CAIR-Washington State

Dear Voter, as-salamu’alaikum.

When CAIR-Washington began work on our state’s first-ever Muslim Voter’s Guide, our goal was to give the community an opportunity to understand where elected officials from across the state stand on issues directly impacting our lives, families, and neighborhoods.

In order to start a successful dialogue between the candidates and the voters, CAIR-Washington solicited its members, local activists, and other community organizations for input.  We spent the month of June in open discussion with many individuals who were able to relay to us their concerns as well as those of their neighbors.  Over the subsequent weeks, they provided invaluable advice and critiqued our progress. 

In the past twelve months, the American Muslim community has been confronted with dozens of instances of anti-Muslim legislation.  Physical acts of violence have followed verbal threats in many parts of the country, and local battles to discriminate against Muslims have resulted in a national battle over the right of religious freedom.  Many of us have watched as local debates have been transformed into national spectacles.  We at CAIR-Washington have come to understand the impact of electing non-biased, respectful, and responsible representatives who are dedicated to serving all of their constituents regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.

While this year’s election cycle does not present the large, drawn-out campaigns that come along in major Presidential years (think 2008, and, soon, 2012), we believe that every candidate for office must answer to the concerns and questions from their constituents.  For many residents, local politics remains unknown territory.  Voters may be able to list off their federal Congressman and senator, though city, county, and state representatives their duties receive much less attention and may answer to a small cadre of well-informed activists and business owners.  We see this year as our opportunity to engage those candidates representing our hometowns and places of work with questions from real people with real concerns.

Over 170 city and county-level candidates from across the state received an invitation to complete our Muslim Voter’s Guide Questionnaire.  These invitations were sent out via e-mail in the second week of July.  The fourth week of July was spent following up via e-mail and phone with candidates from whom we had not received responses.  Repeated attempts at contacting candidates pushed our deadline to the first week of August.  We would like to thank those candidates who responded to our questionnaires.

CAIR-Washington’s 2011 Muslim Voter’s Guide voter guide will provide you with the responses from those candidates who took the time to consider the questions collected from both the members of the Washington State Muslim and local, social justice communities. 

Below you will have access to the responses from 36 candidates who seek offices in the great state of Washington.  We ask that you take the time to consider everything they have to say.  Those candidates who pass the August 16, 2011 primary elections will appear on the November 8, 2011 ballots and, in the coming weeks and months, will be asking for your support.  Please keep an eye out for those candidates as they make their way through your neighborhood.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Before you make your voting decision in November, we strongly encourage you to do extra research on the candidates.  The Muslim Voter’s Guide should be just one of many sources your use to come to a decision, so before you vote, please read from a variety of credible sources and follow up with the candidates whenever you have the opportunity.  Here are some ways to do so:

• Many candidates have websites with more information detailing policy proposals, ideas, and endorsements. 
• Read your particular county’s Voter’s Guide, which will include personal statements by the candidates and serve as an additional resource for making your decision. 
• If you have interest in a candidate, signup on their website for updates and information on any local appearances.
• As we get closer to November, many candidates will be hosting or appearing at community forums where you will have the opportunity to ask them questions and speak with them one-on-one.
• Primary elections took place on August 16, 2011 and results are still being counted.  Please check our website on October 1, 2011 for an update detailing which two candidates from each race make it to the General (final) Election in November, 2011.

Remember, your vote counts!

