Sam Anderson, Executive Director of the Master Builders of King Snohomish Counties $700k Salary.

Sam Anderson, the Executive Director of the Master Builders of King Snohomish Counties makes over $700k per year as reported below. Now to be fair, his base salary is only $279,826 so the other part comes in bonuses, incentives, benefits, deferred and other compensation. I'm not really sure what the difference is, although it kinda makes up a pretty monstrous salary pie. I wonder what benefit the members of the MBA of King Snohomish are getting for that? I could probably hire a team of people if someone would underwrite nearly $1million a year. 

Yowza. Well, download the official Form 990.

Crazy prediction?

Once in a while, I get a feeling. Sadly, most of the time I don't write them down and end up saying, "I told you so!" Well here it it:

I predict that Gregoire gets a Federal Judgeship and leaves her post as Governor, Rossi comes back and runs (3 times a charm), and Rob McKenna takes on Murray for the US Senate.

Call me crazy ... what are your thoughts?

Health Care Debate Speech

Congressman Mike Rogers from Michigan’s 8th congressional district gives testimony against government run health care:

Bad News for Obama

Obama has enjoyed the mainstream media unabashed fawning of his popularity, until today. I clicked on a story that MSN.com had on their home page written by Howard Fineman titled “Is Obama’s Star Dimming as US Stocks Drop”. It’s the first time that I’ve seen any real criticism towards Obama. Here is an exerpt:

I’m not sure the rest of the world sees the White House as “the place to be” any more. And that will have unsettling consequences for all of us. Obama’s role as the elegant, path-breaking, intercultural celebrity is not enough to reverse a steady erosion of our global dominance — especially not if he’s seen merely as a new hood ornament on an economic clunker.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34128987/ns/politics-white_house
Howard Fineman

You can also see how far his star has falled by checking out the Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll here:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Complaint Filed against Karen Valenzuela (D)

Thurston County Republican Party

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thurston County Republican Party Chairman, Scott Roberts filed a Public Disclosure complaint against Karen Valenzuela (D) today and calls for her withdrawal from the Thurston County Commissioner’s race.

September 23, 2009, OLYMPIA, WA – Scott Roberts, Chairman of the Thurston County Republican Party filed a complaint today with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission. Roberts alleges that Karen Valenzuela (D) has falsely represented herself as the incumbent seeking re-election.

Scott Roberts said, “Karen Valenzuela (D) has falsely represented herself as an elected incumbent by advertising a fundraiser for her re-election. The announcement appeared in The Olympian this past Sunday.

“The Sunday edition of The Olympian has a mammoth circulation of 39,000. And The Olympian claims 89,000 Sunday readers. Additionally, The Olympian’s website claims 345,000 unique monthly visitors. With this huge exposure of Valenzuela’s (D) false claim, there is no way to tell how many voters now believe that Karen Valenzuela (D) was previously elected as a commissioner.

“Certain words are protected under the Washington State law and regulated by the Public Disclosure Commission. One of those words is “re-elect”. When voters believe that candidates have previously been elected to the position, it gives that candidate a distinct advantage.

“I’m calling for Karen Valenzuela’s (D) withdrawal from the election because there is no way to ensure a level playing field and a fair election. There is no way to tell how many voters have been influenced by her false claim and now believe that she was previously elected as a commissioner, and there is no reasonable way to undo the damage.

Download the PDC complaint [click here]

###

Technorati Tags: karen valenzuela,complaint,pdc,commissioner,thurston county

JT Wilcox Election Kickoff Event Exceeds Expectations

For Immediate Release

JT Wilcox Election Kickoff Event Exceeds Expectations; Attendance over 100 and contributions near $13,000.

Roy, WA, September 11, 2009: The Committee to elect JT Wilcox State Representative held its first event Wednesday evening. The event was targeted towards Thurston County voters and drew a crowd of over 100 to the Museum at historic Wilcox Farms. The campaign raised approximately $13,000 during the two week Thurston County launch period.

Well-known area businessman Larry Schorno emceed the event, highlighting Wilcox’s history of accomplishment and service including his posts as CFO of Wilcox Farms, Chairman of the $100 million Got Milk campaign, lifelong membership in the Yelm Methodist Church and volunteer fireman. Former Thurston County Sheriff, Gary Edwards also appeared in support of the candidate.

Wilcox spoke to the enthusiastic hometown crowd expressing appreciation to the other members of the community who have been examples of service and voicing alarm about the local economy and over-regulation of small business and privately owned lands. Wilcox shared his concern that these factors plus the critical traffic bottlenecks make it very difficult for the economy of the district to recover properly.
Thurston County voters make up about 20% of the second district. The Wilcox campaign has scheduled a Pierce County Kickoff event for October 3rd.

###

Technorati Tags: JT Wilcox,State Representative,2nd Legislative District,WA

Valenzuela, Beehler will face off

Published August 19, 2009

Valenzuela, Beehler will face off
JOHN DODGE; The Olympian

Democratic incumbent Karen Valenzuela and Republican challenger Patrick Beehler are headed to the November general election in the Thurston County Commissioner District No. 3 race.

Valenzuela polled 44.5 percent of the 10,219 votes counted election night, followed by Beehler at 36.5 percent

The odd man out is Dan Venable, 57, a conservative Democratic hopeful, Thurston County native and environmental contractor with no previous political experience. He polled 18.6 percent of the vote.

The top two vote-getters earn a spot on the November general election ballot for a countywide race. Tuesday’s primary votes were limited to District 3, which encompasses western Thurston County, including west Olympia, Cooper Point and Tumwater.

“I’m looking forward to the general election race,” Valenzuela, 59, said. “We’re supported by completely different interest groups.”

Valenzuela predicted her environmental and growth management priorities will play well in the countywide race.

The former Tumwater city council member was appointed to the commission post in January 2009 by Gov. Chris Gregoire, filling the unexpired term of fellow Democrat Bob Macleod, who resigned for medical reasons.

She has spent the first eight months helping manage a major county budget crisis, clashing with Sheriff Dan Kimball over the Sheriff’s Office budget, and promoting county policies to preserve prairie lands, return Capitol Lake to a Deschutes River estuary and combat climate change.

Beehler, a 40-year resident of Thurston County, is a professional surveyor with a history of civic and business-minded activities, including work as a former chairman of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and as a 10-year member of the Thurston County Historic Commission.

In his first run for political office, Beehler, 64, has strong backing from the Olympia Master Builders and has been critical of Valenzuela’s handling of the county budget and rural land preservation tactics.

“I feel real good about it,” Beehler said of his second-place finish. “I look forward to campaigning in the rest of the county.”

Venable threw his support behind Beehler, saying the Republican challenger’s political positions are closely aligned with his.

“I think Valenzuela’s dealings with the sheriff’s department are out to lunch,” Venable said.

In the weeks leading up to the Tuesday primary vote, Beehler raised $24,238 and spent $18,502, according to state Public Disclosure Commission records. Valenzuela raised $22,306 and spent $13,280 while Venable raised $5,960 and spent $5,111.

The commission seat pays $105,276 a year and will be up for election again in 2010 for a four-year term.

John Dodge: 360-754-5444

jdodge@theolympian.com

Technorati Tags: pat beehler,thurston county,commissioner