The incredibly diverse and populated Capitol Hill has a lot of say on who gets into office this coming election. CHS decided to talk to upcoming candidates and see if they agree with this and if they will be swinging for the Capitol Hill vote.
Speaking with Jay Inslee’s Press Secretary, Jaime Smith, she says that Capitol Hill voters are “absolutely” important to an election win, and tells CHS, “We know voters in the Capitol Hill neighborhood support Jay’s forward-looking vision for Washington on issues like marriage equality, choice and creating jobs in innovative new industries such as clean tech and life sciences. Every single vote will count in this election and we encourage everyone to be sure to vote – both in the primary and in November.” Inslee has been seen most recently on the Hill at a Street Party attended by Stranger savant Dan Savage.
Tom Barr, of Rob McKenna’s Digital Communications Team, tells CHS that McKenna has attended the “AIDS Walk for the last 15 years,” and that he recently attended, “A Child Haven event on July 20th.” When asked if he thinks the Capitol Hill vote is important to an electoral win, he replied, “Definitely” saying that McKenna’s stances on education positively affect everyone in Washington “including Capitol Hill.” Barr also posits that most Republicans dare not tread on the Hill.
One candidate however sees Capitol Hill as a lost battleground. Jami Herring, communications director for Michael Baumgartner (R) (running against Maria Cantwell (D)), says, “We don’t see ourselves doing particularly well there.” Noting the liberal background of the area and has not held any events on Capitol Hill recently but a “while back” had supporters handing out anti-war fliers in the area. When asked if the Hill would be integral to a win, she replied, “We wouldn’t say it’s the most integral part.”
Campaign Manager for the Maria Cantwell (D) campaign, Robin Brand says Capitol Hill is going to be “very important” towards an electoral win. She tells CHS that the Capitol Hill voters will be key in passing Referendum 74 legalizing same-sex marriage, an issue which Cantwell is a supporter of. As noted in my previous article she held an event on Capitol Hill at Taylors Shellfish Farm to promote shellfish conservation picking up some environmental kudos. Cantwell most recently attended an event in support of Peter Goldmark who is running to keep the seat as Commissioner of Public Lands on July 15th on Capitol Hill. Brand says the campaign is now focusing on, “encouraging Democrats who don’t normally vote to do so.”
Up and coming candidate, Andrew Hughes (D) who is running a hard race against the popular Jim McDermott (D) sees Capitol Hill as the center of his campaign. Hughes Campaign Manager, Jeff Upthegrove, says, “He is finding his cores of support are his younger progressive voters,” which he says is “very concentrated on Capitol Hill.” He recently appeared at Capitol Hill Block Party and held a kick off campaign in the area. They are currently not focusing on Capitol Hill, Upthegrove saying, “We’re appealing to other demographics,” and are currently “field operation oriented” as opposed to holding events.
Jim McDermott’s presence on the Hill can be traced back to when he won the 43rd Legislative District race in 1972, says Political Director, Dayna Lurie. “He hosted a Coffee with your Congressman where he listened to the concerns of and answered questions from Capitol Hill residents at Caffé Vita,” last year. McDermott also appeared at the 2011 Pride Festival where, “he emceed and awarded prizes during the Doggie Drag Costume Contest.” Lurie says, “The Capitol Hill vote is absolutely integral to the Congressman’s campaign strategy and that is why he has spent so much time in the neighborhood, listening to the concerns of the residents.” His most recent event on Capitol Hill was a fundraiser at the La Spiga restaurant on July 16th with special guest, actor Tom Skerritt.
Democrat Frank Chopp, now running unopposed took a moment to personally speak with CHS about his campaigning on Capitol Hill. He tells CHS he recently, “sponsored an event this past Sunday on Capitol Hill at the Cal Anderson Park…The Sunday event was a BBQ for the 43rd District Democrats.” He goes onto say, “(I) have numerous meetings in the area,” and “last week I toured the Bailey-Boushay House and talked with the staff and clients that day about health care reform.”
Seattle Central instructor Kshama Sawant (SA) has had arguably the biggest noticeable presence in the area holding many events and raising awareness at the Sunday Farmers Market. Sawant an outspoken Socialist has recently been utilizing CHS as an awareness tool posting ads for events such as this. A recent ad states she will be holding a dance party on the 25th of August at Radar Hair. Inquiries to the Sawant campaign have not been returned.
Sawant opponent Jamie Pedersen (D) was most recently seen at the Capitol Hill Pride Festival but has not done much campaigning in the area outside of this. The openly-gay candidate likely sees the Hill as a sure shot win so may be appealing to other constituencies as the Hughes campaign is doing. Pedersen has not returned calls for inquiry.