Bellingham Mayor's Race:
	Dan Pike
	Kelli Linville did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Steve Moore did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Clayton Petree did not respond to CAIR-WA's questionnaire.
Bellingham City Council Ward At Large:
	Larry Farr
	Seth Fleetwood did not respond to CAIR-WA's questionnaire.
Ferndale Mayor's Race:
	Gary Jensen
	Brent Goodrich did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Norbert Rojsza, did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Lloyd Zimmerman did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Federal Way City Council, Position 3:
	Roger Flygare
	Mark Koppang did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Susan Honda did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Scott M. Sparling did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
King County Council Position 6:
	Richard Mitchell
	Jane Hague did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Kirkland City Council, Position 4:
	Jessica Greenway
	Toby Nixon did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Kirkland City Council, Position 6:
	Dave Asher
	Martin Morgan did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Jim Hart did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Mountlake Terrace, Position 5:
	Robert Reedy
	Michelle K. Robles did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Redmond Mayor's Race:
	Hank Myers
Redmond City Council, Position 7:
	Sue Steward
	David Carson did not respond to CAIR-WA's questionnaire.
Seattle City Council, Position 1:
	Bobby Forch did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Jean Godden did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Seattle City Council, Position 3:
	Brad Meacham
	Bruce Harrell did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Seattle City Council, Position 5:
	Tom Rasmussen
	Dale Pusey
Seattle City Council, Position 7:
	Tim Burgess
	David Schraer
Seattle City Council, Position 9:
	Sally Clark
	Dian Ferguson
Snohomish County Council, District 3:
	Stephanie Wright
	Kathy Vaughn did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Spokane Mayor's Race:
	Barbara Lampert
	Michael Noder did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Robert Kroboth did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Mary Verner did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	David Condon did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Spokane Council President:
	Ben Stuckart
	Dennis Hession did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Spokane City Council District 1:
	Donna McKereghan
	Gary Pollard did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Mike Fagan did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Luke Tolley did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Chris Bowen did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	John Waite did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Spokane City Council District 3:
	Joy Jones
	Steve Salvatori did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Tacoma City Council, Position 7:
	Mike Hardy
	David Arthur Boe did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Tacoma City Council, Position 8:
	Ryan Mello
	Will Baker did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Tukwila Mayor's Race:
	Pam Linder
	Jim Haggerton
Tukwila City Council, Position 6:
	Kate Kruller
	Ruth Sanoy did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Louise H. Strander did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Whatcom County Executive:
	David Stalheim
	Tom Anderson did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Doug Ericksen did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
	Jack Louws did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Whatcom County Council, District 2:
	Christina Maginnis
	Sam Crawford did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Whatcom County Council, District 3:
	Barbara Brenne
	Alan Black did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.

Bothell City Council
            Adam Brauch did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Andy Rheaume did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Bill Evans did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Nicholas Carlson did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Tris Samberg did not respond to CAI -WA’s questionnaire.
            Mark Lamb did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Kent City Council
            Deborah Ranniger did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Bailey Stober did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Les Thomas did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Nancy Skorupa did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Jim Bennett did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Charles Lambert did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Gwen Allen did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Debbie Raplee did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Bill Boyce did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Dana Ralph did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Michael S. Sealfon did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Suzanne Smith did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Federal Way City Council
            Bob Celski did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Jack Dovey did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Dini Duclos did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Keith Tyler did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
King County Council
            Larry Gossett did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Larry Phillips did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Joe McDermott did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Goodspaceguy did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Diana Toledo did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Spokane Legislative Dist. 4 
            Mike Padden did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Jeff Baxter did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Snohomish County Executive
            Mike Hope did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Aaron Reardon did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Snohomish County Council
            Brian Sullivan did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Glen Sayes did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Jason Mills did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Tacoma City Council
            Kyle Jolibois did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Anita Latch did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Tukwila City Council
            Mackenzie Weitzeil did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Kathy Hougardy did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Abshir Mahamed did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Dennis Robertson did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Vancouver Legislative Dist. 49
            Sharon Wylie did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Craig Riley did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Vancouver City Council
            Bart Hansen did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Josephine Wentzel did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Cory Barnes did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Larry Smith did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Pat Campbell did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Bill Turlay did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Anne McEnerny-Ogle did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
Whatcom County Council
            Tony Larson did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.
            Pete Kremen did not respond to CAIR-WA’s questionnaire.