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Jim Kastama
Jim Kastama (b. October 5, 1959) is a former Democratic member of the Washington State Senate, representing District 25 from 2001 to 2013. He previously served as Assistant Democratic Whip. Previously, Kastama served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000. From 1999 to 2000 he was House Assistant Democratic Leader in the House.[1] He ran for Washington Secretary of State in 2012.
Kastama attended Claremont Men's College. He went on to earn his B.A. from the University of California - Berkeley.
Kastama is a member of the part-time faculty at South Puget Sound Community College.[2]
Committee assignments
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Kastama served on the following committees:
- Joint Administrative Rules Review
- Economic Development, Trade & Innovation Committee, Washington State Senate, Chair
- Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, Washington State Senate
- Ways and Means Committee, Washington State Senate
Elections
2012
Senator Kastama ran for Secretary of State in 2012. He faced 6 opponents, representing all parties, in Washington's blanket primary election on August 7, 2012. He was defeated in the primary by Kim Wyman ((R) and Kathleen Drew (D).[3]
| Washington Secretary of State, Primary, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kim Wyman |
39.8% | 528,754 | |
| Democratic | Kathleen Drew |
21.7% | 289,052 | |
| Democratic | Greg Nickels | 15.9% | 210,832 | |
| Democratic | Jim Kastama | 13.9% | 185,425 | |
| Constitution Party | Karen Murray | 3.8% | 50,888 | |
| No Party Preference | David Anderson | 3.3% | 44,276 | |
| Human Rights Party | Sam Wright | 1.6% | 20,809 | |
| Total Votes | 1,330,036 | |||
| Election results via Washington Secretary of State (dead link)' | ||||
Kastama told voters about his plans to apply "the same practicality, ingenuity, and boldness that has defined my sixteen years in the State Legislature," to the job of secretary of state.[4] He cites raising voter confidence and youth registration as priorities for the office, as well as modernizing the office through new technologies.[4]
Endorsements
Kastama's 2012 bid for secretary of state was endorsed by several individuals, elected officials, and organizations, including The Seattle Times. The times published its statement of support on July 20, saying that "[Kastama] has a legislative record of seeking improvements that serve citizens, rather than special interests, and courageously bucks the party line when necessary."Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
Full List of Endorsements
Organizations Independent Business Association of Washington SEIU Local 1948 Public School Employees of Washington Unanimously Endorsed by hometown 25th (Puyallup) Legislative District Democratic Club
Brad Owen, Lieutenant Governor Brian Hatfield, State Senator 19th District Raymond Derek Kilmer, State Senator 26th District Gig Harbor Ed Murray, State Senator 43rd District Seattle Mary Margaret Haugen, State Senator 10th District Camano Island Paull Shin, State Senator 21st District Edmunds Rodney Tom, State Senator 48th District Bellevue Steve Hobbs, State Senator 44th District Lake Stevens Tim Sheldon, State Senator 35th District Potlatch Rosemary McAuliffe, State Senator 1st District Bothell Deb Eddy, State Representative 48th DIstrict Kirkland Mark Miloscia, State Representative 30th District Federal Way Christopher Hurst, Representative 31st District Enumclaw Marilyn Strickland, Tacoma City Mayor Julia Patterson, King County Councilmember Paul Pastor, Pierce County Sheriff Timothy Farrell, Pierce County Council Marty Campbell, Tacoma City Council Rob Cerqui, Fife City Council
Larry Vognild, Senate Majority Leader 38th District Everett Marc Gaspard, Senate Majority Leader 25th District Puyallup Sid Snyder, Senate Majority Leader 19th District Raymond Don Carlson, State Senator 49th District Vancouver Jean Berkey, State Senator 38th District Everett Ken Jacobson, State Senator 46th District Seattle Marilyn Rasmussen, State Senator 2nd District, South Pierce & Eastern Thurston Counties Phil Rockefeller, State Senator 23rd District Bainbridge Island Rosa Franklin, State Senator 29th District South Tacoma Alex Wood, State Representative 3rd District Spokane Jeff Gombosky, State Representative 3rd District Spokane Eric Oemig, State Senator 45th District Redmond
