Our Man in Olympia: Ranker’s Passions, Priorities and Practicalities

A month into his first legislative session in Olympia, State Senator Kevin Ranker tells of the best advice he’s gotten so far: don’t burn any bridges, because you’ll need to cross them later.

Such is the pragmatism that Ranker knows he’ll need to employ if he wants to see his priorities for the 40^th Legislative District advance. That district encompasses not just San Juan County, but also Whatcom, and parts of Skagit County.

Ranker comes to the legislature after serving on the San Juan County Council from 2004 (when it was the Commission) to 2009.

State Senator Kevin Ranker

“This has been a tremendous month, with a dramatic learning curve that will continue to be so,” said Ranker in an interview with Bullwings: Orcas Issues on Feb. 13.

“To be serving my representative communities in this way is very honoring – overwhelming at times – the pace of it is ridiculous. But I’m notorious for being busy and I’m having a blast,” Ranker says.

In addition to legislative hearings, Ranker has as many as two dozen 15-minute meetings a day with constituents and representatives of various groups. During the week in Olympia (where sometimes his wife and baby daughter stay with him), his day starts at 7 a.m. and lasts well into the evening.

Ranker serves as Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee, Vice Chair of Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee and is a member of the Environment, Water and Energy and Transportation Committees.

But Ranker’s not complaining about his heavy workload: “I chose to take it on, and I think I’m handling it all well.”

The Budget Deficit

Ranker says “We are facing over an $8 billion deficit now. In today’s dollars, we’re almost at the point we were at in the Great Depression. We’re talking cuts that nobody today has ever had to deal with.” Ranker points out that there are two primary considerations in forming the state budget this session: 1) There is no new money at the state level
2) Everything – mental health, education, health care is on the table

With those two realities, Ranker discusses the difficulty in prioritizing programs. “It is not okay to say everything gets cut by 15 percent. We need to take care of the most needy in our communities

“If we cut mental health and healthcare for kids and seniors, we’ll see an increase in state spending – in emergency rooms or in law and justice programs. That is not fiscally responsible.I start from a community perspective: as a community, what programs are the most essential for the most needy? Maybe we can cut them less.

“Based on what my communities have been telling me – in Bellingham and Mt. Vernon and Anacortes and Orcas Island – education is the top priority across the board.”

Education

Ranker is a co-sponsor for Senate Bill 5444, “Creating a comprehensive system of public education programs, finance, and accountability,” saying it commits the legislature to fully fund education over the next six years. “There isn’t the money to do it this year, so we’ll try to mandate to do it in the future. We have a full commitment from the legislature that puts forward numerous new requirements.” For example, he supports teachers with masters and advanced degrees earning more pay.

He describes himself as a “straight-shooter,” and says that many times he’s had to be blunt in “heartfelt discussions” with his constituents about the budget cuts. His bottom line is, “Are families going to suffer if [a program] is cut?”

On Feb. 16, Ranker will meet with legislators who have opposing viewpoints to work on a new bill to address education. “The budget is over $6 billion shy on education, which has been difficult to fund even in better times.” He plans to work with all legislators to get “the best out of both and try to develop solutions.”

Ranker also is sponsor of Senate Bill 5580, “Concerning school impact fees” and Senate Bill 5620, “Regarding the voluntary rating system for child care centers and early education programs.”

Oil spill rescue tug

Ranker is a primary sponsor for Senate Bill 5344 to fund the Neah Bay oil spill response tug, as the first line of defense against oil spills in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. “An oil spill would be devastating to our communities and our culture – the resources, the wildlife and the economy.”

The cost for the tug, which has responded to 42 spills in the last decade, is $3.65 million per year, which the taxpayers have paid. “At a time like this, I’m looking to place that cost somewhere else so cuts in other programs won’t be so severe,” says Ranker.

The controversial part of Ranker’s proposal deals with who will carry the cost of keeping the rescue tug in operation. He reasons that, since only two of the 42 spills were from oil tankers, it’s not “fair and equitable” that the oil industry be 100 percent liable for the cost of the rescue tug. Cargo and fishing vessels were responsible for the other 40 calls to the Neah Bay tug, says Ranker, and those industries should also bear the cost.

“Oil tanker spills have been the most catastrophic, but a majority of tankers (and by 2012 all of them) are double-hulled and have double propulsion systems. Cargo ships are more likely to have a rudder or propulsion failure problem,” he says. So he proposes that cargo and fishing vessels over 300 tons join oil tankers in developing the rescue tug program.

“That will save $7 million to use in other programs, instead of the taxpayers assuming the liability,” he said.

Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell, who has sponsored a federal bill for funding the oil spill response tug, will be holding a joint press conference with Ranker on Monday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Olympia.

Climate change

Ranker’s other top priority is Senate bill 5560 which sets benchmarks to effect climate change by 2020. Part of this bill establishes a minimum miles-per-gallon cost for the state fleet of 22,000 cars, and requires low-impact standards in state building over 10,000 square feet – about 14,000 structures.

“We lead by example in climate change so that we can make a real difference and say , “Here’s how you do it.”

San Juan ferry route

Ranker is working with Senate Transportation Chair, and Joint Transportation Co-Chair Senator Mary Margaret Haugen to save the Sidney, B.C. ferry run.

“I want to make sure people understand, especially in the San Juan Islands, that it’s not just lost revenue from losing the run to Sidney, but we lose the ferry itself. That is unacceptable.

“We already are strained – how many times have we missed a ferry by a few cars and have to wait hours for the next one? We’ll see more of that.“

With all the cuts facing legislators, Ranker says, “It’s a horrible place to be in.

“But I still feel positive. We may not be able to do 100 good things today, but if we stay focused on internal priorities we can position ourselves to do 1,000 good things tomorrow.

“I didn’t come here to get re-elected. I need to stay focused on what matters the most to my communities and prioritize those needs. It’s tough, and it’s heating up, getting faster.”

When his family is able to be in Olympia with him and he can spend time with them at the end of the day – “That’s wonderful,” he says. He returns to his home on San Juan Island every weekend, where he relaxes by going on walks, and paddling island waters.

At the end of the session this spring, he plans to take a vacation in Mexico with no phones or computers. His only surfing will be in the waters of the ocean. “When I’m on, I’m 110 percent, and when I take a break I’m 100 percent off,” he says.

County Council

Ranker is empathetic about the work facing the San Juan County Council. “All these discussions, the prioritization, looking into your soul and asking what makes sense – the County Council is doing on a smaller level, but it doesn’t mean it’s a smaller decision.

“Everybody is feeling this downturn; everybody is having a difficult time, or knows someone close to them who is struggling. You may hate the decisions [government officials] make, but it doesn’t mean they feel good about it.

“Now is the time when it’s so important just to be nice to each other – to open the door, to give a hug.”

To contact Ranker, write

402 Legislative Building
PO Box 40440
Olympia, WA 98504-0440

Call (360) 786-7678 or email Senator Kevin Ranker