Published: Thursday, August 5, 2010
Unions spend to oust Berkey
They've poured $180,000 into their efforts against the incumbent state senator, far more than her opponents.
OLYMPIA -- The state's largest labor unions are pouring tens of thousands of dollars into unseating Democratic state Sen. Jean Berkey of Everett, making her the most targeted incumbent lawmaker in this year's primary.
As of Wednesday, they had funneled $180,000 into opposing Berkey, whom they view as too conservative for the 38th Legislative District, and into boosting the first-time candidacy of the more liberal Democrat challenger Nick Harper.
Through a newly formed political committee, Stand Up For Citizens, they're running television ads, sending mailers and hiring people to talk with voters at their front door and on the phone.
"We want to replace her with someone who will be better, and we have to make sure he makes it out of the primary," explained Aaron Ostrom, executive director of Fuse, a statewide network of progressives also involved in the effort.
No other incumbent in Washington is facing opposition of this magnitude from an outside group.
State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, is the closest; nearly $43,000 has been spent against him by a slightly differently named political action committee called Stand For Citizens.
Its money comes from the same unions fighting Berkey -- the Washington State Labor Council, Washington Federation of State Employees, the Washington Education Association and the Service Employees International Union -- but without cash from Fuse.
"The groups in these coalitions represent thousands of constituents of these state senators who feel these elected leaders have turned their backs on their needs and values," said Lisa MacLean who works for Moxie Media, a political consulting firm in Seattle, and serves as director of the two committees.
"The goal is to simply replace them with public servants who are more responsive to their constituent needs," she said.
The two senators aren't surprised they're in the crosshairs of Big Labor.
Hobbs helped unite moderate Democrats into the Roadkill Caucus, which union leaders blamed for hobbling their legislative priorities while protecting those of corporate interests. Berkey, a caucus member, drew separate fire for helping to preserve a tax break for large banks that labor leaders wanted wiped out.
She's now attacked as a protector of banks and corporations, which irks her because she's a former union steward who has voted labor's way 87 percent of the time since entering the Legislature in 2001.
"They want 100 percent and they are going to try to get this from this young progressive they are championing," Berkey said.
"I think the voter will sort it out," she said of the opposition campaign. "I have to hope that people recognize that all of the information they're receiving is misleading, distorted and untrue."
For Hobbs, not only are organizations on his political left hitting him, but so is the Senate Republican Caucus, which has sent out two mailers against him so far.
"In my race, we're giving people on the left and the right a choice of how to hate me," he said.
To defend themselves from now to November, Berkey and Hobbs are amassing large pots of campaign funds.
She's raised nearly $89,000 while spending just over $19,000, according to reports posted online Wednesday. Hobbs had taken in $193,500 and spent $55,000, reports show.
The political committees are shelling out far more money than any of the challengers to Berkey and Hobbs.
Stand Up For Citizens has spent $121,904 opposing Berkey and $60,986 supporting Harper, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Harper, meanwhile, had spent just $26,123 on his own campaign as of Wednesday, records show. A third candidate, Rod Reiger, who lists his affiliation with the Conservative Party, has raised no money.
In the 44th District, none of Hobbs' three foes have spent anywhere near the $42,437 put out thus far by Stand For Citizens.
Democrat Lillian Kaufer, the choice of labor groups, has raised $17,139 and already spent $13,500 of it. Republican Dave Schmidt, the former state senator, has gone through $14,873, while Republican Ryan Ferrie has raised and spent less than $10,000.
And Hobbs, unlike Berkey, has gotten support from outside groups with the statewide real estate association and an advocacy group for children sending separate mailers to voters on his behalf.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
As of Wednesday, they had funneled $180,000 into opposing Berkey, whom they view as too conservative for the 38th Legislative District, and into boosting the first-time candidacy of the more liberal Democrat challenger Nick Harper.
Through a newly formed political committee, Stand Up For Citizens, they're running television ads, sending mailers and hiring people to talk with voters at their front door and on the phone.
"We want to replace her with someone who will be better, and we have to make sure he makes it out of the primary," explained Aaron Ostrom, executive director of Fuse, a statewide network of progressives also involved in the effort.
No other incumbent in Washington is facing opposition of this magnitude from an outside group.
State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, is the closest; nearly $43,000 has been spent against him by a slightly differently named political action committee called Stand For Citizens.
Its money comes from the same unions fighting Berkey -- the Washington State Labor Council, Washington Federation of State Employees, the Washington Education Association and the Service Employees International Union -- but without cash from Fuse.
"The groups in these coalitions represent thousands of constituents of these state senators who feel these elected leaders have turned their backs on their needs and values," said Lisa MacLean who works for Moxie Media, a political consulting firm in Seattle, and serves as director of the two committees.
"The goal is to simply replace them with public servants who are more responsive to their constituent needs," she said.
The two senators aren't surprised they're in the crosshairs of Big Labor.
Hobbs helped unite moderate Democrats into the Roadkill Caucus, which union leaders blamed for hobbling their legislative priorities while protecting those of corporate interests. Berkey, a caucus member, drew separate fire for helping to preserve a tax break for large banks that labor leaders wanted wiped out.
She's now attacked as a protector of banks and corporations, which irks her because she's a former union steward who has voted labor's way 87 percent of the time since entering the Legislature in 2001.
"They want 100 percent and they are going to try to get this from this young progressive they are championing," Berkey said.
"I think the voter will sort it out," she said of the opposition campaign. "I have to hope that people recognize that all of the information they're receiving is misleading, distorted and untrue."
For Hobbs, not only are organizations on his political left hitting him, but so is the Senate Republican Caucus, which has sent out two mailers against him so far.
"In my race, we're giving people on the left and the right a choice of how to hate me," he said.
To defend themselves from now to November, Berkey and Hobbs are amassing large pots of campaign funds.
She's raised nearly $89,000 while spending just over $19,000, according to reports posted online Wednesday. Hobbs had taken in $193,500 and spent $55,000, reports show.
The political committees are shelling out far more money than any of the challengers to Berkey and Hobbs.
Stand Up For Citizens has spent $121,904 opposing Berkey and $60,986 supporting Harper, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Harper, meanwhile, had spent just $26,123 on his own campaign as of Wednesday, records show. A third candidate, Rod Reiger, who lists his affiliation with the Conservative Party, has raised no money.
In the 44th District, none of Hobbs' three foes have spent anywhere near the $42,437 put out thus far by Stand For Citizens.
Democrat Lillian Kaufer, the choice of labor groups, has raised $17,139 and already spent $13,500 of it. Republican Dave Schmidt, the former state senator, has gone through $14,873, while Republican Ryan Ferrie has raised and spent less than $10,000.
And Hobbs, unlike Berkey, has gotten support from outside groups with the statewide real estate association and an advocacy group for children sending separate mailers to voters on his behalf.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
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