Safeco CEO Mike McGavick, who announced yesterday that he'll stay on as CEO longer than expected, has explained (through a spokesman) that this decision is solely to help ensure a smooth transition for his successor at Safeco. McGavick is moving ahead building a team for his potential Senate race -- Afton Swift, who managed Dino Rossi's successful1 campaign, has signed on as McGavick's interim campaign manager. McGavick is making the rounds, introducing himself to prospective supporters for the nomination. He's also, I infer, keen to earn the support of Sound Politics readers. He sent me this note to clarify his position on ballot initiatives, which has generated some discussion here. McGavick in his own words:
I absolutely support the right of the people in Washington state to bring reform to the state in the form of Initiatives. These measures are a necessary tool when elected leaders have failed to listen or failed to act.Works for me.The plain truth is that too often the elected leadership of this state has been so weak that ballot measures have been needed to bring reform. I wish that this was not the case because I believe that the better way to make law is for elected officials to do their job of listening and responding to the public.
In last year's campaign Dino Rossi said that he was voting no on all initiatives because it is better to have elected officials who will get the job done through leadership rather than through ballot measure - and that is exactly how I feel as well.
UPDATE: I'll add my two cents to the healthy debate that's raging in the comments. I'm a bigger fan of initiatives than McGavick apparently is, but his position is reasonable enough. But more to the point, he's running for the U.S. Senate and state initiatives are somewhat outside the scope of what he would be grappling with as a U.S. Senator. I'll be more interested in his positions on federal issues than on state ballot measures.
This bizarre idea that by failing every initiative or referendum to come down the pike there'll be any effect on the Legislature because these two somehow believe "it is better to have elected officials who will get the job done through leadership rather than through ballot measure," is just that: bizarre.
Of COURSE it is "better." But our Legislature has proven itself nonresponsive to the people of this state. And when people with this pie-in-the-sky attitude always vote "no," what kind of message does THAT send to our nonresponsive Legislature?
What they seem to be saying is: "Legislature, if you don't do your job, why, I'm going to vote "no" when the people take matters into their own hands by initiative or referendum."
That'll teach 'em.
But for these two to somehow seem incapable of viewing an initiative or referendum effort on it's MERITS... to oppose it REGARDLESS of whether or not it's the right thing to do because these two share an absurd philosophy is just that.
Absurd.
And NO leader of this state... NO legislator or senator should be possessed of the idea that their perspective is superior to that of those they would govern.
Issue MUST be viewed on their merits. A good idea is a good idea no matter WHERE it comes from. And to reject it out of hand because of the method used for the idea to be considered is absolutely unacceptable.
Posted by: Who.... me? on September 1, 2005 06:26 PM
When Dino says he was going to vote no on every initiative, he was speaking as a man who wanted to be Governor. He would be in a position to make sure government was listening.
McGavin would be in the other Washington. There is a difference.
Posted by: South County on September 1, 2005 06:29 PM I can tell you where mcgavick stands on
taxation.Some of you may have heard of
Grover Norvquist president of the Americans
for tax reform. Grover has been making the rounds
trying to get the 3 candidates for Us senate
to sign the taxpayer protection pledge.It
simply states you pledge not to vote to
raise taxes.
Well only one of three actually signed and
wasn't Mcgavick.That's right he refused
so that should tell you all you need to know
where Mcgavick stands on taxes.I will leave it to
the rest of you to figure out who did sign it.
To those of you who think afton swift is the man.
Remember one thing this is the guy that gave Norm
dicks 1,000 dollars for his last reelection bid.
So I just have to wonder where his loyalties
really are.
I must make a correction here Afton swift
did not contribute to norm dicks campaign.
My apologies to him and everyone else.
I confused him with J Vander Stoep who is
Mcgavick chief of staff.Again my apologies
to all.
At no point did he tell me that I should not vote for an initiative. All he stated is how he, as an individual is voting.
