During a recent editorial board interview with state Senate candidates for the 43rd Legislative District, Democratic incumbent Jamie Pedersen wrapped up with this: “You know me — and have known me for a while — through the various stages of my career in the Legislature.”
This is true. For many years, members of the board have known Pedersen, general counsel for McKinstry, a local construction and energy services company. He has represented Capitol Hill, downtown and Wallingford ably and honestly since he was elected to the state House in 2006.
In the past, The Times agreed with Pedersen on key issues such as marriage equality, education funding, and keeping lawmakers’ records and correspondence open and available for public scrutiny.
But then came the budget troubles of recent years, when government overspending prompted historic tax increases and the Democratic majority in Olympia seemed unwilling or unable to rein in profligate spending and financial shell games.
As the Senate Majority Leader, Pedersen must take responsibility for his share of the problem.
Nonetheless, Pedersen has earned another term.
When pressed why the new 9.9% tax on income over $1 million passed earlier this year was not accompanied by robust, broad-based tax relief, Pedersen noted that he wanted to reduce property taxes with some of the revenue, but House leadership disagreed.
When asked if the state was appropriately funding education, Pedersen said he wanted more, but others in the Legislature sought to backfill federal cuts to social services and other programs.
“My personal view, if I were just running everything, is that we would rebalance toward more investment in public schools,” he said. “But I don’t make that decision alone.”
That is the peril of a legislator. Nonetheless, having a Majority Leader from Seattle benefits the city — even if it is simply having a powerful voice at the table when decisions are made and deals are cut.
There’s no doubt Pedersen faces the toughest reelection in his political life.
Democrat Hannah Sabio-Howell, former communications director for Working Washington, an advocacy nonprofit primarily funded by the Service Employees International Union, is charismatic and pointed. She is unafraid to take on the established political order. “The crisis of affordability has reached a fever pitch, and people in this state and across this country are disappointed with Democratic leadership’s inability to address it,” she told the board.
There are downsides to her approach. Sabio-Howell’s solution to affordability is new taxes. Even when targeted at the wealthy and corporations, most people believe the burden of funding an ever-expanding government eventually falls onto the public at large.
While lamenting Pedersen’s legislative sausage-making, she doesn’t outline how she would be effective in a body that includes moderates and Republicans. And losing Seattle’s clout in Olympia is no small thing.
Scientist Heather-Marie Wilson, who is not a member of a political party, is also in the race.
Pedersen must do better in balancing the progressive demands of his district with the need for more responsible government. He is the best person to deliver on this tall order. Voters ought to reelect Pedersen for Legislative District 43 state senator.
