Here is the rundown of the undecided state senators, via The Stranger:
Mary Margaret Haugen, D-10
At a recent appearance at a Whidbey Island senior center, Senator Mary Margaret Haugen was confronted by a roomful of aging constituents over her squirrelly nonposition on marriage equality. "I'm listening to all sides and keeping an open mind," Haugen said in a statement afterward, explaining that she is currently undecided. "I feel the best option is to send it to the voters on a referendum, but I'm still hearing from constituents and I want them to have full opportunity to make their views known." Here's what's so maddeningly squirrelly about this: No one's talking about denying Washingtonians the right to vote on marriage equality. In fact, if marriage equality passes the legislature this year, irate, knuckle-dragging religious conservatives are certain to put the issue up for a vote of the people in November by running a referendum. The question right now: Where does Haugen, 70, stand? She voted for the historic "everything but marriage" domestic partnership bill in 2009. She's almost there for marriage. But not quite—not yet.
Contact: 360-786-7618 or marymargaret.haugen@leg.wa.gov
Joe Fain, R-47
This 31-year-old senator represents the Auburn, Covington, and Black Diamond areas southeast of Seattle. (And what does a 31-year-old guy do late at night in Auburn? Stay up undecided, apparently.) Silver lining: While Fain's territory is not the most liberal in the state, it's hardly the most conservative, either. Elected in 2010, he's never had to vote on any of the domestic-partnership bills that passed from 2007 to 2009, so his position on rights for same-sex couples is untested. Which means there's hope. Fain got his start in politics as a staffer at the King County Council, and he styles himself as a moderate Republican in the mold of King County Council member Reagan Dunn. Worth mentioning to Fain: Dunn recently came out in favor of marriage equality. (Also worth mentioning: Being a 31-year-old against marriage equality is demographic treason.)
Contact: 360-786-7692 or joe.fain@leg.wa.gov
Brian Hatfield, D-19
Hatfield is a Democrat, true, but he represents the conservative southwest Washington areas surrounding Long Beach and Westport, as well as the city of Longview. He was one of the few Democrats to vote against "everything but marriage" in 2009. On the other hand, Hatfield, 45, potentially has quite a few years of public service ahead of him—a long time to be known as the guy who was on the wrong side of history. (And guys on the wrong side of history never get out of Longview, Brian.) You'd think that would be convincing enough, but apparently he still needs some convincing.
Contact: 360-786-7636 or brian.hatfield@leg.wa.gov
Andy Hill, R-45
This 49-year-old, lung-cancer surviving, Harvard-educated former Microsoft program manager represents Microsoft's Eastside district. To give you an idea of just how moderate his constituents are: Lefty drug reformer Roger Goodman represents them in the house. (Goodman is a guaranteed yes vote and isn't afraid of any push-back when he runs for reelection this year.) So if Hill knows what's good for him, he'll vote yes. But as of now, he's hunkered down, vascillating—dirty!—at some undisclosed Redmond-area location.
Contact: 360-786-7672 or andy.hill@leg.wa.gov
Paull Shin, D-21
"He hasn't made any public statement on whether he is for or against it," Shin's office tells The Stranger. "He's weighing in with the constituents." The rumored issue for the man who represents Edmonds and voted no on "everything but marriage" in 2009: his Mormon faith. Not an issue, but weird to people who don't know about his remarkable backstory: Shin, 76, spells his first name with two Ls. (But hey, who is the LGBTQITSLFA community to judge? Look, something in common already!)
Contact: 360-786-7640 or paull.shin@leg.wa.gov
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