Just four weeks until general election ballots arrive
Nancy Churchill
Dangerous Rhetoric
In Washington state’s all vote-by-mail system, our voting period for the 2024 general election begins on Oct. 18, and continues to Nov. 5. We now have four weeks until ballots are mailed to the voters.
In today’s column, we’re going to look at the state executive offices of treasurer and insurance commissioner. These two races don’t get much attention from the media outlets, so you probably don’t have a clue about the candidates running in these critically important races. However, you probably know how to manage your household finances and how to buy insurance. Since these two offices impact both the state finances and insurance costs, these two races need your full attention!
As an informed voter, you can help improve every Washingtonian’s quality of life by sharing this information with your friends who are tired of the progressive Democratic policies being widely implemented in Washington state. Additionally, be sure to share this article with your friends who usually ignore politics: We are all significantly impacted by the Insurance Commissioner when we need home, auto, or health insurance. These races are important!
What is the job of state treasurer?
The Washington treasurer is a state executive position defined in the Washington Constitution, and elected every four years. As the state’s chief financial officer, the treasurer manages cash flow, investments, and state debt from legislatively-approved bond sales. Just like you manage your income from work, manage credit card debt and set aside money for savings and investments, the state does the same thing. You might even rely on an accountant to help you with taxes or financial planning. It makes sense to want the state’s treasurer have some financial and accounting training for this important work.
Sharon Hanek for treasurer
Fortunately for Washington, CPA Sharon Hanek is running for treasurer. She’s is a CPA with over twenty-five years experience in accounting and auditing and through her work has a strong understanding of financial systems. Sharon also has many of years experience researching and analyzing bills, working with legislators, and testifying on issues related to budget, taxes, transportation and education. She has extensive service as a volunteer, and has also served on several Pierce County boards, like the planning commission and redistricting commission.
One of Sharon’s goals as treasurer is to make sure that state agencies are following correct financial control procedures, in order to prevent scandals like the $650 million Nigerian unemployment fraud scheme on the Employment Security Department. Vote for Sharon Hanek to make sure that our state’s funds are handled with integrity and honesty and to the highest financial controls and standards.
If you’d like to see and hear Sharon explain her background and goals, I recommend that you watch this short informational video. I know Sharon personally and can give her my strongest endorsement. She’s highly qualified, easy to work with, and would be a great state treasurer. The incumbent in this race is a lawyer. Wouldn’t you rather have a qualified financial expert taking care of the state’s funds?
What is the job of insurance commissioner?
According to the agency’s website, “The Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner protects insurance consumers and oversees the insurance industry. We make sure insurance companies follow the rules and people get the coverage they’ve paid for.” The insurance commissioner also sets the rules for the insurance companies, and may even directly impact policy prices using this rule-making power. This is one of the only executive offices that is governed by rule, not by law, so the person who serves as Insurance Commissioner has a great deal of discretion and immediate control.
If you’re worried about rising insurance costs and reduced policy availability, this is a race that will have a big impact on your pocketbook.
Phil Fortunato for insurance commissioner
Phil Fortunato is a Republican state senator who is running for insurance commissioner. In a video interview, he describes the job as being “the advocate for the consumer” with all of the insurance companies operating in Washington State. Fortunato describes the rule-making process and points out that with rule-making authority, the insurance commissioner can make a positive difference in as little as 30 to 40 days.
However, in the wrong hands, this authority could also have a negative impact, by sending rates higher. For example, it would be possible for the commissioner to require every health insurance policy to cover procedures that most consumers don’t want or need. After all, most people buy insurance to cover an unexpected event, not for something that they plan to do in the future. Why should consumers have to pay for coverage for a procedure they won’t ever want or need?
Fortunato promises to work for more consumer-driven decision making in regard to what they want in their insurance coverage. He will advocate for reasonable regulations, more competition and lower costs for consumers. You can learn more about this great candidate at voteFortunato.org.
