We are getting many emails from people asking to get involved in the election of Judges this year. Many want those on the bench removed, others are in fear of who is now running. Take for instance Ed Holm, the current Prosecuting Attorney in Thurston County, who is running for a position as a Superior Court Judge in Thurston County. If he runs on his record, that alone will be enough to let everyone know he is the wrong person for the job. The decision making from his office has been incredibly sloppy, the people attending court deserve better than that.
Secondly, he is running against Judge Tabor, probably the only respectable Judge in Thurston County. Maybe we should vote for Holm, just to ensure the sick behavior of that court continues.
If you want to see sanity in Thurston County - We recommend you vote for Tabor for Judge.
There is an interesting race in District 5 as well. David Spring, the member of the Washington State Child Support Workgroup who exposed how Washington’s rate table is made of false data, providing child support rates that are 17% to 40% to high, and who is a big advocate for families, is running for position 2 to the Legislature. Of course he is running against a lobbiest turned politician, Glenn Anderson, with very deep pockets from Industry. We need to help this white knight against this titan of corporate giants so we can start to educate the legislature on Shared Parenting and protection of Family, instead of corporate greed funded laws that destroy families.
In district 1, we have a boeing employee running against incumbant Rosemary McAuliffe. Of course Rosemary has the backing of all the teachers, which is a great cause. However, she is one of the top 5 against shared parenting due to her feminist ties. You gotta go Rosemary, and District 1 needs to make some noise in support of Dennis Reichert - a Boeing employee who lives in Bothell.
Do you have a juice race we should cover? Please let us know!
January, 2008 begins the third decade under the Washington Parenting Act. This is the Washington divorce system. All of the parenting laws are in RCW 26.09. Financial Child Support laws are in RCW 26.18 and RCW 26.19. Way back in 1987, our Washington State Legislature approved a law called the Parenting Act that fully “INTENDED” for Shared Parenting to be the outcome in many cases; not just a few where parents had to agree together. For 20 years this goal and INTENT have not been implemented. It is way past time to change the system. Our goal is “Justice” for Children of Divorce and their families.
We have been to Olympia during these 20 years, trying to do our best, but never organized and always without an army behind us. Legislators understood we were serious and represented a serious issue. Legislators understood there were thousands of families hurt by divorce, but they were not organized and thus, were not a political threat. Our bills never made it out of Committee for a floor vote. And the nay sayers had power and so far their shallow but emotional arguments have carried the day. These were established women’s groups, the victim rights organizations, the Family Law Bar Association, the Association of Superior Court Judges, etc.
During this time, the divorce system continued to destroy parents lives and innocent Children of Divorce were the biggest losers. This is what we are committed to changing.
Now with research that is more and more compelling and overwhelming, and with the power of the internet available, IT IS TIME TO TAKE AIM, and change the system. We can be victorious by IDENTIFYING our supporters and getting ORGANIZED; as painful and challenging as this may be. Large numbers of identified supporters are the key to our success.
The one question is - Are you with us ??
For most fathers, Shared Parenting means more than 68 overnights, the minimum national average when children are living with their mothers. In comparison, when Fathers are Majority Residential Parents, mothers average contacts with children is around 86 days a year. This is where Shared Parenting starts for mothers who are Minority Residential Parents.
Our sincere political goal for Shared Parenting Washington, is for legally fit parents, 80% of the statewide divorce cases each year, cases without any RCW 26.09.191 restrictions, for parents to each have their children a minimum of over 120 overnights per year; around 35%. THIS IS WITHOUT ANY FIGHTING OR DISAGREEMENT IN COURT. Simple disagreement or objection by one parent cannot stop these Parenting Plan Court Orders from being signed. This is the law we will put into effect with your help and involvement. Are you with us ??
We aim to have this law in effect within three (3) years. THIS IS WHY WE ARE GETTING SERIOUSLY ORGANIZED, AND WHY WE NEED YOUR INVOLVEMENT. We need a minimum of 10,000 identified citizens from all over Washington State; Family members - Fathers - Mothers - Grandparents - Adult Children of Divorce, Second-Family members and relatives, Professionals who work with Family Law cases, concerned citizens, etc.
POLITICAL ACTION - If we do not get a law passed through the State Legislature by March of 2009, and signed bythe Governor, we will sponsor a statewide Voter Initiative to the Legislature. This means we will need to collect 250,000 to 300,000 valid signatures of registered voters. We need our army of supporters IDENTIFIED and ORGANIZED so when we are ready for action, our army of supporters are in place and ready to work. To make this strategy successful, we need to raise $$$ to print 100,000 petitions. We want to flood the State with petitions so signatures are being collected in all 39 counties and 49 Legislative Districts.
We need active citizens in ALL 39 counties; and ALL 49 Legislative Districts. We need to ORGANIZE statewide so we can win statewide.
This organizing work starts with parents who have been NEGATIVELY IMPACTED by the Washington State judicial system in any way. We just need to know who you are by name, how we can contact you, and how you want to be involved.
We understand parents being frustrated, depressed, outraged etc, over how your cases were handled. This is your chance for revenge !! The sweetest revenge for an UNFAIR DIVORCE you can have is to join together with other parents, and with IDENTIFIED and ORGANIZED supporters, YES WE CAN change the divorce system - once and for all time.
WE NEED YOU and your family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. We need bodies and we need political money $$$. Mostly, we need NUMBERS of bodies and we need to get ORGANIZED. This work starts in January of 2008. Are you with us ??
We need new people to the political process, maybe people never involved in any organized activity. Some of you may have some experience with groups or organizations or causes. Some others, we also need, and this is people who are experienced in the political system. It would be wonderful to get people who actually know State Legislators by name. You can talk with these legislators about Shared Parenting and let us know what they are telling you.
All 98 State Representatives are up for election or for re-election in 2008. Half of our 49 State Senators are up for election or Re-election. ALL of our Superior court judges are up for election or Re-election in 2008. AND the Governor is up for Re-Election. There are a lot of candidates that need to be contacted, and we need committed supporters to be talking with all of these candidates. This is in 2008 and the work starts now. Are you with us ??
EVERYONE has a role to play and EVERYONE is needed.
Send us an email, fill out our volunteer form, or mail us a letter. Also, send in a financial donation - $10, $20. $25, $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more. Mail to Shared Parenting Washington at PO Box 110819, Tacoma, Washington, 98411-0819.
Everyone can start to help by doing just three (3) things -
1 - SIGN our statewide online petition for Shared Parenting at www.WashingtonSharedParenting.com/petition.
2 - CALL the toll free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and leave a message in support of SB-5234 and HB-2345.
3 - MAIL in a financial donation of any amount, $10.00 or more, and help our statewide campaign get started.
** You can also help by getting other people involved, and let them know our campaign is really underway, and we are getting organized statewide.
Happy New Year !! - Your friends at Shared Parenting Washington
You’ve found the new blog site for Shared Parenting Washington, a new Washington State Political Action Committee. We have exciting plans in Washington State - which begin with getting a presumption of Shared Parenting for all children of divorce or separation in Washington State.
Children of Washington deserve our attention to ensure the best outcomes are guaranteed by our laws, policies and practices in government, courts, and parenting.
Please check back often as we become the source of information related to politics and shared parenting in Washington.
Contact us at info@SharedParentingWashington.org
