Enterprise Washington in the Press
Seattle Times, Dec. 15, 2011
State redistricting commission needs to set aside politics and meet Jan. 1 deadline
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
With the holidays upon us, it's hard to think about politics. But intense negotiations are occurring in Olympia by the Washington State Redistricting Commission, which is trying to draw new boundaries for the 10 congressional and 49 legislative districts in the state. With a Jan. 1 deadline looming, time is ticking away. And as each day passes, there is increasing concern that the commission will not meet its deadline because of political maneuvering. A delay is bad for all of us.
So why this exercise of redistricting? Washington's population has increased by nearly 1 million since our state was last redistricted in 2001. The purpose of this work is to ensure that every man, woman and child is fairly represented in the political process.
The commission, composed of four voting commissioners and one nonvoting chair, has been at work for nearly a full year at a cost of $3 million in taxpayer dollars. Each commissioner is chosen by one political legislative caucus in Olympia to advocate for them. Each has spent significant time on this critically important work, but if the commission is not able to come to agreement, the process is handed over to the state Supreme Court. Nine elected justices would have two months to draw the state's district lines. If former elected officials are having trouble finishing this process, just imagine how difficult it will be for current elected officials to achieve.
The redistricting process has been transparent and informational, with regular website updates, maps showing potential boundaries, numerous community hearings and other opportunities for citizen feedback. This work is complicated and difficult. But a bipartisan plan that keeps communities together is far more acceptable to most citizens than one developed by political tacticians.
From the public's viewpoint, all four commissioners are charged with taking the high road in keeping communities together rather than gerrymandering lines so that districts become dominated by one political party for the next 10 years. Tactics to delay rather than negotiate could be interpreted as benefiting the party that has ruled Olympia since 1999, the Democratic Party.
As an organization committed to recruiting bright and dedicated men and women to run for office, Enterprise Washington has additional concerns about redistricting delays. Many potential candidates are currently sitting on the sidelines, waiting for the commissioners to complete the redistricting process before throwing their hats into the ring. The window of opportunity for them to run for office is slowly being closed. This does not bode well for our commitment to build a high-caliber group of Democrats and Republicans in Olympia and Congress who are not career politicians, but have the passion, experience and willingness to make tough decisions on regulatory and competitiveness issues important to our state's future.
The majority of Washingtonians pride themselves on being critical, independent thinkers. We understand that the foundation of democracy is fair and equal representation. These new legislative and congressional lines are the foundation for the state's political leaders who write the laws and regulatory policy that are the backdrop for our economic and educational competitiveness.
If partisan politics gets the best of the commission in these final days, our state's prosperity and positioning in the world economy will suffer.
It is time for the commissioners to deliver districts that are competitive, while keeping communities intact. For those who have historically tuned out this exercise, it is time to get involved by contacting commission members directly at contact@redistricting.wa.gov or through social media at twitter.com/RedistrictingWA or on Facebook. Only through citizen engagement can this partisan negotiating be resolved before the deadline.
Democracy is not a spectator sport. You need to speak up now to keep communities intact and help ensure fair representation for all of us.
Bellevue Business Journal, Nov. 2011
Enterprise Washington teams up with The 2012 Project to recruit professional women for the Washington State Legislature
Press Release
Enterprise Washington announced today it is partnering with The 2012 Project to inspire women with experience in the private sector to run for the Washington State Legislature.
“We are extremely excited to partner with The 2012 Project to help professional women who are interested in running for public office succeed,” said Erin McCallum, president of Enterprise Washington. “Only 33 percent of the members of the Washington State Legislature have private-sector experience. It is essential to recruit businesswomen who know what it takes for our state’s private industries to remain competitive, and who can take steps to grow private-sector employment in Washington state.”
The 2012 Project is a national, nonpartisan campaign sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics to identify and engage accomplished women ages 45 and up from industries that are currently underrepresented in state legislatures and in Congress.
“I’m thrilled to see Enterprise Washington assisting with this effort,” said Cathy Allen, one of Washington state’s top political strategists. “There is so much talent out there in our state and if business leaders encourage their female colleagues to run, they have a great chance of winning.”
Enterprise Washington is actively recruiting candidates in over 25 legislative districts in Washington state, and is working closely with The 2012 Project and other political partners to encourage and engage potential candidates. Between now and the 2012 election, Enterprise Washington will connect professional women who are interested in taking the next steps toward a potential candidacy with training and leadership programs, fundraising networks and political support organizations that can help them succeed.
“We are also working in collaboration with several other entities across our state who have a passion to see women elected, including the National Women’s Political Caucus, Women Impacting Public Policy and nearly 100 female professionals,” added McCallum.
Nationally, The 2012 Project aims to take advantage of new and open seats that will be created as a result of redistricting. The 2010 elections saw the first significant decline in women state legislators in decades and the first drop in the number of women in Congress in more than three decades. Women now only comprise 17 percent of Congress and 23 percent of state legislatures. This underrepresentation of women in public office looks unfair in a nation whose population is more than half female.
About Enterprise Washington:
The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Enterprise Washington helps companies and employees better understand how elected officials establish public policy, and how to become more involved in the political process. Growing Roots for Our Workforce, GROW, is Enterprise Washington’s grassroots program dedicated to voter education and supporting jobs and the economy. For more information on Enterprise Washington, visit www.enterprisewashington.org.
About CAWP:
The Center for American Women and Politics, a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a university-based research, education and public service center. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about women’s changing relationship to politics and government and to enhance women’s influence and leadership in public life. CAWP is a leading authority in its field and a respected bridge between the academic and political worlds. For more information on The 2012 Project, visit www.the2012project.us.
