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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, November 15, 2009 Unions want Hans Dunshee to replace Steve Hobbs in state senate By Jerry Cornfield Herald Columnist Steve Hobbs has a target on his back and two of the state's most decorated labor unions plan to take aim at it. Members of the Washington Education Association and the Service Employees International Union don't want the freshman Democrat from Lake Stevens winning a second term in the state Senate in 2010. Hobbs crossed them last legislative session by voting for a controversial education reform law and opposing a bill enabling child care center workers to unionize. Ever since they've been seeking a challenger behind whom they can rally. They may have found their special someone in Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish. They've been courting Dunshee for a while, and this week the veteran lawmaker confirmed he's weighing the idea, though a decision is not imminent. It's been on Dunshee's mind for some time; he reportedly told Hobbs months ago that he was thinking about the race. Dunshee, who has spoken with Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, said he thinks Hobbs has alienated enough traditional Democratic supporters to be vulnerable to a Republican challenger in 2010. “You don't want to lose that Senate seat,” he said. If he tries to switch chambers, he must give up a pretty safe House seat and a plum job as chairman of the Capital Budget committee. “I don't know if he is serious about it,” Hobbs said this week, without a stitch of stress in his voice. “I'm not focused on getting a new job when 10.2 percent of the people in my district don't have a job.” He does know the two unions are serious. Their members are frustrated as state budget cuts led to pay freezes, layoffs and furloughs. Then their respective legislative agendas got knocked sideways by the Democratic-controlled Legislature. SEIU leaders are peeved that Hobbs helped torpedo House Bill 1329, which would have swelled the union's ranks by adding child care center directors and employees. The bill cleared the House where Dunshee supported it. It died in the Senate where Hobbs opposed it out of concern it hurt more than helped the operators and the bottom line of their facilities. With teachers, the breaking point came with Hobbs' vote for House Bill 2261. (Dunshee supported the original bill and opposed its final amended version) This new law is intended, over time, to increase spending in public schools. It also contains lots of items unwanted by the union such as merit pay and new ways of evaluating teachers. Well before the final vote, union members in Snohomish County delivered an ultimatum to Hobbs and other Democratic lawmakers: Back it and we won't back you. The Pilchuck UniServ Council resolved in February to “actively oppose” the re-election of any lawmaker who favored pieces of legislation that evolved into HB 2261. The council represents 4,342 teachers in Everett, Granite Falls, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Monroe, Mukilteo, Skykomish, Snohomish and Sultan education associations. Such friendly fire is not new for Hobbs. In 2005, Democratic activists shunned him when he did not drop out of the race for Snohomish County Council after Dave Somers was chosen as the party's nominee. Somers beat out Hobbs for the job. A year later, Hobbs and Lillian Kaufer squared off in the primary for the state senate seat. She had the backing of the Senate Democratic Caucus, but he defeated her and went on to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Dave Schmidt. Hobbs believes those roiling waters have long passed under the bridge, though others disagree. Last month, Sen. Karen Kaiser, who steers the caucus political machine and is a past union leader, had her name on the invitation to a Hobbs' fundraiser in Snohomish. So too did Brown. “I think the party is comfortable with me,” Hobbs said. Even with a target on his back. Political reporter Jerry Cornfield's blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out This will all be forgotten in a year. Messers Dunshee and Hobbs will be re elected because they do what's right for the future and not what's polliticly easiest for the moment. Everybody knows Steve Hobbs has taken courageous stands on many issues and deserves to be re elected. Mike Hope, the only Republican from the 44th district in the legislature, faces an uphill relelection battle, he won in 2008 by a fluke. I hope Ms. Kaufer and Ms. Loomis and other good folks enter the primary and let the voters choose the best person for the job. Jim DeBlasio | Nov 15, 2009 10:37 pm | 2 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Turn the focus back to Hobbs and his poor job As a person who met Hobbs in person this spring, I am only too happy to see most anyone challenge him. Hobbs seemed very annoyed by people coming to talk with him about issues (even though we had made an appointment). He blatantly told us he had no regard for our state's constitution; he said he did not care that it said it was WA state's paramount duty fund education. And he was rude. He practically called me a baby killer when I told him that universal health care (the only thing he seems to care about) was honorable, but not mentioned in our constitution. We left his office feeling belittled, frustrated, and very sad that a representative could seem so unkind and uncaring. I have heard similar stories to mine from people who try