Good article. Only one problem though…Capitol Hill is not really diverse….you better fall in with the party line on the hill or else.
However, there are a few libertarian conservatives here.
“Or else” the person overhearing your conversation will whip out his iPhone and whine about you on Twitter. The Hill has plenty of residents who don’t care what others think of their beliefs; that’s just one more reason why I love the neighborhood.
I am inclined to vote against the incumbent in pretty much every race, especially long serving politicians, as I did this time. Political office should not be a lifetime career, at least not in the same office. Nothing will change in the city, county, state, or country as long as the same people are elected over and over and over and over…
Not only do I tread but I live on the hill. One of those Republicans (born and raised in Seattle) that owns a home on Capitol Hill and is gentrifying the neighborhood.
However, I don’t need to run around without showering and crying I need more vegan options.
Hear, Hear!
A candidate for office solicit votes by tacking up flyers on telephone poles? First, that’s illegal, second these flyers never get taken down which is unsightly and irks the crap out of me, and lastly, the message would get lost amongst the nightlife competition.
Clearly who ever this is isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed and deserves to be hung from this very pole. Posting flyers is akin to graffiti and seems to last just as long.
Campaigning via posters seems totally appropriate for a grassroots candidate. Politicians who are not bought out by corporate money probably have a bit less to spend on materials.
As for being “illegal”, that’s ridiculous.
As for “deserves to be hung from this very pole”, WTF?
move to a gated community if you are enraged by telephone poles covered in posters
While it isn’t illegal it is still regulated – just like in the gated communities your little mind fears so much. Seattle (including Capitol Hill) isn’t much different than the suburbs.
Perhaps there is a better place for you to move. Thank about it.
Okay, so from the replies my earlier post generated, I’ve learned that utility pole posters are legally permitted in Seattle: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/posteringrules.htm
And yes, my comment about poster retribution was over the top; my apologies.
However, Sawant’s flyers were on trees not just utility poles, they covered up others’ posters, and the layer of un-removed posters is over an inch thick in some places. These are violations of the the statue and lead to the “broken window” theory of how things get quickly out of hand.
Bottom line: Seattle could simultaneously reduce eye-sore pollution and its budget deficit if it fined posters who fail to follow the 30-day, 10-day grace period rules. Just saying.
Yes, of course postering is not illegal, but you are still missing the point. There are layers of posters all over the city, have been for decades, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. Posters get used by those who can’t afford billboards or TV commercials or in this case, yard signs. Whether it’s a local band or a grassroots candidate, that’s why. It’s not because they hate telephone poles or love clutter. Do you know how much money it takes to run a campaign? I’m guessing corporations are not lining up to give money to a real candidate like Sawant.
Also, do you think there might be more serious issues to concern yourself with? Lack of funding for public schools, homelessness, unemployment, budget cuts, poverty? You know, issues that the Sawant campaign is fighting against while you’re agonizing about their posters.
Gosh where to begin?
“…there’s nothing wrong with layers of posters that have been around for years?…” How about being in violation of the poster ordinance I linked to?
The purpose of a poster is irrelevant, whether it be a grass roots campaign ad or a lost dog, there are rules governing posters, including a past due date by which they are required to be taken down. By your own statement you acknowledge that this use of free speech is going only one way, in favor of the poster’s sponsor, the printer, and the installer who staples these promotions up, but never returns to remove them.
As to your assertion there are better things to worry about, how about property values being impacted by regulation scofflaws who place their interests over everyone else’s? I own property on Capitol Hill and can document that the desirability of living on my block has been negatively impacted by graffiti, litter, and vandalism. Homeownership is one of the major means I and my neighbors acquire wealth and support our families and we maintain our property within the confines of the law. Are you saying that those bands, nightclubs, and promoters who flaunt the poster law have a superior right to free speech because they’re financially disadvantaged? We have laws so there’s one set of rules for everyone and a judicial system to settle conflicts that arise therein.
Your entitled to your opinion that layers upon layers of poster covered utility poles are a thing of democratic beauty, but the law and the community as a whole disagrees as stipulated in the governing ordinance. After a reasonable period of time, these posters are supposed to come down. What excuse do you give the promoters for not removing their fliers? That their disadvantaged and can’t comply? Cry me a river, they’re just lazy.
And yes, I do question the suitability of a candidate for public office whose campaign displays contempt for the governance of the very office she seeks. What’s the point of being a lawmaker if you can’t be bothered to comply with existing laws in the first place? How does that contempt inspire others to obey the legislation she seeks to implement? Freedom to do whatever you want leads to anarchy. You don’t seem to understand that the very logic you use to support local bands hurts them in the long run when the next generation of disadvantaged would be entitled to the same license to lie, cheat, and steal from these very same businesses now that they’ve become successful.