Benjamin Lee, President of the Hong Kong Association of Washington The Brouillet Family (Marc, Tamara, Jordan and Brooke), Puyallup Bill Nerin, Washington Clean Elections Bill Stafford, Past President of The Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle Cindi Laws, Executive Director of Washington State Residential Care Council of Adult Family Homes Dan Comsia, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Dawn Lucien, Tacoma Community Leader Eric Holdeman, Director of Security Port of Tacoma, Leader in emergency management and homeland security Jack Breese, Former Director of Microsoft Research Linden Rhodes, Vice Provost - Technology Transfer, University of Washington Lyle Quasim, President of Bates Technical College and former Director of DSHS Rogelio Riojas, President & CEO SEA MAR Community Health Centers, Clinica de la Comunidad Rose Ehart, Chairwoman Pierce County Democratic Party Sam Smith, Past President of Washington State University Timothy D. Ford, Assistant Attorney General for Government Accountability and Open Government Ombudsman David Zepponi, President of NW Food Processors Association |
2008
On November 4, 2008, Kastama was re-elected for the 25th District of the Washington State Senate receiving 32,988 votes.
Kastama raised $150,420 for his campaign.[5]
| Washington State Senate, District 25 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Jim Kastama (D)
|
32,988 | |||
| Michele Smith (R) | 25,338 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Kastama and his wife Barbara have five children.
Scorecards
Freedom Foundation
The Freedom Foundation releases its Big Spender List annually. The Institute ranks all Washington legislators based on their total proposed tax and fee increases. To find each legislator’s total, the Institute adds up the 10-year tax increases or decreases, as estimated by Washington’s Office of Financial Management, of all bills sponsored or co-sponsored by that legislator.[6]
2012
Kastama proposed a 10-year increase in state taxes and fees of $4.3 million, the 38th highest amount of proposed new taxes and fees of the 46 Washington state senators on the Freedom Foundation’s 2012 Big Spender List.[7]
- See also: Washington Freedom Foundation Legislative Scorecard (2012)
The Freedom Foundation also issued its 2012 Informed Voter Guide for Washington State voters, including a legislative score card documenting how Washington State legislators voted upon bills the Foundation deemed important legislation. The legislation analyzed covered budget, taxation, and pension issues.[8] A 
sign indicates a bill more in line with the Foundation's stated goals, and a 
sign indicates a bill out of step with the Foundation's values. Here's how Kastama voted on the specific pieces of legislation:
| 2012 Senate Scorecard - Jim Kastama | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill #6636 (Balanced budget requirement)
|
Bill #5967 (Senate Republicans budget)
|
Bill #6582 (Local transportation tax increases)
|
Bill #6378 (Pension reforms)
| ||||||||
| Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
Recent news
This section displays the most recent stories in a Google News search for the term "Jim + Kastama + Washington + Senate"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
External links
- Jim Kastama on the Washington State Senate website (dead link)
- Senate Democrats website
- Legislative profile of Kastama on Project Vote Smart
- Biographical profile of Kastama on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1998, 1996
- Campaign website
- Washington Votes profile of Kastama
- Jim Kastama for Secretary of State
- Follow Kastma on Twitter
- Jim Kastama on Facebook
- Kastama on YouTube
Footnotes
- ↑ 25th Legislative District Map
- ↑ Project Vote Smart - Sen. Kastama
- ↑ Washington Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Results," August 7, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jim Kastama for Secretary of State, "Jim Kastama," accessed May 17, 2012
- ↑ Follow the Money's report on Kastama 2008 campaign contributions
- ↑ Freedom Foundation's 2012 Big Spender List
- ↑ Freedom Foundation's 2012 list of Washington state senators by proposed new taxes and fees
- ↑ My Freedom Foundation, "Home," accessed June 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Washington State Senate District 25 2001-2013 |
Succeeded by Bruce Dammeier (R) |
