I’m mad as hell and not going to take it anymore. Why I’m not voting in WA elections | Opinion

While the political world remains laser-focused on Joe Biden’s health and the raging presidential race, another important election looms. Ballots will soon be arriving for our state’s primary, headlined by the race for the open governor’s seat.

I have already made up my mind in that race. I will not be voting for any of the candidates, or in state legislature contests, for that matter, because of one undeniable fact:

None of the candidates and neither political party seems to give a damn about the major crisis facing our state, the collapse of funding for basic education.

I have written more than once about the failure of the state to meet its paramount duty under the constitution, requiring full funding for basic education. For decades, Washington has forced school districts to use local voter-approved levies for basic needs, straining school district budgets and creating an inequitable system of rich school districts and poor school districts. Now what had been a challenge has become a full-blown crisis.

The Marysville school district has been declared insolvent by the state, and it’s not the only district in dire straits. Four more are operating in the red, according to the Seattle Times, and 14 others face serious financial challenges. Districts across the state are being forced to make significant cuts.

Schools in Pierce County are among the hardest hit. The Puyallup, Tacoma, Franklin Pierce, and Peninsula school districts are all making dramatic cuts to deal with their funding deficits. Orting can’t handle the influx of new students flooding its schools.

When school districts cut budgets, kids suffer. Class sizes rise, programs are canceled, and at-risk kids and special education students don’t get the services they’re entitled to.

It’s unconscionable and unconstitutional.

‘Nowhere to be seen’

Inflation, the loss of temporary federal COVID funds and declines in enrollment may have sparked the current crisis, but the underlying problem is longstanding and political.

Decade after decade, despite numerous court orders — and despite the crystal-clear mandate in the state constitution — Republicans and Democrats have stubbornly refused to fully fund basic education in Washington, and our children are paying the price.

A 2024 report issued by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) is remarkable in its candor and clarity regarding the cause of this crisis: Governors and legislators have simply decided to spend money on other priorities, it suggests.

Even as state revenues have risen, the percentage of the state budget devoted to K-12 education has fallen from 52% in 2019 to just 43% in 2024.

Don’t want to take my word for how incredibly Washington lawmakers have failed in recent years?

Consider this assessment from the WASA report regarding the 2024 legislative session:

“Once again, legislators laid out a laundry list of their top priorities—and K–12 education was nowhere to be seen.”

Ignoring a crisis

Washington schools are being forced to make damaging cuts solely because Olympia politicians have chosen to focus on other things.

It’s an issue that should be dominating the conversation around the governor’s race.

Sadly, it is not.

There are three serious candidates for governor. None of them offer a serious plan to fully fund education in Washington. The same is true for the vast majority of candidates for state legislature this year, regardless of party affiliation.

I spent eight years working for former Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn. I talked to dozens of lawmakers about full state funding of education over the years.

I have spent much of my career working on the issue of school funding, to no avail. I am left with the only tool I have now as a citizen, my vote.

That’s why I’m not voting for any candidate for governor or the legislature who isn’t publicly committed to fully funding Washington schools.

I will be leaving a lot of spaces blank on my ballot this year.

Chris Vance is a former Republican state legislator, King County Council member and State Party Chairman. He left the GOP in 2017. Vance writes a monthly opinion column for The News Tribune.