Following the money creates informed voters | Guest Column

According to the Pew Research Center, voters are more polarized along partisan lines than they have been at any point in the past 25 years. The deciding factor in this year’s election will be if independent voters are adequately informed about the policies and backgrounds of candidates they’re asked to vote for.

By Erin McCallum • August 3, 2012 3:09 pm

According to the Pew Research Center, voters are more polarized along partisan lines than they have been at any point in the past 25 years. The deciding factor in this year’s election will be if independent voters are adequately informed about the policies and backgrounds of candidates they’re asked to vote for.

Possibly the most effective way to understand who exactly these candidates are and what they stand for is to determine who is supporting them financially. So, while all eyes are on the race for governor between Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee, the Business Institute of Washington pays close attention to the dollars going into the races for state Legislature.

The Business Institute of Washington is a trusted educational resource dedicated to providing political data and connecting the dots concerning public policy in Washington state. Campaign fund-raising analysis is conducted year-round to track political dollars donated to candidates. This information sheds light on the individuals and interest groups that are major players behind each candidate’s campaign in Washington’s political landscape. The nature of the donors contributing to each candidate speaks loudly to their political priorities and focus if elected.

The most competitive race for the state Senate this year is in our district. Incumbent Democrat Rosemary McAuliffe has raised $60,000, with most of her donations coming from special interest groups, primarily organized labor. McAuliffe is also the largest recipient of an independent expenditure campaign from the Washington Education Association (WEA) and organized labor, currently exceeding $71,575. Political newcomer and business owner Guy Palumbo, who is also running as a Democrat, has raised $71,000, nearly all of which has come from individuals and small businesses. Northshore School District board member and Republican Dawn McCravey has raised $62,000, half of which has come from the Republican party.

In the race for House Seat 1, incumbent Democrat Derek Stanford is also the recipient of a $22,000 independent expenditure by the WEA and organized labor. Stanford himself has raised just over $69,000, and his support has been diverse. Republican challenger Brian Travis has raised no money, while another Republican challenger, Sandra Guinn, has raised $11,000.

For House Seat 2, Democrat Luis Moscoso has raised over $50,000, and is running unopposed.

Information such as this can be found on the Business Institute Web site (www.businessinstitutewa.org). As you evaluate candidates, research who is contributing and determine if those donors’ values align with your own. It is important to become as informed as possible before electing these men and women who will have a great deal of influence on our daily lives.

Erin McCallum is president of the nonprofit Business Institute of Washington, which works year-round to bring transparency to public policy and politics in Washington state through nonpartisan research and analysis.