Bryan's Hubcap Clocks

By Tara Williamson

      Bryan Burke, a resident of Spokane Washington, is reviving the American Dream.  Making old things new and beautiful again is not only a recent television trend, for some it is a living.  He makes hubcap clocks.  Bryan uses the extra income to support his work at Eastern Washington Voters. 

The making and selling of hubcap clocks may not be your typical glamour laced news, yet is almost more vital.  In times of increasing economic turbulence, resourcefulness and sustainability need to be recognized and retold.  This man endures the tedium of rescuing and restoring a very simple item, hubcaps.  To turn them into vital, working machines that track our most precious commodity (our time) is no small task. 

Chris Gregoire for Washington Governor (2004)

We like Chris Gregoire Democratic Candidate for Governor

 Gregoire  is a fighter for the people of Washington.  After taking on and winning against special interests as Attorney General, Democrat Chris Gregoire  is ready to take Washington in the right direction.

Democrat Gail Rowland for State Senate

Gail Rowland for State Senate (D) 

9^th District

“Back to the People”

Democrat Gail Rowland is concerned about the future of our communities and wants to help improve our quality of life in Pullman and the rest of Whitman County . . .

As our voice, Democrat Gail Rowland will stand for:

·        Higher education opportunities for all through prioritization of our resources to redirect more funds to our colleges and universities. 

·        Stronger public schools, with more funding, smaller classes, a comprehensive curriculum, and well-paid teachers children, girls and boys equally.

Democrat Laura Ruderman for Washington Secretary of State 2004

Democrat Laura Ruderman for Washington Secretary of State 2004

She will protect your vote!

Keep “the people” in charge of democracy, support Democrat Laura Ruderman for Secretary of State of Washington.  Ruderman's 2004 “voter’s bill of rights” for Washington would . . .

·      Require electronic voting machines to produce a paper trail to guard against election fraud. 

·      Protect electronic voting machines from hacking by not allowing connection to a network. 

·      Make sure that voting rolls are accurate and no one is wrongly denied the right to vote. 

·      Ensure a safe, private polling place, and an option of voting by mail. 

·      Allowing replacement ballots upon request. 

Laura Ruderman would also . . .

·      Allow women threatened by domestic abuse to keep their addresses confidential when they register to vote. 

·      Prohibit companies who advocate for political candidates or parties from providing voting equipment. 

·      Regulate paid signature gathers in the initiative process. 

For more info, see www.lauraruderman.com

This advertisement is not authorized by Laura Ruderman or any other candidate.  Paid for by Eastern Washington Voters, 412 E. Main St., Pullman, WA 99163. 

Brian Sayrs of Liberty Lake for Spokane County Commission

Democrat Brian Sayrs of Liberty Lake is Building Community In Spokane County

Democrat Brian Sayrs has established a reputation as a hard-working, effective leader during his three-terms as a Liberty Lake city council member.  Spokane County needs a commissioner who believes in open, fiscally-responsible, community-oriented government.  

Mary Kay Becker and Other Judicial Candidates for Washington State Supreme Court

2004 Judicial Candidates for State Supreme Court

How does one decide for whom to vote for judge?  You could try to guess the party leanings of judicial candidates.   However, if voters screen for political orientation, we will get a court system that is just as partisan as congress.  Most people agree that judges should strive to be fair, objective, knowledgeable interpreters of the law—not political operatives. 

Jobs or trees?

Mike Cooper: Candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands

He can ensure both on our state forests. 

Mike Cooper’s leadership is needed.  The 1997 “fire fighter of the year,” Mike has demonstrated that he can lead a team and act decisively. As a four-term State Representative, Democrat Mike Cooper has proven his ability to work with diverse interests to solve complex natural resource problems. 

Democrat Mike Cooper will place wind farms on state land to create jobs that are needed now and also electricity and revenue for schools, protect jobs in the future by not over cutting trees in the present, and ban the cutting of old-growth trees on state forests.

Do not be fooled by Mike’s opponent. Republican Doug Sutherland wants you to think that he is a moderate, but he is not.  The Republican supports large-scale clear cutting that threatens not only the forests, but also future jobs and revenue from state-owned timber lands.  This should be expected—he has received almost a half million dollars from the timber industry. 

Not authorized by any candidate.  Paid for by Eastern Washington Voters, 412 E. Main St., Pullman, WA

Deborah Senn Candidate for Washington Attorney General (2004)

Democrat Deborah Senn Democratic Candidate for Washington Attorney General

Democrat Deborah Senn will take a stand for you!  Democratic Senn has made it clear that she will enforce the law as Attorney General.  However, some don’t like the law enforced, as seen by the 1.4 million dollar smear campaign against her by special interests.  We think it means that she is doing something right and that she has principals.

