New events posted, August 22!

PURE for a Change

“The obvious standout in this crowded field is Stephanie Pure... a quick study, has a long history of working to preserve the rights of people who aren't often heard in politics... a smart, effective young woman... Vote Pure.”
 — Stranger Election Control Board, The Stranger

“An impressive newcomer... is Stephanie Pure, a young activist with a bright political future.”
 — Editorial Board, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Her campaign message is tailor-made for young voters, with an emphasis on her energy and street-level experience...”
 — Chris McGann, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Have you had enough of corporate lobbyists and right-wing church activists determining what is best for our schools, our health care and our families? Have you had enough of seeing headlines outlining yet another abuse of power by our current administration?

Government has a responsibility to protect those with little or no voice. In this current political environment, state legislatures are the last hope for protecting us from the abuse of power and the neglect we see nationally. We need a legislature that fights for our progressive values. My values are your values — standing up for kids and families; fighting for equality; and helping our citizens and small, independent businesses thrive. I am running for state representative because I have the vision, the energy, and the experience to deliver results for our district and for Washington State.

Standing Up For Kids and Families

Right now, Washington State ranks near the bottom in spending on public education, and the drop-out rate in Seattle Public Schools is 22%. I will work tirelessly to advance my top three priorities for education spending: strengthening teachers' professional development, decreasing class size, and increasing pay for teachers. We must attract more teachers and give them the tools that they need to successfully educate students.

Fighting for Fairness and Equality

It isn't enough to say that you support equality and fairness for everyone — you must stand ready to fight to protect those rights. Whether it's fighting for marriage equality or fighting against racial profiling, I will stand and protect the dignity of all of our citizens.

Thriving, Not Just Surviving

A healthy workforce is a productive workforce, and a productive workforce makes for thriving business. Yet over 600,000 people in Washington State still lack health insurance. Most small businesses want to provide benefits to their employees, but most cannot find the resources to do so. I will work to organize small businesses to set group rates on health insurance in order to cover more people. Since 55% of Washington's employees work for businesses with 100 workers or fewer, this is key to making a dent in the number of those uninsured.

Delivering Results

My work over the years at the Seattle City Council and in the community has brought many opportunities to deliver results on behalf of Seattle's citizens.

• Restored $2.3 million to the Seattle Public Library system for increased library hours.
• Secured $180,000 to assist people with disabilities by creating “FLASH CARD” — a tool that allows people with disabilities to receive the same discounts as seniors.
• Organized a Renter's Summit in 2000 — an event that brought elected officials and renters together to resolve the challenges facing Seattle renters.
• Played a key role in defeating the Teen Dance Ordinance (TDO) and co-founder of the Vera Project, a successful non-profit music and arts center that provides safe alternatives for all-ages access to music and dance.
• Saved the 50-year old crossing guard program that protects over 2,000 school children every day from dangerous street traffic.

I look forward to representing you in Olympia. Thank you for your support.