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Category: Executive

Lincoln’s impact on Washington Territory

Lincoln’s impact on Washington Territory

He never stepped foot here, but Abraham Lincoln had a strong influence on Washington Territory when he was U.S. President, according to state Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander. The longtime jurist discussed Lincoln’s impact on our territorial days during a 45-minute presentation in Secretary Reed’s office Thursday. The speech was covered by TVW. Justice Alexander shared many interesting stories and facts. Among them: • Lincoln declined an appointment by President Taylor to be the governor of Oregon Territory. • Lincoln…

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March is National Umbrella Month

March is National Umbrella Month

Despite Washington’s notoriously long (okay, endless) rainy season, Washingtonians tend to be ambivalent about the use of umbrellas.  The following is a typical conversation in a Washington workplace… Jill: “Ack, it’s pouring!  It wasn’t pouring two minutes ago when I was packing up for lunch.” Jane: “Give it two minutes, and it’ll stop.” Jill:  “What do you think?  Should I bring my umbrella?” Jane:  “No.” Jill:  “But I don’t want to ruin my suit.” Jane:  “Fine, then take an umbrella.” Jill: …

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`Governing Washington’ conference draws crowd

`Governing Washington’ conference draws crowd

Pollster Stuart Elway (second from left) answers a question as other panelists listen Secretary of State Sam Reed and the Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service teamed up for a fascinating conference Friday at the state Capitol on “Governing Washington: Politics in the Evergreen State.” Presenters included the authors of the upcoming book of the same title to be published later this year by Washington State University Press.  Presenters included scholars, pollster Stuart Elway, journalist Austin Jenkins and…

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You can donate a state flag to Washington soldiers

You can donate a state flag to Washington soldiers

For years, soldiers from Washington have been flying their state flag while deployed to faraway places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. But they were required to buy those flags due to a quirk in state law that prohibited donations of state property to private citizens. With the help of 5th District state Rep. Jay Rodne, an Iraq War veteran, the Legislature in 2009 provided a way for the Office of Secretary of State to provide Washington State flags to military…

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Check out our new website look!

Check out our new website look!

The new year often brings change, and that’s the case with the Office of Secretary of State’s website design. After three years of the same look, our IT guys decided it was time to spruce up our website with a whole different appearance. They had three goals in mind with the remake: highlighting the areas of our office that are most noteworthy and draw the most attention, making it more contemporary looking, and making it easier to navigate. Whereas the…

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Reed proposes suspending 2012 Presidential Primary

Reed proposes suspending 2012 Presidential Primary

Secretary of State Sam Reed, a longtime advocate for Washington’s Presidential Primary, is joining Gov. Chris Gregoire in asking the Legislature to suspend the primary in 2012.  The move would save $10 million. The regular Top 2 Primary would still be held in August for governor, U.S. Senate, and other statewide and local races.  But the state would rely on the old precinct caucus-convention system, which Iowa and a handful of other states still use, for allocating national nominating convention…

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Gregoire proposes deep budget cuts

Gregoire proposes deep budget cuts

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, responding to a massive budget gap of $4.6 billion and public sentiment against tax hikes, is proposing a $32 billion two-year state budget that slashes virtually every segment of state spending. The governor recommended eliminating some of her favorite programs, including health coverage for the working poor, tax support of state parks, Disability Lifeline grants, Children’s Health Program, class-size reduction in K-4, and more.  She proposed shuttering the history museums in Tacoma and Spokane and freezing…

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Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – The Final Chapter

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – The Final Chapter

In 1910, Emma Smith DeVoe and May Arkwright Hutton led campaigns in Washington supporting the women’s suffrage amendment.  The ballot measure to amend Article VI of the Washington Constitution was on the 1910 General Election ballot and was passed by majority of 22,623, a favorable vote of nearly 2 to 1.  Washington State joined the western states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Idaho, that had already enacted women’s suffrage.  Washington was the first state in the 20th century to pass…

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Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 11

Countdown to the November 8th Day of Jubilation – Part 11

Image courtesy of Washington State Archives In 1889, Congress passed the Enabling Act, which “enabled” Washington to draft a state constitution and request admission to the Union.  During the Washington State Constitutional Convention, women petitioned the delegates to include women’s suffrage in the new state constitution.  The issue was presented to the voters as a separate amendment on the ballot.  In the ensuing vote, 16,527 voters voted to include the amendment granting women the right to vote, but 34,613 voted…

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Come party like it’s 1910!

Come party like it’s 1910!

Mark your calendars for November 7 and 8 for two events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the vote to amend the Washington Constitution for women’s right to vote in the state as part of a Day of Jubilation.  The American Association of University Women is sponsoring a Women’s Suffrage Pink Tea at the State Capital Museum in Olympia  on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Visit this website for more details! The Office of the Secretary of State, the WSHS/Women’s…

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