||| FROM SHEILA GAQUIN |||
The Orcas Women’s Coalition (OWC) are pleased to announce their endorsements for the upcoming general election. After the OWC Steering Committee interviewed candidates seeking an OWC endorsement, the full membership was invited to hear the candidates speak and to ask questions prior to a voting to endorse or not.
Based on that vote, The Orcas Women’s Coalition is proud to endorse Liz Lovelett for Washington State Senator in our 40th Legislative District (lizlovelett.org) and Anne Marie Shanks for a seat on the San Juan County Charter Commission.
Earlier this year, OWC endorsed the following candidates for the Primary election, and continues to support each of them in their run for public office:
- Cindy Wolf for San Juan County Council, District 2 (votecindywolf.com)
- Christine Minney for San Juan County Council, District 1 (christine4council.org)
- Debra Lekanoff for State Representative from the 40 th (debralekanoff.com)
- Katie Loring for San Juan Superior Court
And finally, while not an official endorsement, OWC stands in support of Gael Tarleton for Washington Secretary of State, and the Democratic ticket of Biden-Harris.
The OWC endorsement policy can be found on the Orcas Women’s Coalition website.
Please take this as an honest inquiry but does this coalition ever endorse a male candidate? I can’t help but wonder at the opposite. What if a male coalition political site never endorsed a woman? We’ve had that in the past. Granted, it worked for a long time.
Martha, The stated purpose of Orcas Women’s Coalition endorsement process is to encourage and support women seeking public office. Our policy also states that if there were a compelling reason to endorse a male candidate, we certainly would.
I fully support the OWC. It is a great organization. However, as a female candidate…how did the OWC publicize the process to be considered for endorsement? I would have loved to have had that opportunity. I am grateful that Anne Marie and Cindy…both OWC steering committee members had that chance…and garnered endorsements. But for those of us outside OWC, the transparency of this process was murky at best. Non-existent at worst. Then again, I may have just missed the press release inviting all candidates to apply. For that, I am sorry.
Janet,
I agree with you. Clear criteria and notice to all of the candidates is important if endorsements are to be meaningful.
That said, it may be similar for the Democratic Party. I did not receive a questionnaire, nor request for an interview. Similar to OWC, I am not sure the criteria used by the Democratic Party, nor their process. Since you were endorsed, maybe you can help me understand the process they followed?
The whole endorsement thing is a huge frustration.
All good points to everyone
Greg
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Your statements are clear, and you provide an opportunity to examine which qualities one presumes to seek in candidates for government office. I mean this sincerely. Thank you.