OLYMPIA, Wash. – All across the state, tribes are united on at least one thing this election – get Slade Gorton out of office.
People may not be current on the issues or even following the race between the incumbent Republican senator and former state representative Maria Cantwell, but they’re very clear about which tab to mark on their ballot Nov. 7.
“Slade Gordon has done Indian people wrong,” says Wanda Abrahamson, secretary with the Spokane tribe. “I’m just hoping for our people’s sake we stick together.”
In August Rozema’s office at Swinomish tribal headquarters in La Conner, a big “Dump Slade” poster proclaims her personal feelings about the race.
“Democracy would be a lot more fun if you had the option of voting against people as well as voting for people,” Rozema says. “I think more people would vote.
“I will absolutely be voting for whoever is running against Slade.”
Cantwell’s office and the last poll taken by Elway Research, Inc. of Seattle show the senatorial race is “a dead heat.” Despite heavy stumping around the state by Gorton, Cantwell’s figures have climbed steadily since her primary victory in September. Both candidates’ offices were eagerly awaiting the release of the next poll figures Oct. 24.
In the meantime, Native organizations such as the First American Education Project out of Olympia are storming ahead with last-minute campaign plans. The project, headed by Jamestown S’Klallam Chairman Ron Allen, has continued to garner support from tribes around the country for its television advertising campaign informing Washington voters of Gorton’s abysmal environmental track record.
Downplaying issues concerning tribes and pressing where they know they can get the most public attention, the organization has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on media exposure, and plans to spend another $200,000 on television spots starting the last full week of October.
“We’re in the game, even though we’re not big players like the insurance companies or the pharmaceutical companies or the labor movement who have deep war chests,” Allen says. “We’re certainly not going to have the same impact they have.
“But … our messages are getting out there. Of course the print media is picking up on it so all of that is part of the contribution to raising the consciousness of voters in regard to who are the people who are best to represent Washington state.”
Although the organization has not hit its stated goal of raising $2 million in the campaign against Gorton, Allen says tribes are still pitching in and that he has been “very encouraged” about the response.
Ellis Conklin, communications director for the Cantwell campaign, agrees the ads have had a good effect.
“It’s reinforced the notion that Slade Gordon has basically a callous disregard for any kind of environmental protection. Those ads have reinforced that.”
Talking with more informed voters such as Sandy Johnson, vice chairwoman of the S’Klallam tribe, it’s clear Cantwell has the advantage over Gorton in areas that matter most to the people.
“I’ve been following the race really closely,” Johnson says. “I really have faith that she will work hard on getting some of the health issues in Washington state tracked and straightened out. She’s really made a commitment to women’s issues which I feel is really important. We have so very few women senators, only nine right now, and I think we need a different perspective in Washington state.”
Now that it’s down to the final weeks before the election, most tribes, such as the Quinault Nation are making plans to carpool registered voters to the polling stations. Tribal members are on the phones calling people to remind them to vote and coordinating assistance if necessary.
Allen says there are approximately 40,000 registered Native voters in the state and if everyone eligible got out there and made a stand, it could have significant impact in the election.