Last time I check, this is still America and people are still allowed to have a difference of opinion. Also, contrary to what Judge Bridges may think, we still vote by secret ballot. So we will never know how Mike McGavick votes anyway. I appreciate his honest and not pandering to what the base wants to hear.
The problem for candidates is that the initiative groups want a candidate to lend their name to an initiative (i.e. Dino likes this, I like Dino, therefore it must vote for this). An initiative should stand on its own merits, not on the name of those who support it. Do we really want to get into this game of passing initiatives based on which candidates/elected officials endorse them.
As for Mike McGavick, the last thing he needs to do is spend his campaign time and money talking about the gas tax. He is not a state legislator, nor is he is not running for state legislature. I am sending him money because I want him as my U.S. Senator. I sent I-912 some money (and time) because I want to overturn the gas tax. The state is best served by hearing the differences between him and Cantwell (i.e. defence & terrorism, trade, globalization, social security reform,...). Things a U.S. Senator should be taking a lead on.
If you want I-912 to pass, then get out your check book and send them a money. Don't ask Mike McGavick to spend his time and kitty, blessing the cause.
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 08:09 PMNo one can or should disagree with this, but how does voting "no" on all initiatives insure the election of people who will get the job done?
The evidence is in! Whether you want to blame the system, the parties, or the ignorant electorate, we are not electing people who get the job done. At least not the job of representing the true best interests of the public. Yes, they get the job done if you're talking about giving the special interests what they want, and that is exactly why common sense initiatives have been necessary and approved by the people.
I don't care who has said it, but anyone who would argue that voting "no" on all initiatives is a path to correcting things, is arguing a strategy that will have a result that is counter to the premise that they want "elected officials who will get the job done".
The initiative process 'is' counter to representative government. It is an act of desperation that is necessary when representative government no longer represents the people.
The initiative process brings great risks if it is manipulated by well funded special interests to pursue selfish interests, and that is why its use should be tolerated only in cases of desperation.
I'm a conservative and I believe a case of desperation now exists. Our democratic system in Washington is being dismantled by the current administrations in Washington and King County. The courts have become defenders of government abuses, and the Legislature is owned by more special interests that actual voters. The Referendum is dead now in Washington and the only tool left is the initiative.
Government used to claim to be "of, by and for the people," but it's now the initiative that if "of, by and for the people." If the initiative process dies, so may democracy in Washington.
Laugh now, but be warned.
Posted by: Mike on September 1, 2005 08:21 PMYou have made, yet another mistake, McGavick does not currently have a Chief or Staff. J. Vander Stoep was Dino's transition COS.
As for the no-new-tax pledge, riddle me this!!! So you're a U.S. Senator in 2007, Iran comes out with nuclear weapons. N. Korea comes out with nukes. OPEC shuts down our oil supply. China pulls out of WTO and sides with N. Korea, Japan and S. Korea are now checkmated and forced to follow suit. NATO collapes as the Western European counties find it obsolete and incompatible with the EU, and just for fun through a natural disaster in the mix. All this happens in a 18 month span. (FYI: this is not a completely unlikely senario)
What is your solution???
Aren't you now sad you signed a pledge that eliminates a tool to bring revenue for to the Feds in a hurry.
Unless you can see the future, the idea of taking any tool off the table is foolish. Especially as the global paradigm is shifting and we don't know what the next 20 years has instore (or 2 years for that matter).
I am as big a fan of fiscal responsiblity and leaving money in folks pockets, not the general fund. But taxes have a time and a place. Being anti-tax for the sake of being anti-tax may be great for the coffee shop, but it is irresponsible for a public official. Especially, if it is just to garner a vote or two.
And by the way, when I was volunteering at the Rossi office during the campaign and challenge, I saw J. at that office at midnight more than once. I didn't see you there. Do you really feel like questioning his loyalty?
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 08:24 PMIf they don't measure up to what they promised, we fire them. That is, provided our votes are counted.