About NWPC-Washington:
The NWPC-WA is a multi-partisan organization working to see more women elected and appointed to office in Washington State, and to involve more women in the political process. For more information on NWPC-WA, visit www.nwpcwa.org.
Tri-Cities Business Journal, Nov. 2011
Private, public and nonprofit sectors must all be healthy to ensure sustainable and happy communities
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
With the economy continuing to struggle in Washington state and around the country, I want to discuss what truly drives our economy and the importance of individuals from the private sector stepping up to run for office.
It’s important to understand that it takes three sectors, private, nonprofit and public, working together to create a healthy and sustainable economy in our state.
Money is the key ingredient to the success or failure of these sectors. We live in a mixed economy where the majority of us believe in the power of both free enterprise and various elements of government management. It’s a delicate balance, but we must ultimately recognize that only one of these sectors, the private sector, creates capital that fuels the other sectors and their sustainability. The private sector hires men and women, young and old, with all different degree of skill sets to service, design, build or invent the things that drive our economy. The free enterprise system builds wealth for businesses large and small, which in turn provides workers with compensation. When all is said and done, both employers and employees distribute their wealth through taxes and charity to fuel both the public and nonprofit sectors.
We are fortunate to live in a democracy where people have the privilege of voting and electing their leaders. We are also fortunate that almost anyone can bring their skills and expertise to public office. One of the best ways to improve our state’s economic climate is to encourage local business leaders with experience and knowledge from the private sector to run for public office.
We tend to easily forget that hometown private-sector employees and managers oftentimes have the right experience, skill-set and objectivity to be effective and balanced elected officials, especially at the local level. Consider this list of six reasons as to why that is:
1. They are fair and objective. Business owners and employees must do what is right for their customers, in this case the voters.
2. Private-sector employees must carefully balance short and long-term needs to ensure survival, and are held to account every single day by choices customers make in the free enterprise system.
3. They must know where they stack up. Private-sector employees must be keenly aware of their competitive position, and must always be ready to adapt and change; these are necessary skills for municipal leadership.
4. They are not swayed by emotions or the loudest voice in the room, but instead operate on sound data, objective measurements and performance-driven results.
5. They understand budget sustainability, and know a successful organization must live within its means. Failure to do so results in difficult expense reductions and a decline in trust by those whom they serve.
6. Business owners and employees understand that investments must have a strong potential for Return on Investment, and are held accountable for their actions.
From city and county council, to school board and public safety district seats, the 2011 election year provides many opportunities to consider candidates that have private-sector experience. And next year, there will be an even bigger opportunity for men and women, Republicans and Democrats alike, to serve in the state Legislature and shape public policy that will improve the business climate in our great state for future generations.
Longview Daily News, April 17, 2011
Encourage local businesspeople to take part in government
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"One of the best ways to quickly improve the business climate in our state is to encourage local business leaders with experience and knowledge from the private sector to run for public office. We are fortunate enough to live in a privileged and healthy democracy where almost anyone can bring their skills and expertise to public office. Although it's oftentimes overlooked, hometown private sector employees and managers have the exact experience, skill-sets and objectivity to be effective elected officials."
To read the full article, click here.
The Seattle Times, July 27, 2010
Small businesses are hurting - who gets elected can make a difference
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"Our state's economic health relies on a thriving private sector. Not only must large companies such as Boeing, Microsoft and Starbucks remain strongholds in Washington, but small businesses must remain sustainable as well."
To read the full article, click here.
Puget Sound Business Journal, March 14, 2010
In Business and Politics, Transparency Matters
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"How many of us believe that government works best for the people when there is transparency? I certainly do."
To read the full article, click here. (PDF)
The Herald, November 8, 2009
Wake up and get Involved Before More Companies Take a Hike
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"Regardless of whether you decide to take an active role in government, there will always be lawmakers in Olympia making decisions that affect your everyday life."
To read the full article, click here.
The Seattle Times, April 30, 2009
Got a Head for Business? Run for Elective Office
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"Who in their right mind would ever want to run for public office with the state of the economy and the public scrutiny paid to a candidate? But I would challenge each of us to consider running, especially if you come from the private sector."
To read the entire article, click here.
The Seattle Times, July 2, 2008
Technology Changes our Relationship With Both Business, Government
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"Legendary Speaker of the House Thomas "Tip" O'Neill once declared, "All politics is local." He meant that people in towns and cities throughout the country had a powerful influence on politicians, legislation and policies at every level from Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue. Increasingly, all business is local, too."
To read the entire article, click here.
News Columns
Reuters, September 17, 2008
Enterprise Washington Predicts an Incumbent Landslide in '08
by Lee Keller, Enterprise Washington
"Predicting a 78% incumbent landslide in the 2008 state legislative races, Enterprise Washington is calling on the private sector to get involved in voting for legislators that are good for business in this state."
To read the entire article, click here.
Press Releases & White Papers
How Playing Politics Through Political Contributions Shapes Public Policy
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"With our state legislature in the heat of its work, its revealing to see which special interest groups are benefiting from their political involvement during the most recent 2008 elections and how that is damaging our states private sector."
To read the entire piece, click here. (PDF)
Stepping up to the Plate for Public Service
by Erin McCallum, President, Enterprise Washington & The Business Institute of Washington
"Who in their right mind would ever want to run for public office?"
To read the entire piece, click here. (PDF)