Rob McKenna

Attorney General Rob McKennaThe Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) announced today that they are endorsing Attorney General Rob McKenna (R-Bellevue) for re-election over John Ladenburg (D-Tacoma). WACOPS is an organization made up of almost 5,000 police officers and deputy sheriffs across the state.

"WACOPS is proud to endorse and support Rob McKenna for re-election as Attorney General," said WACOPS President Mark Lann. "He has a proven track record of supporting law enforcement officers across this state. As the State's chief law enforcement officer, Rob Mckenna has partnered with local law enforcement agencies to give officers the tools they need to fight crimes. He has worked especially hard on issues related to violent sex offenders as well as criminals who would work to steal our identities."

The campaign to re-elect Rob McKenna (R-Bellevue) for Attorney General announced Monday that they had passed the $1,000,000 mark for fundraising over the weekend. McKenna, who was a King County Councilman prior to serving as the Attorney General, has raised more money this cycle than any other statewide candidate short of gubernatorial candidates Dino Rossi and Gov. Chris Gregoire. He has also brought in $100,000 in the first half of June, and had more than $400,000 on hand at the end of May.

"These numbers indicate the breadth and depth of my support around the state," McKenna said in a press release. "I am grateful that so many Washington voters support what I am doing and want to see me return to office.  It shows that I am focused on the right things: Fighting crime and protecting families."

SPOKANE -

Washington's slate of statewide candidates gave speeches this afternoon after becoming the official nominees of the party.

Peter Goldmark, Jason Osgood, and John Ladenburg all spoke on behalf of their candidacy with a few digs at their opponents. Recaps below the fold. 

May is the second in a monthly PolitickerWA.com series of the financial status of some of the state's top races.

Here is how things stand as of May 31, 2008. The first number listed is contributions, the second number is expenditures and the third number is the difference between the two. Precluding any unusual circumstances, that third number is equal to cash on hand. The candidate with the most cash on hand is listed at the top of each section.

All numbers below are in the thousands of dollars, unless otherwise noted. See April's figures here.

The Seattle Fire Fighters Union has chosen to endorse four candidates for office, The Stranger is reporting. The IAFF Local 27 is backing Democrat Reuven Carlyle in the 36th LD where he is competing against fellow Democrat John Burbank for an open seat.

The fire fighters also endorsed in a similar race for an open seat in a safe district, choosing to back Scott White in the 46th District where he is running against Democrat Gerry Pollet.

There was even some bipartisanship in their decision, as they endorsed the re-election of Attorney General Rob McKenna (R-Bellevue). 

The filing deadline for Washington's candidates for public office ended last Friday afternoon. The full list of filers can be found here at the Secretary of State's website. The Tacoma News-Tribune has also compiled the same list, but theirs is worth including because they denote the incumbent in each race, if applicable.

As with any filing period, there are a few surprises in terms of candidates who filed without formally announcing beforehand, but nothing major. Gov. Chris Gregoire is still seeking re-election, and Dino Rossi is still challenging her for a second time. Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic challenger John Ladenburg both remembered to get their paperwork in well before the deadline. The top races in the state before last week will remain the top races going forward.

John McCain has already visited Washington once this spring, and it undoubtedly will not be the last voters will see of the Arizona Senator and presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The Republican National Committee has sent a Victory Director to the Evergreen State to coordinate state and national campaigns, with Washington being one of just nine swing states nationwide to receive that designation.

Chris Gulugian-Taylor, a former legislative assistant to state Senator Cheryl Pflug who worked on the Bush-Cheney re-election effort here in 2004, told PolitickerWA.com today that he hoped to "capture the energy and momentum of candidates like John McCain, Dino Rossi and Rob McKenna" in bringing voters to the polls this November.

House Majority Leader Lynne Kessler (D-Hoquiam) told the Daily World today that she had no plans "now or ever" to endorse Democtratic nominee John Ladenburg for Attorney General.

Kessler is upset with Ladenburg's refusal to support a plan she backed along with Attorney General Rob McKenna to require local governments to tape record their executive sessions. Earlier this week Ladenburg told The Columbian that the legislation “would not be a priority for me.”

She said that she would respect her party by not endorsing McKenna, but "except for [Ladenburg] defending my bill, I think this race is going to see me silent."

When the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Initiative 297, which blocks continued nuclear waste from being disposed at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, was unconstitutional, it affected more than just advocates of the Hanford situation. Because of the parties involved, the decision may have an impact on some of the state's political races, as well.

When Republican presidential candidate John McCain came to Washington on Tuesday, state Democrats were poised and ready to hit back on his stance on Iraq and his connection to the French-American firm that won a hotly debated Air Force contract earlier this year. While the state party mocked McCain and Dino Rossi for supporting him, one Democrat was more straightforward.

Attorney General candidate John Ladenburg directly called on his Republican opponent, Attorney General Rob McKenna, to disassociate himself with the McCain campaign. McKenna is the McCain's Washington State Campaign Chair.