As we approach the last day to mail ballots, I am struck by the lack of participation of the University of Washington faculty in the 2014 election. That lack is probably reflected in the fact that few of our issues have come to be discussed by the candidates.
I assume most faculty fully support the need to expand funding for the K 12 system. However, under the Washington Supreme Court’s McCleary decision those funds will have to come out of funding for higher education. Where do your candidates stand not only on McCleary, but on finding the Udub?
This legislature will also need to deal with an increasingly competitive environment between the regions Washington’s universities and colleges represent. Washington State University has proposed to build a medical school of its own. The number of dollars they propose to spend on this is absurd. $24 million a year will simply not pay for any kind of decent medical school located in Spokane. A more likely estimate is in the 100s of millions, not including the huge capital costs. If the Legislature approves this rather small amount of money, we are headed for a long period where Spokane and Seattle feud over far too few dollars.
Spokane and Seattle are not the only parts of the state. Washington state obviously needs a state technical college. The city of Everett has long been named as the home for such an institution. Washington Polytechnical University could be extremely important in keeping Boeing here or attracting Bombardier or Airbus to build a west coast plant. Similarly, the nationwide reputation of excellence in some of our state colleges, especially Evergreen and Bellingham, represent great opportunities for the legislature to support our state’s smaller cities
Sadly there appears to be little discussion of higher education by any of the candidates. As a political type, I wish I had more advice to offer. I do not. The best I can do is direct your attention to two sample ballots, one with my own endorsements and one with the very thoughtful endorsements of Geov Parrish. I hope readers of The Ave will refer to these.