Are you ready to fix what’s broken in Washington State? You can volunteer with campaigns at any level — county, state, state legislative, U.S. congressional or national. If you have 20 minutes a day to use to make a difference in our elections, contact me, and I’ll help you find a candidate or cause to support! Don’t wait to volunteer… start today! It will take all of us working together to change hearts and minds and win elections.
Nancy Churchill is a writer and educator in rural eastern Washington State, and the state committeewoman for the Ferry County Republican Party. She may be reached at DangerousRhetoric@pm.me. The opinions expressed in Dangerous Rhetoric are her own. Dangerous Rhetoric is available on thinkspot, Rumble and Substack.
Sources:
1) Ballotpedia, Washington Treasurer 2024, https://bit.ly/3XxuTi9
2) Sharon Hanek for Treasurer, https://bit.ly/4delaTF
3) Sharon Hanek for Treasurer YouTube, https://bit.ly/3zj3NTZ
4) What we do, Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner, https://bit.ly/3ZuakWs
5) Phil Fortunato for Insurance Commissioner, https://bit.ly/3TBowsM
6) FPIW – Phil Fortunato Interview, https://bit.ly/3Xzb2Pt
Also read:
- WA governor pressed to veto $1.8B piece of Democrats’ tax bill
Grocers and restaurateurs are urging Gov. Ferguson to veto a surcharge in HB 2081 that they say will raise food prices statewide. - Letter: ‘It’s said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit’
Amboy resident Thomas Schenk criticizes Olympia’s use of “emergency clauses” and other legislative tactics that limit public participation. - Opinion: What the 2025 legislature tells us about why Washington’s government keeps failingTodd Myers of the Washington Policy Center argues that Washington’s government fails because it resists humility, experimentation, and accountability in its policymaking.
- Town hall: Republicans say they are the ones fighting for the working classFour Republican legislators gathered in Battle Ground for a town hall to address rising taxes, education concerns, and their push to support Washington’s working class.
- Pooneh Gray Files for Vancouver City CouncilPooneh Gray has filed to run for Position #1 on the Vancouver City Council, emphasizing public safety, homelessness solutions, and community justice.
CPA Sharon Hanek is running for treasurer. She has my vote. Sharon is a highly qualified financial expert, who has an exemplary trustworthy background and experience. I have heard Sharon speak and this job was meant for her! This is what she went to college for.
Nancy Churchill, thank you for writing this article.
The incumbent is a lawyer. In my opinion: I would not trust him because most lawyers do not use common law, the Christian laws of the Bible. From what I have seen in our court systems today, justice does not prevail. Lawyers use Fork tongue, Double Speak, or The Color of Law. (Black Law’s Dictionary) What is his law background in? Financial matters? I respect his law degree, but he isn’t a CPA!
Sharon Haneck has the abilities we need.
The insurance commission is very important, for lots of preseasons. Did you know in CA some places were the fires were, you can’t buy home owners insurance? (The California FAIR Plan provides last-resort coverage to residents of California. The coverage is far less than a standard home insurance policy, but it provides some protection rather than nothing, which not only is helpful but may be a requirement of a mortgage lender. If a California homeowner cannot obtain coverage through the traditional route they should look to the FAIR plan for coverage.) WA could follow suit. Why do we need insurance on everything we purchase? We pay for faulty products that break easily and fill up our dump sites. How green is that? Please research and try to pick the best person, for these overlooked elected positions, that really have a big impact on your pocketbook.
State treasurer is one of those positions that could very easily be non-partisan in my opinion. Ask yourself, do you care if your tax preparer is a democrat or republican, or do you care that they are a competent CPA with years of experience who will do the best job preparing your taxes?
I have known Sharon since 2018 and she is one of the smartest most competent people I know. She has successfully managed the finances of many groups and individuals and she is known and respected by many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
She is also knowledgeable of the law and can read and understand a bill better than most people I know. Whenever I have a hard time interpreting a bill I call her and she can explain it in a way that I understand and explain what the impact will be.
No matter if you are democrat, republican, independant, or nothing at all Sharon Hanek will take her fiducial responsibility seriously and do what is financially best for all Washington residents.