Washington: John Ladenburg

According to the Post Intelligencer, former Washington Utilities and Transportation chairman Mark Sidran, a former Seattle prosecutor, has joined the field.

And so has state Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island.

Since leaving his job as Pierce County executive, John Ladenburg has hung his shingle out at his sons' law firm in Tacoma. He's "of counsel." He told me last week he's also doing some consulting work for Cascadia developer Patrick Kuo.

The P.I. points out that U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Belfair, will have a big say in who President Obama nominates for the Environmental Protection Agency job in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, etc. Dicks over sees the EPA budget.

My money's still on Ladenburg. He and Dicks go way back.

Here is the post by Joel Connelly at the P.I.

One sign that these are tough budget times: Pierce County may cut hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to community groups and charities.

The details are yet to come. But County Executive Pat McCarthy has recommended cutting $565,000 in funding to outside groups as part of an $8 million spending reduction.

County Council members and the executive divvy up millions of dollars in such spending each year. This year’s budget includes $4.8 million for “miscellaneous current expenses,” which includes funding for the community groups. It’s a way for elected officials to fund what they say are worthy programs.

Council members clearly are uncomfortable with the idea of reneging on funding for those groups.

The Tacoma News-Tribune's David Wickert gathered reactions from a number of Pierce County political leaders on the subject of outgoing Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg's legacy.

Republicans and Democrats alike, including Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri (R-Lakewood) and Pierce County Executive-elect Pat McCarthy (D-Tacoma), had positive things to say about Ladenburg, notably on his energy and willingness to work with all factions.

A recent poll from SurveyUSA shows close margins in the statewide races for superintendent of public instruction and commissioner of public lands, but clear leaders on two ballot initiatives and in the race for attorney general.

Incumbent Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland (R-Tacoma) leads Okanogan Democrat Peter Goldmark 45-43, and challenger Randy Dorn is ahead of incumbent Terry Bergeson 43-38 in the race for superintendent.