I still view all candidates with a jaundiced eye. None of them have so far won my confidence.
Posted by: ERNurse on September 1, 2005 08:59 PMI’m glad to see you’ve posted a correction, maybe next time you could do a bit of fact checking prior to posting something so utterly baseless. I wouldn’t have bothered to post anything if this wasn’t the first, no it looks like the second time you made something up, but unfortunately it is not.
On another post from August 12 about Mike you struck again with your comment that McGavick is being “shoved down everyones throat by pal chris vance.”
When asked what Vance did to demonstrate this by another reader you said:
“I really don't know what else to say.
but its obvious you really don't know
what kind of power chris vance has.
I have no written proof that he wants
mcgavick.But I know he does.”
This comment led the same reader to point out that you must believe that “Chris vance has super powers.”
I have no idea how you expect people to take you seriously after making things up or not checking your facts prior to posting or making baseless accusations about people with superpowers.
And to TJ:
Phil did not only not volunteer for Rossi but according to the PDC it looks like he never even bothered to donate to any republican candidate in the state. It seems that all he does is whine and complain.
First of all I have 2 highly reputible
sources they say J Vander Stoep is indeed Mcgavicks chief of staff
I stand by my sources.As for
the tax pledge You obiviously no nothing
about supply side economics.I am not going
to take the time to explain it here.Other
than to say if done right you should never
need to raise a tax.
Its amazing the lengths you people will
go to ,to defend Mcgavick yet when it comes
his opponents There summarily trashed over
one issue.
Don't you dare attack my loyalty to rossi
I wanted him to win as much everyone else
did.Since you don't know who I am you have
know idea where I was election night.
Mcgavick will not win this race.The Gop
in this state is to divided by his candidacy
for that to happen.It will be impossible for
mcgavick to unite the party and you can thank
Chris Vance for that.
Yeah. A supersonic whine.
Posted by: ERNurse on September 1, 2005 09:25 PM Its unfortunate it has come this.Apparently
I am getting under some mcgavick's
supporters skin.For the record I made nothing
up.Yeah I made mistake I confused swift with
vander stoep but since you have apparently
never made any mistakes yourself thats
makes it ok for you to judge me.
As for Chris Vance he and his cronies wanted
mcgavick from the beginning.I know for a fact
that vance has been trying to get mcgavick's
opponents to drop out before the primary.Vance
has made multipile attempts to get them to no
avail.Which in unenviable position.Because
he promised mcgavick and If I am believe
what vance says the white house an opponent
free primary.
As for the pdc I was at the time not in good
financial shape.So I was unable to contribute
money.But I did contribute my time and you
have know idea who I helped.
Jo,
How come an immediate correction and apology by Phil isn't enough for you? I mean, really...
Mike Mcgavick is pro choice he has publicly
said so.Infact there is only candidate in the
primary who is pro life.Again I will leave that
to everyone else to figure out who it is.
Exactly when and what were the circumstances of this statement during the Rossi campaign? And if it is true....why would McGavik use the statement verbatum? Does he not have an original opinion on the subject of initiatives?
And - if it cannot be found - where Dino Rossi made that statement - why would McGavik pull Rossi into his mess?
Dino wanted to roll up his sleeves and get to work. I took his position to mean that we shouldn't have to govern by initiative, because that means that government isn't doing its job.
Since campaign's do not have CoS, that would be incorrect, now wouldn't it. I guarentee a few things.
1) your source is not named Mike McGavick or J. Vander Stoep.
2)McGavick is way to smart to start naming high level positions 14 months out, thus telling everyother possible candidate that nothing is in this campaign for them.
3)If you don't like having your loyalty questioned then don't question that of someone like J. who lived and bled that campaign.
4)It is a fact that Afton Swift is a either a genius or a really damn close to it.
To note: 12 months out from election day 2004, Dino Rossi trailed Christine Gregoire by 36 points. McGavick trails Cantwell by 10 or 12 depending on what you read. Never say never.
