LIVE from Renton: The June 2015 King County Democrats Endorsement Meeting

Good evening from Renton. Tonight, the King County Democrats are meeting to consider taking endorsement action in a number of contests, which will be decided by voters this August and/or this November. This post will offer a running chronology of the meeting proceedings, including endorsement votes.

• 7 PM: Chair Rich Erwin is calling the meeting to order.
• 7:05 PM: We just held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the hate crime in Charleston.
• 7:30 PM: After hearing a rousing speech calling for action to address racial injustice from our Fourth Vice Chair Caesar Robinson, and updates from 30th LD Tim Burns, Adam Smith’s Political Director Maria Leininger, and Pierce County Democratic Chair Linda Isenson, we are moving into consideration of endorsement motions.
• 7:37 PM: We have just adopted our ground rules and endorsements calendar for tonight, with one modification, allowing a candidate’s campaign manager to speak in place of a candidate if the candidate is not present.
• 7:47 PM: We are currently working on the slate. Executive board members have the opportunity to pull races from the slate, but there must be at least four seconds to pull a race for individual consideration. Races that have been pulled:
  • Seattle City Council District #1
  • Port of Seattle Commission Position #5
  • Seattle City Council Position #8
  • Seattle City Council District #4
  • Seattle City Council Position #9
  • Seattle School Board District #6
• 7:48 PM: By a vote of more than fifty to nothing, we have adopted the remainder of the slate. The following candidates have now been endorsed by the King County Democrats:
  • State Representative, 30th District: Carol Gregory
  • Mayor of Tukwila: De’Sean Quinn
  • Mayor of Pacific: Leanne Guier
  • Seattle City Council, District #6: Mike O’Brien
  • Bothell City Council, Position #6: Davina Duerr
  • Burien City Council, Position #4: Jon Scherer
  • Burien City Council, Position #6: Austin Bell
  • Des Moines City Council, Position #4: Jeremy Nutting
  • Issaquah City Council, Position #4: Bill Ramos
  • Kent City Council, Position #1: Bailey Stober
  • Kent City Council, Position #6: Brenda Fincher
  • Kirkland City Council, Position #2: Shelley Kloba
  • Lake Forest Park City Council, Position #4: Phillippa Kassover
  • Mercer Island City Council, Position #1: Jane Meyer Braham
  • Mercer Island City Council, Position #3: Wendy Weiker
  • Mercer Island City Council, Position #5: Bruce Bassett
  • Mercer Island City Council, Position #7: Debbie Bertlin
  • Redmond City Council, Position #5: Angela Birney
  • Sammamish City Council, Position #2: Mark Cross
  • Sammamish City Council, Position #4: Hank Klein
  • Sammamish City Council, Position #6: Tom Vance
  • SeaTac City Council, Position #1: Barry Ladenburg
  • SeaTac City Council, Position #3: Sally Andrews
  • SeaTac City Council, Position #5: Dave Bush
  • Mercer Island School District Director, District #3: Bill Hochberg
  • Southwest Suburban Sewer District, Commissioner #3: Susan Genzale
  • Lakehaven Utility District, Commissioner #3: Randy Smith
• 7:49 PM: We are moving on to our first pulled race, Port of Seattle Commission Position #5.
  • We first considered the recommendation by the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of thirty-six to sixteen, we endorsed Fred Felleman.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Ken Rogers. By a vote of thirty-one to nineteen, the motion failed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Norman Sigler. By a vote of twenty-three to twenty-two, the motion failed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Marion Yoshino. By a vote of fourteen to thirty, the motion failed.
• 8:08 PM: Moving on to Seattle City Council District #1.
  • We first considered the recommendation by the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of forty-three to eight, we endorsed Lisa Herbold.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Brianna Thomas. By a vote of forty-four to nine, she is endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Shannon Braddock. By a vote of twenty-five to seventeen, the motion failed.
• 8:19 PM: Moving on to Seattle City Council District #4.
  • We first considered the recommendation by the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of forty to ten, Tony Provine has been endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Michael Maddux. By a vote of thirty-two to twenty-five, the motion failed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Abel Pacheco. By a vote of twenty-eight to twenty, the motion failed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Rob Johnson. By a vote of fourteen to twenty-four, the motion failed.
• 8:44 PM: Moving on to Seattle City Council Position #8 (an at-large position).
  • We first considered the recommendation by the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of thirty-one to twelve, John Roderick is endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Jon Grant. By a vote of forty-two to four, he is endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Tim Burgess. By a vote of twenty-three to twenty-three, the motion failed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse John Persak. By a vote of five to twenty-five, the motion failed.
• 9:00 PM: Moving on to Seattle City Council Position #9 (an at-large position).
  • We first considered the recommendation by the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of forty-three to seven, Lorena Gonzalez is endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion from the floor to endorse Bill Bradburd. By a vote of thirty-five to seven, he is endorsed.
• 9:14 PM: Moving on to Bellevue City Council Position #5. This is a race in which the Endorsements Committee made no recommendation, so any motions to endorse must come from the floor.
  • We first considered a motion to endorse Sherry Grindeland. This failed by a vote of nineteen to twenty-three.
  • We next considered a motion to endorse Vandana Slatter. By a vote of thirty-seven to six, Vandana is endorsed.
• 9:32 PM: Moving on to Renton City Council Position #4. This is a race in which the Endorsements Committee made no recommendation, so any motions to endorse must come from the floor.
  • We first considered a motion from the floor to endorse Monique Taylor-Swan. By a vote of thirty-five to four, she is endorsed.
  • We then considered a motion to endorse Ryan McIrvin. By a vote of twenty-eight to four, he is endorsed.
• 9:44 PM: Moving on to Seattle School District Director District #6. We considered the recommendation of the Endorsements Committee. By a vote of forty-three to zero , Leslie Harris is endorsed. No other candidates were considered.
• 9:50 PM: Moving on to King County Water District #54, Position #3. By a vote of thirty-seven to zero, we voted to endorse Jim Langston. No other candidates were considered.
• 9:52 PM: With no other motions to endorse, we are done with tonight’s endorsements business. We have a few committee reports to get through and then we will be adjourned.

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