The powerful statewide teachers union says it is so frustrated with the votes and attitude of Democratic Sen. Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens that it is backing two of his opponents in the primary.
Pushed by its Snohomish County members, the Washington Education Association has contributed $800 each to Republican Dave Schmidt of Mill Creek and Democrat Lillian Kaufer of Snohomish.
Those two and Republican Ryan Ferrie of Everett are trying to prevent Hobbs from winning a second term in the 44th Legislative District that includes Snohomish, Lake Stevens, Mill Creek and part of Marysville.
The primary is Aug. 17. The two candidates with the most votes will face-off in the general election in November.
Candidates filled out questionnaires and underwent interviews last month with members of the Pilchuck UniServ Council, the association’s political arm in the county. It represents roughly 4,300 teachers in school districts from Everett to Skykomish.
“Both Lillian Kaufer and Dave Schmidt had positions that were more in line with our positions,” said Jared Kink, vice president of the Everett Education Association and one of the political action committee leaders who met with candidates. He is a teacher at Jackson High School in Mill Creek.
Hobbs wasn’t surprised by the decision, as he hasn’t been a favorite of the union for some time.
Four years ago, Schmidt held the state Senate seat and the union backed him for re-election against Hobbs. After Hobbs won, the Washington Education Association did send the new lawmaker a $700 contribution to defray some of his campaign costs.
Last year Hobbs ran afoul of the union on a major education reform measure, House Bill 2261, to revamp how the state funds its public education system and evaluates teachers.
Though the WEA fiercely opposed it, most Democrats, including Hobbs, voted for it and it was signed into law in May.
“It is an unfunded mandate. It requires massive reform with no funding behind it,” Kink said.
In February 2009, as debate on the bill heated up, members of the Pilchuck UniServ Council informed lawmakers they would “actively oppose” the re-election of those who voted for the legislation.
Apparently, they’re keeping their word.
“Their response was, ‘We’ll teach him a lesson. We’ll support his opponents and maybe we can get someone in who votes 100 percent of the time the way that the WEA wants,’ ” Hobbs said.
Hobbs’ vote on that bill isn’t the only reason he didn’t get the endorsement, Kink said.
Another major factor is his attitude toward teachers he meets with, he said.
“It’s always been a contentious relationship,” Kink said. “We have never been well-received by Hobbs. I do not think the door is open with him.”
Hobbs disagreed.
“I don’t see it that way,” he said. “After this election and after I win, I will continue to meet with teachers and talk with them about the issues that concern them.”
He suggested union members became frustrated when he would not pledge to raise taxes to pay for higher teacher salaries.
“I think that they didn’t like me telling them we just didn’t have a lot of money. It is a tough year and people don’t like hearing that,” he said.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com
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