For the record, I am saddened that you won't explain supply-side economics to me. Some might say it is because you don't know anything beyond the talking points. Feel free to prove me wrong. I hope you do, seriously, it could be a good lession for all of us.
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 10:05 PMI am asking you to hold make and let the EXPLORITORY COMMITTEE turn into an actual campaign Just hear the guy out. Then make up your minds.
I'm just asking you to listen to him, not sleep with him. All he said is "He is not voting yes on any initiative this year". He didn't say the voters are stupid. He didn't say he doesn't believe in direct democracy (in fact he said the exact opposite).
Let the guy find a replacement for a his job, let him drive around the state, let him raise a little money, let him buy a couple a new suits, let him start a website, let him eat a few Lincoln Day dinners, geez people.
WE ARE STILL 14 MONTHS FROM ELECTION DAY!!!
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 10:17 PM I do not now nor have I ever used talking points.Look as to vander stoep I'm not going
to go back over old ground.We will just agree
to disagree and leave it at that.
There are big differences between Dino Rossi
and Mike Mcgavick.Dino rallied the party around him
because he appealed to a lot of people.I'm
sorry but even though his numbers appear to
be closer that isn't going to happen here.
Besides that Dino almost right away ruled
out raising taxes.Mcgavick won't do that
Dino is pro life,mcgavick is pro choice.
As for everything else we don't yet because
mcgavick hasn't said.
I never said swift was a bad campaign manager.
Thanks for listening.
The other problem which hasn't been addressed is HOW it has come to pass that McGavick was chosen. If I recall at some level the PCO's are actually supposed to have a say in all of this... PCO is pretty much the worker bee of the party and in many places we can't fill these positions- they do a ton of legwork for fundraising locally not to mention doorbelling for the campaigns. I can't say recruiting work to get PCO positions filled is going to be easier if it's something you guys use like a rented mule.
When exactly were you guys planning on getting input from the grass roots?
Posted by: Andy on September 1, 2005 10:32 PM That's a good idea as long as you and
everyone else give his opponents the same
consideration.The mere fact that people
are not to happy about mcgavick should
tell you how divisive his candidacy is.
That's the whole point they aren't going to get you
or any other pco's opinion.Vance and the bellevue mafia have the mindset
that they know better than you and I who the best
candidate is.And to hell with what everyone else or
the polls might say.
Its important to know that Dino Rossi was not
his first choice.
Let me preface this with saying: I am a huge fan on the initiative process. I have given time and money to initiatives in the past. My aunt was in a t.v. commercial for an initiative a few years back.
This idea that the world of initiatives is the great populist upraising that is pure as virgin is a farce. Money is just as, if not more, prevelent with initiatives. Special interest get involved manipulate initiative just the same as candidates. Look at R-55, tons of money against it from the WEA, little money for it. Loses in a landslide. So should we forget the idea of charter schools because "The people have spoken"?
I can't think of the number at this hour, but the video slot initiative in 2004. The tribes spent more money against that than most candidates spent statewide.
People still think they approved raising funds for lower class sizes and teacher raises, when in fact the bill title for I-728 specifically state using "Budget Surpluses".
I am not saying that voters are dumb (I'll leave that to Winston Churchill), just apathetic. Initiatives are just as prone to lies, deception, special interest groups, spin, half-truths, no truths, and whatever else you can imagine as regular candidate campaigns are.
Until the average voter cares more about democracy then they do who Paris Hilton is dating or whoever the idiot getting voted off the island this week is, politics will be held by the highest bidder. Regardless of its form.
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 10:45 PMI already know 2 of 3 other candidates. I think both would be better than Cantwell. I think 1 of the 2 would become a star in D.C. I also think she would make a great S.O.S, if she so chose to 2008 (Why hide it, I am talking about Tebelius). The fact I can spell Tebelius proves I am not just blowing smoke.
