding for human services in the budget and to support organizations serving communities of color and immigrants and refugees in the important work they do engaging communities to achieve social change.
Sally Clark for Seattle City Council, Position 9
OneAmerica Votes endorses Sally Clark for Seattle City Council, Position 9. Sally demonstrated her clear commitment to immigrant and refugee communities by leading the council to unanimous approval of the boycott of Arizona shortly after the passage of SB1070. Despite receiving hostile correspondence from the usual anti-immigrant forces, Sally pushed on with the resolution that, in addition to the boycott, affirmed the City’s commitment to advocating for just and humane immigration reform. In addition to her leadership on the Arizona Boycott legislation, Sally has voted in favor of other efforts to support immigrant communities.
Tim Burgess for Seattle City Council, Position 7
OneAmerica Votes endorses Tim Burgess for Seattle City Council, Position 7. Tim has demonstrated leadership on a number of issues related to immigrants and refugees, including championing the current push for an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs at the city. Prior to that, he moved forward wage theft legislation that made it a crime to withhold wages and gave the city the authority to deny business licenses based on outstanding wage theft claims. Tim has shown himself to be a strong partner on moving issues forward and OneAmerica Votes is impressed with his ability to get things done.
Tom Rasmussen for Seattle City Council, Position 5
OneAmerica Votes endorses Tom Rasmussen for Seattle City Council, Position 5. Tom has led on a number of issues of importance to immigrant and refugee communities, including his work in moving forward the creation of the Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Board (now Immigrant and Refugee Commission) and the Immigrant and Refugee Action Plan. Tom has supported other critical issues for immigrants and refugees during his time on the council.
Bobby Forch and Jean Godden for Seattle City Council, Position 1
OneAmerica Votes endorses both Bobby Forch and Jean Godden for Seattle City Council, Position 1. Bobby has impressed us with his outreach and engagement of immigrant and refugee communities during his campaign, and we believe he has the potential to be a leader on race and social justice issues on the council. Bobby’s experience within the city, including his role as part of the city’s Race and Social Justice interdepartmental team, will be an asset to the council if he is elected.
Jean has demonstrated a commitment to supporting human services as the current budget chair and was one of the first council members to support Paid Sick Days legislation that passed this summer. In addition, she has previously led on issues of domestic violence on the council, including ensuring domestic violence funding for organizations serving South Asian women.
Richard Mitchell for King County Council, District 6
OneAmerica Votes endorses Richard Mitchell for King County Council, District 6. An immigrant himself, Richard will bring a refreshing perspective to the council that reflects the changing demographics of King County’s Eastside. Richard impressed us with his vision for the district and in making strong commitments to support immigrants and refugees communities as a council member. Richard has also impressed us with his outreach to immigrant and refugee communities and the focus of his campaign on providing attention to areas of the district that are often overlooked by other campaigns. This bodes well for his ability to serve all of District 6 as a council member.