and call, email, and visit in person. He needs to represent the people and if he is unwilling to listen to people (especially who make the long trip to Olympia), then he needs to be replaced. Melissa Metzger | Nov 15, 2009 1:42 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) Union leadership will support the "working class" as long as it increases their political influence. One word... IAM. They sold off aerospace jobs in the state for political influence. Great for the democrats leading the state party but too bad for the machinists and for the "working class" who benefit from a strong Boeing in WA state. Steve Hobbs irritated the SEIU and the teachers unions? Where do I send my contribution? John Tremayne | Nov 16, 2009 5:21 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Hobbs is strong for the unions and his distict Not so fast with unions not supporting Hobbs! There are many other unions in this race other than the ones in this article. IBEW Local 191 supports Senator Hobbs in his re-election for senate. The Building Trades have different issues than other unions and Steve has been solid for the IBEW. Steve is committed to Apprenticeship and family wage jobs. Senator Hobbs also votes what is best for his district. He also works with the business community and understands the balance between labor and business so we can all work together. If the Democrats and working families of the 44th pull together there will be no problem with his re-election. Repesentative Dunshee has been supported by labor in his house seat. It would be a shame to see two great candidates run against each other. They are both good for the district and it would be terrible to see them square off. I live in the 44th and am a labor person and will support Senator Hobbs in his re-election. Travis Patterson | Nov 15, 2009 9:17 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) We are not lucky to have Cornfield...he should expose this type of conduct....he glosses over it and given that he is a democrat, not surprising. You would think a story of essentially blackmail would be worthy of a follow up. Interesting facts is not doing a good reporting job, the people deserve more. Although I am sure Cornfield won't let the facts get in the way of a good story. Jason Harvey | Nov 15, 2009 9:12 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Keep Hobbs There are more Unions than the two mentioned here that support Senator Hobbs. Steve is a labor supported. Jobs, families and Education. Lisa Brown speaks highly of Senator Hobbs. Steve had his trial by fire as a freshman. He is seasoned and has demonstrated his ability to work across party lines to get the job done. My Union backs Senator Steve Hobbs and I agree with them. Robert Blouch | Nov 15, 2009 7:50 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Keep Hobbs There are more Unions than the two mentioned here that support Senator Hobbs. Steve is a labor supported. Jobs, families and Education. Lisa Brown speaks highly of Senator Hobbs. Steve had his trial by fire as a freshman. He is seasoned and has demonstrated his ability to work across party lines to get the job done. My Union backs Senator Steve Hobbs and I agree with them. Robert Blouch | Nov 15, 2009 7:49 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Even as a friend of labor, I back Hobbs It's terribly depressing to see how people react on this site to labor unions. In general, organized labor is the working man's friend, not enemy. While I proudly stand with the unions in nearly every fight, here they've picked the wrong battle. Snohomish County is lucky to have Steve Hobbs serving them, and it's going to take a lot more than a tantrum by a couple of unions to dislodge one of our most impressive young lawmakers. This sort of nonsense will cost the Democrats a lot of seats in the midterms if it catches on too widely. I'll do what I can to push back against it. As for the comments about Jerry Cornfield's reporting-- that's nonsense too. Jerry consistently finds interesting stories in our local political scene and adroitly writes them up. We're lucky to have him too. Dylan Malone | Nov 15, 2009 5:41 pm | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Where is the reporting So this Jerry Cornfield doesn't seem to know how to do his job....as a reporter, you should follow up with the question...."Should representatives take directions from special interest or from the people?". Obviously this reporter choses not to probe deeper into this and expose the union as a corrupt, unethical and bullying organizions. Plus the Herald should find out how many other "representatives" are bowing to this corrupt union organizations. People need to vote out any political person who engages in this type of campaign. Once exposed, if the Herald or any other paper would report that, that politican needs to be gone. Jason Harvey | Nov 15, 2009 4:53 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Fire Hans Perfect. Hans represents bullying labor union lobbyists (who, as a teacher, I know are out of touch with their membership) and people who think it is a good idea to use public money during an economic crisis to support out of state artists. It's obvious that Hans has forgotten that his consituents are not far left interest groups - but, wait for it: the actualy PEOPLE of the 44th district. It is just as obivous that Hans is frusturated by his repeadeted rebukes by his colleagues in the House. He lost his bid for leadership, he lost his bid for budget chair, and now