My biggest problem with republicans (my self included) is we will rake someone over the coals that we agree with 95% of the time making life easier for the person we disagree with 95% of the time.
We can dream about the world we wish we lived in where PCO mades the decision and that candidate got to move on. I think we all would like that, but we don't live in that world.
We live in a world where somebody is going to need 8 to 10 million dollars to beat Cantwell. We live in a world where we need money from D.C. to run GOTV and Voter IDs. We live in a world that holds a primary election only 6 weeks before the general. We live in a world that a hard primary will make it impossible for anyone candidate to raise 8 to 10 million dollars.
We have a candidate who will have that money, has been in these things before, and has D.C. support.
We have another candidate who might get the money, might be able to handle a long statewide campaign, and might get D.C.'s backing.
You can choose to vote in the world you live in or the one you wish you did. The world you live in as 2 democrat U.S. Senators, a democrat Governor, a democrat Senate, a democrat house, and a liberal Supreme Court to boot.
Let me know when you want to stop being right and start winning.
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 11:03 PMOn the right to life issue. Newsflash; President Bush get at least one (Reinquist), possibly three more supreme court justices (Ginsberg and Sutter are in their 80's, I think).
If Roe is ever overturned it will be in the next few years. The leadership in the U.S. Congress has already stated that it would become a states rights issue. Frist, McCain, Delay, would all balk the issue to the state legislatures.
Again, insert the 95% equation here.
Posted by: T.J. on September 1, 2005 11:08 PMIf you wonder why the GOP is so weak in many areas it's because only the conservative Christian types can stomach this garbage. Hence Craswell- who I would vote democrat before voting for her.
Giving PCO's a say in this is a process that is easy to follow and WOW, might even give someone a good reason to be a PCO and make a difference. Having alienated the bulk of constituents- you are left with a world where only someone with 8-10 million from their own pocket can win.
Posted by: Andy on September 2, 2005 06:49 AMHaving bought off on the stupid McCain-Finegold Act, which by the way, the campaign finance movement was a huge populist issue, Now only a candidate who can muster 8 to 10 million can win.
I am sure, as a PCO you thought McCain-Finegold was a great idea (Note: it is amazing how at the time the Mc-Fine Act had over 80% support in polling, now I can't find 3 people who admit to supporting it---kind of like Vanilla Ice). All this did was cause more special interest money (percentage wise) and less transparency (527s).
It all goes back to voter apathy.
Next Point:
The game is played by the rules we have. Maybe if you stick to your guns long enough, you can help elect Hillary. Then, when 60% of you paycheck goes to some form of taxes, you complain even louder about the system. At most, 10 initiatives will pass a year, Gov. Gregoire signed around 500 bills this year. Do the damn math.
You will be able to then run around telling everyone how smart you are and how you knew our lives were going to suck. Then maybe you will have proved you point.
Fight your one initiative at time, vote libertarian, do whatever you have to do to feel good about yourself. I going to go fight, and work on feeding my family, your family, and the 6.1 million other people in Washington.
Again, I state, would you rather be right and broke are win and be prosperous. (Oh that 95% equation again)
Posted by: T.J. on September 2, 2005 08:20 AMVery simply- a small bit of money has killed a gas tax that had enormous political backing.
McGavick and every other GOP candidate is going to choke in this election and any future election w/out grass roots support.
Include us in the process or keep losing. I'm not going to doorbell, write checks, hold fund raisers or stand on corners for the "chosen ones."
What I will do is focus on lower level elections- county commisioners, school boards etc, which are every bit as important to my community as who sits in DC. In fact looking at the latest Critical Areas Ordinance in Thurston- I stand to lose more from the wrong county commisioner as I do from the wrong DC or state crowd.
Listen don't give up on the US senate race just
yet.Mcgavick will not get past the primary.
There are 2 other very good candidates to choose
from.Give them a chance since vance is trying
so hard to get them out of the race they can't
be all that bad.