Dick Kelley for State House, District 43, Position #1

Background:

A leader in progressive Democratic politics in Washington for years. BA Harvard, MPA (transportation planning) University of Washington, Ph.D. (Government) UW. Formerly Deputy Mayor in Seattle, Regional Director U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services for Clinton Admin, Chair of State Shorelines Hearings Board, Chair of State Pollution Control Hearings Board, president of a low-income housing organization in Seattle, Senior Policy Analyst State House Democratic Caucus (advising on housing and consumer issues), four years Chair of 43rd District Democrats, led district to produce a 53,000 vote plurality for Kerry, far more than any district in the state has ever produced. Personal: 48 years in neighborhood, married with two sons.

Goals:

I want to reduce the power that big contributors and special interests have in our elections. The pattern in Washington is for special interests to persuade the Legislature to grant them exemptions from State taxes, far beyond any justification. This year, the Legislature approved a multi-million dollar exemption on the syrup that McDonalds and other fast-food restaurants use to make soda pop. I want to move the State away from these questionable tax exemptions so that we will have the funds to solve real problems for real people.

Issues:

1. Campaign finance reform: I have limited my contributions to $100 per person per election (State law would allow $700 per person per election). Once elected, I intend to introduce an Arizona -style campaign finance reform bill.
2. I want the State to get serious about cleaning up our coastal waters, particularly Puget Sound. As Chair of the Shorelines Hearings Board I was able to block several environmentally damaging proposals, but the greatest threats to the Sound now come from non-point source contamination: oil products runoff, prescription drug residues, heavy metal leaching, etc.
3. I want to continue my work in housing the most vulnerable people among us, and improve the safety net which has been deteriorating for many years in Washington.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots organizing is the essence of our campaign. In this small district, where 6,000 votes may win the primary, we already have over 400 volunteers and contributors. Because I have limited the size of contributions I will accept, we are using door-to-door canvassing, by me and others, to find more supporters and get them involved. Betty Means, my campaign manager, managed the Howard Dean campaign in Washington, and many strong Dean and Kucinich supporters are working with us.

DFA Values:

I have advocated for and effectively worked for equal rights, including marriage rights, for sexual minorities.
I aggressively led the Seattle Affirmative Action Task Force in hiring, training and promoting qualified women and minorities.
I was the principal author of the 2005 Homeless Housing and Assistance Act, which created a $20 Million per year permanent stream of funds for local homeless programs in every county. Here is what the prime sponsor said about my work: "Without Dick Kelley, we never would have gotten the homeless housing bill through. Period. Dick is seasoned, savvy and sensible. Dick will make a great legislator." (Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-3rd).
I led the 43rd District Democrats to be a leading force against the Iraq war and assaults on our civil liberties and privacy.
I believe my proposals are fiscally responsible because tax reform is the revenue driver for new spending. According to the State Dept. of Revenue, current tax exemptions cost the State Treasury billions of dollars per year. Yet Washington can't find the money to fund our schools (we are 42nd in the country in public school funding), insure our children's health, or clean up the Sound. Recapturing the tax revenues from all but the most important exemptions would provide substantial new revenue without a general tax increase.