Get the Facts on King County Executive Candidate Susan Hutchison
Download a Fact Sheet on Conservative King County Executive Candidate Susan Hutchison Susan Hutchison has shown her strong ties to conservative and anti-choice politics through campaign contributions, organizational affiliations and public statements. Hutchison’s endorsement list is short, and when one Seattle journalist looked Hutchison’s campaign finance reports, she found that contributions to Hutchison were from people that either predominantly or exclusively give to conservatives and anti-choice Republicans. In contrast, Hutchison’s opponent Dow Constantine has endorsements from a variety of sources, including NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. Local bloggers suggest that prominent Republicans plan to spend big to elect Hutchison. - Hutchison donated to severely anti-choice candidates like George W. Bush, Dino Rossi, Dave Reichert and Mike Huckabee.
- Hutchison is a former board member of the Discovery Institute, an organization with promotes "intelligent design" (essentially a re-branding of creationism) over evolution.
- Hutchison’s current campaign manager has also worked for anti-choice Senator Sam Brownback and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
- Hutchison has received support and praise from far right conservatives.
Hutchison's statement on family planning: "In lieu of the NARAL questionnaire, I provide this statement which I have provided as well to those who represent themselves as Pro-Life.
The issues surrounding abortion are not relevant to the King County executive race. This is the most divisive issue in America today, with strongly held opinions on both sides. I am not in this race to divide, but to bring people together to solve the complex problems of our county regarding the economy, jobs, transportation, budget deficits, land use, sewage, public safety and growth.
That said, I will uphold the laws of the land.” -Provided by her campaign manager via email on 6/10/2009 Why family planning services, including abortion, ARE relevant to the King County Executive Race, contrary to Hutchison’s statement: - Funding for family planning care: King County operates 9 family planning service centers that provide contraception; STD testing; breast and cervical cancer screenings; pregnancy, adoption and abortion counseling; and maternity and prenatal care for the county’s most marginalized women and teens: the poor, uninsured, communities of color, and non-English speaking. No one is turned away due to inability to pay. This program provides 36,000 visits a year to over 19,000 individuals. Information can be found on King County’s Website.
- Support for school-based health centers: Through a partnership with the City of Seattle and other entities, King County runs 14 school-based and school-linked health centers, which are comprehensive primary care clinics providing medical and mental health screening and treatment for young people on or near school grounds
- Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Curriculum: King County family planning health educators provide training and resources for teachers on a wide rage of sexual health topics, including sexuality, family planning and birth control. The county also provides the comprehensive F.L.A.S.H. curriculum to schools free of charge.
The King County Executive has a far-reaching impact: Half of all King County Executives have gone on to be elected Governor or obtain a high level position in a presidential administration, or both. The views of the Executive not only influence a woman’s right to choose in King County, they also are able to use the position to gain wider influence in local and national politics. A vote for Susan Hutchison jeopardizes women's health in King County! Paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice Washington PAC.
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