Environmental group to launch election ads

SEATTLE – Two political coalitions are mostly responsible for the attack ads in the Washington gubernatorial race, but a third group is getting ready to join the fun.

A coalition of environmental groups is preparing to launch a $750,000 advertising campaign to boost Democrat Jay Inslee in his bid against Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, the Seattle Times reported in Saturday’s newspaper.

Washington Conservation Voters will join the two major players in independent spending in the governor’s race, the Republican Governors Association Washington PAC and the coalition of unions and Democratic groups that make up OUR Washington.

Both groups have run two TV ads each attacking their party’s rival, leaving the campaigns to mostly run positive advertisements.

The Republican Governors Association Washington, which is supported entirely by the national Republican Governors Association, has raised about $6 million. OUR Washington has raised about $5.8 million.

The Washington Conservation Voters effort, which will not include TV advertising, marks the environmental community’s largest-ever commitment to a state political race, said Brendon Cechovic, the group’s executive director, who predicted the campaign “is going to surprise Rob McKenna in a big way.”

An association of Realtors has run radio ads supporting McKenna, but other previously active groups appear to be teaming up with the major coalitions or sitting this campaign out. The well-funded national super PACs have also stayed away from Washington so far.

“We’re kind of waiting for another shoe to drop,” said Christian Sinderman, a consultant working with the Inslee campaign. “I’m sure there will be more interest as the election gets closer.”

Independent expenditures – spending on behalf of a candidate but not coordinated with the campaign – are having an impact in races across the nation. The outside-spending groups are attractive to political activists because unlike the candidates’ campaigns, they can accept and spend unlimited donations.

The current pooling of sources was called a smart move by Chris Vance, a former chairman of the state Republican Party.

“That way nobody blames you for the message,” Vance said.

One group bucking the trend toward broad coalitions this year is the environmentalists.

“The environmental community has never been so excited about a candidate in the state of Washington,” said Cechovic, the executive director. “Jay Inslee has been a tremendous champion for our issues. It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”