Rossi Ahead by 261 Votes - Ballots Now Being Recounted!
Dino Rossi came out ahead of Christine Gregoire by a razor thin 261 votes in Wednesday’s final count for the gubernatorial election. These results are, however, not yet carved in stone. An automatic machine recount of the votes is now taking place. If Rossi’s lead survives the recount, he will become Washington’s first Republican governor since John Spellman left office in 1985.

Rossi Assembles Transition Team – Plans Gubernatorial Agenda!
Rossi named the following transition staff members: J. Vander Stoep, chief of staff; Dan McDonald, budget director; John Giese and Afton Swift, personnel directors; Jim Troyer, legislative affairs director; and Mary Lane, communications director. Rossi also named the following people to his transition team: Wes Uhlman, Louise Miller, Pat Herbold, John Stanton, Jim Waldo, Norward Brooks, Mike McGavick, Nina Collier, Arch Miller, Gary Ely, Ralph Ibarra, Miles Kohl, Fredi Simpson, Bruce Holmstrom, John Hennessy, John Creighton, John Connors and Jim West.

Gregoire Also Assembling Transition Team
Meanwhile, Attorney General Chris Gregoire also is assembling a team for the transition if she is elected. From her Web site, Gregoire says: "I have been quietly working on my transition plans since election day. I am avoiding any public discussion of them until the ballots are certified, because I don’t want to overshadow the ongoing vote count.”

AWB Chair Submits Comments on Workers’ Comp Increase—“No Increase Next Year!”
Chair Tom Lemly submitted AWB’s comments on the proposed rate increase for 2005. AWB is asking L&I for an independent audit of the funds, implementation of administrative efficiencies, and legislative changes to Cockle, Cockle-related cases and the Avundes decision. Copies of AWB’s comments are available. Contact AWB’s Shannon Garland at ShannonG@awb.org or (360) 943-1600.

AWB Submits Written Comments to Outsourcing Work Group
Last week, AWB participated in a work session of the state House Commerce & Labor Committee seeking an update on the issue of “offshore outsourcing.” AWB joined together with the Washington Council on International Trade and submitted written comments to the committee. You may read the comments at www.awb.org/law/offshore1104.pdf. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@AWB.org.

Human Resources Council Meeting Tomorrow – Will Discuss Policy Objectives for 2005!
The next Human Resources Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 9:30 a.m. -12:00 noon at the Association of General Contractors (942 Pacific Ave, Tacoma). The purpose will be to review all HR policy objectives for the 2005 session and to discuss the election outcomes and the impact to the objectives. Contact AWB’s Amber Carter at (360) 943-1600 or AmberC@awb.org.

Department of Revenue Hearings – Starting Next Week!
Public hearings and public meetings on Dept. of Revenue rules will be held at the Capitol Plaza Building in Olympia at 1:30 p.m. The schedule is: Monday, Dec. 6 (WAC 458-30-262 - Agricultural land valuation, Interest rate, Property tax component and WAC 458-30-590 - Rate of inflation, Publication, Interest rate, Calculation); and Monday, Dec. 20 (Repealing WAC 458-12-320 – Timber, Ownership, Valuations, Roads, Easements). Comments are due Tuesday, Nov. 30 on WAC 458-20-228 - Returns, remittances, penalties, extensions, interest, stay of collection. Contact AWB’s Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Invitations Extended to Governor-Elect to Address the Board on Dec. 8 in Seattle
Hopefully by Dec. 8, Washington will have a governor-elect. AWB has sent an invitation to the new governor-elect to address the Board at lunch that day. Gary Moore, the former state lead negotiator on the state’s first collective bargaining agreement will also address AWB’s Board of Directors. This event will take place Wednesday, Dec. 8, 12 noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Madison Renaissance in Seattle. At the luncheon (12 noon-1:30 p.m., $45 per person), the Better Workplace Award winners will be presented. The Board meeting itself will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Register online at www.awb.org/events/DecBoard.asp. Contact AWB’s Amy Johnson at (360) 943-1600 or AmyJ@awb.org.

Speaker Chopp to Discuss 2005 Legislative Agenda – Next UI Committee Meeting!
AWB’s Unemployment Insurance Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 15, 9 a.m. at a Seattle location to be determined. House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) will discuss legislative proposals and issues related to the UI system. An additional update on the 2005 ESD budget proposal will also be presented. Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Tax and Fiscal Policy Council to Meet Jan. 4 – OFM Director Brown Will Speak!
AWB’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Council will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. at AWB in Olympia. OFM Director Marty Brown will attend this meeting to brief the council on the governor’s proposed 2005-2007 budget. Contact Tom McBride at (360) 943-1600 or TomM@awb.org.

Plan Ahead! UW President Mark A. Emmert Will Speak to Executive Committee on March 11!
University of Washington President Dr. Mark Emmert will speak to AWB Executive Committee on March 11. Contact AWB’s Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.

Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree – Coming Nov. 23! We Still Need Donations!
Our Capitol Holiday Kids’ Tree will arrive Nov. 23 at the Capitol Campus in Olympia and be set in place near historic Tivoli Fountain. The 30-foot tree is being provided to the state by AWB member Port Blakely Tree Farms of Olympia. The official tree lighting is Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Following the lighting, the public is invited to a reception in the Temple of Justice. All donations will be used to purchase gifts for deserving rural families. Deserving families are identified through a network of volunteer fire fighters who also distribute the gifts. Contact Bonnie Millikan at (360) 943-1600 or BonnieM@awb.org.