The primary is in the rearview mirror but the general election is rapidly approaching on the horizon. AWB is helping employers get up to speed on the issues and the candidates at its 23rd Annual Policy Summit, featuring three moderated conversations between candidates for lieutenant governor, secretary of state and state auditor.
Incumbent Democrat Brad Owen seems likely to face former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Finkbeiner. The lieutenant governor is the president of the Senate, and serves the state as acting governor in the absence of the governor.
Current secretary of state, Sam Reed, is not running for re-election. Thurston County Auditor Kim Wyman, a Republican, will challenge former Democratic Sen. Kathleen Drew. The secretary of state is the chief elections officer, chief corporations officer, and supervisor of the state archives.
Finally, the retiring state auditor Brian Sonntag will leave an opening for one of the two candidates to fill. Republican James Watkins seems likely to run against Rep. Troy Kelley, D-University Place, once the primary ballots have been certified. The state auditor promotes accountability, fiscal integrity and openness in state and local government.
Right now, we need your help fielding questions for these candidates from AWB members. Submit your questions to AWB now and you might hear it posed directly to the candidates. Email your questions to AWB’s Jocelyn McCabe; questions will be submitted to the moderators for review and possible use during the candidate conversations. Be sure to indicate which race the question is for, along with your name, title and company name when you submit your questions.