Dr. Kim Thorburn (D) County Commissioner

Dr. Kim Thorburn (D) Spokane County Commissioner- Dist. 1 - Democrat

As a former Director of the Spokane Regional Health District, Democrat Dr. Kim Thorburn is very familiar with our region’s issues.  The Spokane region is emerging as a world-class area, but not every one is benefiting.  Thorburn is running for the Spokane County Commission to serve all residents.

Smart Growth in Spokane: 

As our communities grow, we must plan for adequate roads, schools, and housing.  We must also protect our water and air in Spokane, says Democrat Thorburn.

Serve All Residents in Spokane: 

We must reform county government so all residents are served.  To achieve safe and healthy communities, Dr. Thorburn will balance our investments in economic development, human services, and public safety. 

Foster Transparency and Cooperation: 

Dr. Kim Thorburn will work to foster transparency in decision-making and regional cooperation among government entities.  Our local leaders must be accessible to everyone and informed by what residents think is important. 

Let's work together for safe and healthy communities. 
www.VoteDrKim.com ■

Paid for by Eastern Wa. Voters, 605 NW Fisk, #9b, Pullman, Wa 99163

Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire for re-election in 2008

Gov. Chris Gregoire for re-election

Democrat Chris Greogoire has helped make the state of Washington one of the best states to do business, work, and live.

Best Business Climate: 

Forbes magazine ranked Washington among the three best states for business in part because of Democratic Governor Gregoire’s work. 
•    220,000 new jobs were created under Gregoire’s leadership, such as new apprenticeships in the Spokane aerospace industry.
•    Exports of Washington products (including agricultural) have increased by 100%. 

Democrat Pat O’Neill for Whitman County Commissioner in 2008

The group

Eastern Washington Voters

endorses

Pat O’Neill for Whitman County Commissioner (2008)

"I will bring greater accountability to county government, and strive to regain the trust of the voters.”
--Pat O'Neill

As your County Commissioner, I will make it a priority to bring the following to Whitman County government.  

Dino Rossi’s Questionable Business Past (from 2004 and 2008)

Remember this when Dino Rossi ran for Governor in 2004 and 2008? Much of Dino Rossi’s business experience has been in real-estate working underneath one man, Melvin Heide of Capretto & Clark, convicted of defrauding investors.  Rossi made a small fortune, and some of it was indirectly at the expense of small investors who lost their life savings.  "The people who got hurt were little old ladies . . . Schoolteachers who put in their life savings,” said Stuart Looney, past vice president of Capretto & Clark (Seattle Times, 9/29/04). Are we accusing Republican Dino Rossi of illegality? No. Are we suggesting highly unethical business practices? Yes.  We can only outline the story.  You will need to do additional research before making your own decision.

Democrat Peter Goldmark for Congress (from 2006)

Peter Goldmark, a rancher from eastern Washington, is the Democratic candidate for the 5^th Congressional seat.  He can ride a horse and rope a steer.  Most importantly, Goldmark knows exactly what is ailing the predominantly rural 5^th Congressional District. 

• “Washington, D.C. is not representing our values.”  
• “Opportunities for economic growth in Eastern Washington are being missed” 
• “The real problems our nation faces are not being addressed . . . gas prices and energy independence, healthcare costs, our retirement security, and government living within its means.”  

Press Release Bonnie Mager, Al French, and Eastern Washington Voters (from 2010)

For immediate media release

Bryan Burke, Exec. Director of Eastern Washington Voters

Spokane County Commission Race: PDC rejects complaint by Al French against Eastern Washington Voters and Bonnie Mager

The 2010 Spokane County Commission candidate Al French filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission against Eastern Washington Voters and his opponent Bonnie Mager on November 8th.  He charged that they distributed flyers containing false statements about him constituting libel or defamation with malice in violation of RCW 42.17.530(1)a.  

Cathy McMorris-Rodgers: Portrait of Partisan Success

In some ways Cathy McMorris Rogers is a bit of an enigma.  She has risen rapidly in the Republican ranks and has a rather impressive resume’ but she seems quite ordinary and un-impressive in her general demeanor.  She has come such a long way from the Peachcrest Fruit Basket Orchard and Fruit Stand, in Kettle Falls, Washington.

