Editorial
February 5, 2013
Separating education is not a budget solution
Last week, the state House of Representatives split along party lines on a proposal to create a separate budget for K-12 education funding. If approved, the education budget would need to have been funded before the state could look at its other obligations.
It’s just not that simple.
House Republicans said their proposal to split the budget was meant to address the state Supreme Court’s 2012 decision that the Legislature wasn’t funding education properly. That might be more believable if they hadn’t been pushing the measure every year since 2006.
Ex-legislator Glenn Anderson applies for Port of Seattle seat
February 5, 2013
NEW — 6 a.m. Feb. 5, 2013
Former state Rep. Glenn Anderson is among 29 applicants for a vacancy on the Port of Seattle Commission — a group of officials responsible for overseeing the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Glenn Anderson
The ex-legislator and Issaquah Republican is invited to address the commission, or submit a statement, Tuesday. The commission is interviewing applicants for a seat left open after former Commissioner Gael Tarleton resigned Jan. 31 to serve in the state House of Representatives.
The commission is allowed 90 days to appoint Tarleton’s successor under state law.
“We are pleased with both the number and quality of the commission applicants,” commission President Tom Albro said in a statement released Monday. “We are looking forward to hearing from each of these candidates tomorrow afternoon.”
Maple Hills Elementary School students visit Capitol
January 29, 2013
The fourth-grade students of Maple Hills Elementary School got an inside look at how laws are made Jan. 17 when they visited the state Capitol in Olympia.
While there to learn about state government, the children met up with state Rep. Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, and asked him questions about his new job.
Port of Seattle vacancy is open to King County voters
January 29, 2013
Residents interested in trade, tourism and transportation can apply for a soon-to-open seat on the Port of Seattle Commission — a group of officials responsible for overseeing the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Commissioner Gael Tarleton intends to resign from the commission Jan. 31 to serve in the state House of Representatives.
The position is open to U.S. and Washington residents eligible to vote in King County. Candidates must submit application materials by noon Feb. 1.
Port of Seattle vacancy is open to King County voters
January 24, 2013
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 24, 2013
Residents interested in trade, tourism and transportation can apply for soon-to-open seat on the Port of Seattle Commission — a group of officials responsible for overseeing the Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Commissioner Gael Tarleton intends to resign from the commission Jan. 31 to serve in the state House of Representatives.
Under state law, the commission is allowed 90 days to appoint Tarleton’s successor.
The position is open to U.S. and Washington residents eligible to vote in King County. Candidates must submit application materials by noon Feb. 1.
Issaquah High School alumnus joins Legislature
January 22, 2013
Jeff Holy
Jeff Holy, son of former Issaquah Councilwoman Jacki Holy and a graduate of Issaquah High School, took the oath of office for the state House of Representatives on Jan. 14.
“My mother taught me the value of serving the public and being involved in your community,” Jeff Holy said in a statement. “It is an honor to be trusted by my constituents to serve as their voice in the Legislature.”
In Olympia, the Spokane Republican represents Eastern Washington’s 6th Legislative District.
State Rep. Chad Magendanz gets to work in Olympia
January 22, 2013
State Rep. Chad Magendanz, a former Issaquah School Board member, took the oath of office Jan. 14 to represent Issaquah and the 5th Legislative District in Olympia.
Magendanz, a freshman Republican and 17-year resident in the district, succeeded longtime former state Rep. Glenn Anderson in the House of Representatives seat.
Magendanz is the assistant ranking member on the House Education Committee, and also serves on the House Higher Education and House Technology & Economic Development committees.
Legislators’ priorities reflect education, transportation needs
January 15, 2013
Lawmakers confronted a familiar scenario as the Legislature convened Jan. 14 — a budget shortfall, opposing pressures to preserve essential services and rein in government spending, and a court mandate to spend more money on education.
Mark Mullet
Chad Magendanz
Observers expect education and transportation to rank as the dominant issues in the 105-day session. The state faces a $900 million budget shortfall for 2013-15 and, in the meantime, faces a court order to increase education funding by 2018.
In addition to the statewide issues on legislators’ docket, a lobbyist hired by city leaders to represent Issaquah is in search of support for local projects, including dollars to upgrade transportation infrastructure and Lake Sammamish State Park.
Issaquah is also focused on securing state dollars for a transportation improvement district in North Issaquah near Costco headquarters and high-traffic retail centers.
Lawmakers to discuss dollars for schools at forum
January 15, 2013
The public can hear from top education and budget leaders in the Legislature about the funding challenges facing public schools Jan. 22 at a League of Education Voters forum.
Steve Litzow
Ross Hunter
The organization, a statewide education advocacy group, invited a Democrat, state Rep. Ross Hunter, and a Republican, state Sen. Steve Litzow, to discuss competing visions for education funding in Washington.
Residents can listen to the Eastside lawmakers — Litzow is a Mercer Island resident; Hunter hails from Medina — at the King County Library System Administration Building.
The incoming Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee chairman, Litzow, represents Issaquah and other communities in the 41st Legislative District, a suburban swath between lakes Washington and Sammamish.
Democrats dominate Issaquah voters’ choices
January 1, 2013
Strong get-out-the vote operation boosts candidates
Democrats dominated Issaquah in the November election.
City voters chose Democrats for every federal and statewide office on the ballot — sometimes by a broad margin and others by a handful of votes.
Issaquah overwhelmingly supported Democrats in the races for president and vice president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, and every statewide office. Only incumbent Republican Steve Litzow, a 41st Legislative District state senator representing about half of Issaquah, earned support from a majority of voters inside city limits.
