The 100 Ideas Initiative

Mike Hope is starting to become known as a leader that has found a niche that includes drawing in other leaders and something that many fail at before, getting the both Democrats and Republicans to work with him.

Too often we hear of bickerting among the two parties and the destruction of good policy, but this niche has helped Hope avoid the same pitfalls of others. In 2009, Hope worked with the Governor to ensure that Eryk's Law, an improvement to child abuse laws passed with great bipartisan support.

Again, in 2010 Representative Hope was the lead on the Lakewood Constitutional Amendment. He was seen by both democrats and his own party as the leader of this issue. Mike is also a Seattle Police Officer and wears his law enforcement knowledge and experience on his sleeve in Olympia.

"Four of my law enforcement family members were gunned down in Lakewood. I wear that same common uniform everyday and I am proud of the work we as a law enforcement community do every day," Hope stated. Mike Hope will be banking on that bipartisan support again. Yesterday Mike Hope officially launched a statewide initiative today to find the best ideas for Washingtons future.

The nonpartisan initiative is called 100 Ideas for Washington's Future. Hope was joined by Democrat and Republican leaders from across the state who pledged to listen to the people of Washington to develop a long term agenda for the state's future.

"As much as we as political leaders hope to achieve at the state Capitol, government alone is not the answer to the challenges, and opportunities, of the future. Government cannot build our economy. Government cannot inspire citizens," Hope said. "Instead, the energy and drive of our people will move our state forward," Hope explained. Through a series of town hall meetings and interaction with the state's citizens, the 100 Ideas Initiative will develop a comprehensive vision for our future.

The meetings are called "Idearaisers," and they are the heart of the 100 Ideas program. Hope and other leaders will travel the state throughout 2011 to conduct the Idearaisers. Hope also emphasized that the Initiative is "non-partisan.

In fact, we are not interested in 'Republican' ideas or 'Democrat' ideas. We simply want good ideas - regardless of their source," Hope said. Citizens will also be encouraged to submit their ideas on the program's website - www.100ideaswa.org.

The Board Consists of: Greg Nickels, former Mayor of Seattle Representative Chris Hurst, Washington State Representative 31st District Reagan Dunn, King County Councilmember Kenyon Chan, University of Washington, Bothell Chancellor Janice Green, President, NAACP Snohomish County Branch JJ Frank, Director of Minority Achievers Program, YMCA of Snohomish County Representative Kevin Parker, Washington State Representative 6th District Shannon Affholter, Everett City Council President Mark Lamb, Mayor of Bothell Dr. Bruce Kochis, University of Washington Bothell Hunter Graham Goodman, Assistant Attorney General, Washington State Attorney General's Office Shelly O'Quinn, Director of workforce and education, Spokane Greater Incorporated Jon Nehring, Mayor, City of Marysville Rich Hadley, President and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated Ray Stephanson, Mayor of Everett Bob Drewel, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council Gordon Cole, Small Business Owner Ed Eisseman, Orthopedic Surgeon Suzi Wright, Citizen