Cathy McMorris' Earlier Years

Born in Salem, Oregon in 1969 she moved with her family, including a younger brother to Colville where they purchase an orchard nearby. Cathy McMorris was first elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1994, representing the 7th Legislative district (parts or all of the counties of Ferry, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane and Stevens). Cathy McMorris had been the legislative assistant to Bob Morton. When Morton moved up to the state senate she ran for his position in 1993. She was re-elected four times and served in that office through January 2005. From 2002-2003, she served as House Minority Leader, the top leadership post for the House Republicans. She was the first woman to lead a House Caucus, and the youngest since World War II. This is a remarkable track record in a very short time in the Washington state legislature.

Cathy McMorris in Congress

Cathy McMorris never missed a beat when she ended up in the United States House of Representatives in 2004 with 59.7% vote margin over Spokane hotel executive Don Barbieri, for the open seat. Her brother, Jeff McMorris, served as her campaign manager.  She was appointed chairwoman of the National Task Force on Improving the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 2006.  Appointed Republican co-chairwoman of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues2007.  On November 19, 2008, Cathy McMorris was elected to serve as the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference for the 111th United States Congress, making her the fourth highest ranking Republican in her caucus leadership (after John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor and Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence) and she is the highest-ranking Republican woman in the current House of Representatives.

She apparently avoided any serious romantic entanglements and claims she enjoys playing the piano, swimming and reading about American history.  That all changed when, on the 5th August 2006 in San Diego, Cathy McMorris married Brian Rodgers, a retired Navy commander and a Spokane, Washington native. Rodgers is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and the son of David Rodgers, the mayor of Spokane from 1967 to 1977. In April 2007, she became the first member of Congress in more than a decade to give birth while in office, with the birth of Cole McMorris Rodgers. The couple later announced their child was diagnosed with Down syndrome. In August 2010, McMorris Rodgers announced via her Facebook page that she expected another child; Grace was born December 2010, making her mother the first member of Congress to give birth twice while in office.

McMorri's Education

Prior to her first political involvement McMorris Rodgers earned a BA in Pre-law from Pensacola Christian College in 1990. She earned her Executive MBA from the University of Washington in 2002 while serving in the legislature.   An interesting sidelight is that the lawyer alums from The Pensacola Christian College praised the speech training they got there.  Until fairly recently the congresswoman has not shown much talent for that.  She has become a competent public speaker in the last few years so she has apparently been working at that with the experts in DC.

When she was chairwoman of the committee to improve the EPA she started out chairing a committee hearing in Spokane. She was so uncomfortable with the procedures that another member of the committee took over about half way through.  She seems quite tentative in her official capacity at congressional events but her performance has improved in the smoothness of her delivery.  This was most notable in her recent “Town Meeting” in Spokane and in her debate on television during her campaign against Darrel Romeyn, a former TV weather caster.  He got 12% of the vote to her 63%.  He spent$2300.  She spent $1,453,000.  There were others in the race.

She is a party person.  Partisanship should be her middle name.  Cathy McMorris-Rodgersvoted with the Republican leadership 97% of the time in the 111th congress while casting 1654 votes.  Her favorite organizations are:  American Conservative Union 96% voting record.  Club for Growth 94%. Family Research Council 100%. National Taxpayers Union 89%.  National Chamber of Commerce 100%.  She tends to be very conservative.  The League of Conservation Voters gave her a 10% rating which was the high point of the non-Republican approved organizations.

More about Cathy McMorris-Rodgers The congresswoman appears to be almost shy and unassuming but her appearance belies her accomplishments.   And she is a striking figure.  Quite tall she has a fashion model’s figure and no politician, male or female has a better smile!  She photographs extremely well too, while dressing with casual elegance but not in a “showy” way.

When interviewing her, the interviewer is tempted to want to help her with her answers.  And perhaps that is her most endearing characteristic.  You see her and you aren’t intimidated and you almost want to help her in spite of your opposition to her political positions.    Almost.

This year Cathy McMorris-Rodgers is being challenged by Rich Cowan. You can read more about the race at EWPolitics.org

Membership Pamphlet for 2009

Eastern

Washington

Voters

Advancing progressive issues & strengthening democratic institutions

Making a difference is possible.  Our volunteers have frequently proved this. 

In 2008 we helped elect Pat O’Neill to the Whitman County Commission in a close race. 

In 2006, Eastern Washington Voters help Bonnie Mager win a Spokane County Commission seat in an even closer race. 

In 2004, we handed out 5,000 flyers about Gov. Gregoire. She won by 129 votes, and signed into law expanded health care coverage and green building standards.