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07/18/2008: "Quall Endorses Ranker Opponent"

40th District representative Dave Quall’s endorsement today of 40th District Senate candidate Ken Henderson (photo left) may represent a fatal blow to the aspirations of County Councilman Kevin Ranker’s bid to represent the 40th district Senate seat.

The endorsement may make Henderson the front runner against Republican Steve Van Luven, who has been making trips to San Juan County in his bid for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Harriet Spanel.


Ken Henderson’s campaign has built strong momentum, and taken the lead in campaign donations, having raised nearly $50,000.00, and received high quality endorsements, including endorsement of the Washington State Labor Council-the largest labor organization in the state representing over 400,000 members; the N.W. Washington Central Labor Council-representing San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom County; the democratic recommendation from the Washington Federation of State Employees-local 1381 and 1060; Retired Public Employees Council chapter 7, and the Bellingham Fire-Fighters local IAFF 106.

“It is a great honor to have the support of Representative Quall. Education is one of the most important issues that the legislature must address and I look forward to working with Dave for the future of our children,” Ken Henderson said

Dave Quall has been representing the 40th District for some 14 years and is the chair of the House Education Committee which considers kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) educational policy and finance issues. Previously, Representative Quall served 38 years teaching, coaching and counseling both at Mount Vernon High School and at Skagit Valley College.

Ken Henderson, 59, practiced optometry for 25 years in Bellingham, Lynden and East Sound. He has extensive community and government service in a broad range of areas from health care, community planning, aging and mental health, and environmental protection. Ken is a graduate of Skagit Valley College, Western Washington University and Pacific University.

He served on the Whatcom County Council, Bellingham Planning Commission, United Way board, and a number of other government and community organizations. Ken has been a strong advocate for parks in the area, serving eight years on the Whatcom County Parks Board, the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation Board from 1998 to 2007 and currently serves on the Deception Pass State Park Advisory Board.

Ken is a Vietnam veteran and has been providing health care for economically disadvantaged patients locally in his practice and in medical missions to Central Ameri ca for many years.

“Ken Henderson has gained my confidence and support, from his impeccable track record of service to Bellingham and Whatcom county, to his humanitarian medical work for children in “third world” countries. Ken has proven that he is committed to the people in the communities of the 40th district and those who are less fortunate in communities everywhere.” -Dave Quall