Virgin on Business: Ballot Initiative

In Blaze, the 1989 biopic of Blaze Starr, the stripper turned consort to Bayou State politician Earl Long seeks a future for the irascible and bored former governor.

So she asks two visiting reporters, Whens the next election in Louisiana?

Answers one, Well, hell, theres always an election in Louisiana.

Increasingly, it seems theres always an election in Washington state, too. No sooner had we reached the long-overdue end of the expensive and unedifying campaign season of 2012 involving the presidency, governorship, other statewide executive posts, one U.S. senator, all of the states delegation to the House of Representatives, much of the Legislature and a host of high-profile ballot measuresthan the campaign season of 2013 commenced.

That this years election season lacks the federal or statewide races of its immediate predecessor makes it no less important, intriguing (at least if youre a political-news junkie) or worrisome (if youre a taxpayer, a consumer, an employer, an employee or anyone else who will be paying for the consequences of the elections outcome). The emphasis will be on local races this time, which is where the importance factor comes in. Local officeholders often have more power to get things done at a practical level than those who hold higher positionsbut theyre also situated to do almost as much damage.

At the top of the list, at least in terms of attention, is the mayors race in the city of Seattle, in which candidates (likely including the incumbent) will attempt to out-progressive one another while not upsetting the precarious balance between various populist causes, between developers and no-growth advocates, neighborhoods and downtown, motorists and public transit supporters. City voters also get to weigh in on four of nine City Council positions.

But wait. Theres more. Three of five Port of Seattle commissioners are up for election, plus theres a vacancy created by Commissioner Gael Tarletons election to the Legislature. That will give voters another opportunity to mull over some of the recent additions to the ports portfolio of odd proposals and decisions (more interns! outside board jobs for the CEO!) as well as some long-term questions about the ports prospects and its cost.

Also up for election: three Seattle school board members, the King County executive and five County Council members as well as mayor and council jobs throughout the region. And who knows what initiatives, tax measures and levies will be on the ballot?

Business owners must be anticipating the campaign season of 2013 with emotions ranging from dread to loathing, unless, of course, they happen to produce or run political advertising.

Its not just the contentiousness of the campaigns. Its not just being repeatedly hit up and shaken down for contributions to candidates and causes. Its not just the time and effort drained away from actually running a business. As significant for many is the sense of futility and wastefulness.

This is particularly true in Washingtons political monoculture (at least in the regions where all the votes are). Business leaders are told of the importance of staying involved, of getting their voices heard. But when they see the results, when they measure the rhetoric of job creation and economic growth during the campaign versus the reality of taxation and regulation once candidates are in office, the natural reaction is, Whats the point?

Problem is, telling government to go away and stop being a bother is not a realistic option, especially when local governments are as hungry as their state and federal counterparts for money theyve already spent.

So steel yourselves. In Campaign 2013, the offices and candidates may not be as well known, but the stakes are high and the potential outcomes unlikely to be in your favor. And just to brighten your already cheery mood even further: When you get a moment, we need to start hashing out prospects for the campaign seasons of 2014 and 2015 and 2016 ….

Columnist BILL VIRGIN is founder and owner of Northwest Newsletter Group, publisher of Washington Manufacturing Alert and Pacific Northwest Rail News.