he wants to run off and try and steal someone else's job...never mind if that someone is from his OWN party. If he will sell out his own party and his consituents to get what HE wants....what else will he do? Voters would be wise to send Hans back to where he belongs: living in a van in Snohomish, pumping septic tanks, wrangling crooked land deals and cheating on his wives. Tony Starks | Nov 15, 2009 1:36 pm | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Artists for Hans And another thing: Mr Hobb's understanding of the role that public art has come to play in the culture of this country over the past 30 years is small minded. His notion that it would be good to exclude artists from outside the state from receiving Washington State commissions is an embarrassment for our State; but more important, it's a passing moment of petty politics rather than inspired leadership. This artist encourages Hans Dunshee to challenge Steve Hobbs for his Senate seat. Warner Blake | Nov 15, 2009 11:49 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal What a joke Again a Democrat not really representating his district but special interest. Hans Dunshee is a joke of politician. He won't represent people only special interest. Democratic party is a joke.....lets do what best for union leaders - line their pockets....while there is unemployment for the people. Unions are a joke...take a look at Detroit and soon Everett as the unions don't work with employers. The unfortunate part is union workers don't necessarily agree with their leadership but the leaders are still employed. Vote out democrats as this article illustrates, who side with special interests.....Dunshee should never be a politician again. Jason Harvey | Nov 15, 2009 11:21 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) The 40-hour work week, the 8-hour day, the weekend, and an end to child labor and unsafe workplaces - all brought to you by organized labor. Doug Vavrick | Nov 15, 2009 10:57 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Use your brain Hans "Dunshee, who has spoken with Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, said he thinks Hobbs has alienated enough traditional Democratic supporters to be vulnerable to a Republican challenger in 2010." Oh please. What's more likely to happen is a Republican will win your House seat if you decide to challenge Hobbs. Do you remember what happened to Liz Loomis who was appointed to take John Lovick's House seat when he became sheriff? I agree with the poster below. The SEIU is not your typical union. Still I doubt they or other Democrats would cut off their nose to spite their face by supporting a Republican Senate candidate. Mark Stocker | Nov 15, 2009 10:39 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Unions From the comments it is quite obvious that many of the readers here do not understand the importance of the labor unions. They set the standard for many of the benefits that non-union workers receive. We would all be making $5.00 and hour if it was not for the unions. This would bring the standard of living way down. Most of us would not be able to have our homes,cars, or anything else. Why do you think Boeing bought that plant down in South Carolina, it is a right to work state, and they did not want the union. So there will not be a prevailing wage down there. So most of the workers will probably start out as minimum wage. The unions have done alot for the workers of this country. We can not allow to do away with the unions. melody goad | Nov 15, 2009 10:15 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Kudos to Hobbs Way to go Hobbs! I have supported a dem in a long time but with this one I am pleasantly surprised. To the unions: the target is on YOUR BACK! The unions suck! Catherine Fisher | Nov 15, 2009 9:28 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal (No heading) The SEIU is not your typical union. They court illegals and turn a blind eye to the use of stolen and fraudulent ID so that illegals can gain a foothold in the job market. I belong to a union, but I do NOT appreciate the union speaking for me. That is what my vote is for! I do not believe they should be allowed to essentially buy influence without the members who endorse them right there to stand up. I have walked out on several union "events", when they began endorsing a certain candidate and speaking as if I agree w/ them. I believe that w/out union representation, employers would return to the exploitative ways that caused their rise in the first place; but they should simply be there to advocate on our behalfs, ensuring safety and labor laws are not violated, and advocating for stricter regulation to protect workers, not spending the bulk of their funding supporting "candidates". Support the issues because as we continue to see, the candidates don't always uphold their end of the bargain, once in office. CC At the Big B | Nov 15, 2009 8:26 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal And there you have it When a labor union endorses a candidate, I know that the reason is to help the working class. Therefore my vote will always be for that candidate. Count me in as soon as the ballots are ready- EVERY time. Joe Snow | Nov 15, 2009 5:11 am | 1 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Union Thuggery I promise, that whomever SEIU endorses, I will vote for the other candidate. hope floats | Nov 15, 2009 1:19 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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