Doug Ericksen Explained

State Senate:Washington
District:42nd
Term Start:January 10, 2011
Term End:December 17, 2021
Predecessor:Dale Brandland
Successor:Simon Sefzik
State House2:Washington
District2:42nd
Termstart2:January 11, 1999
Termend2:January 10, 2011
Preceded2:Georgia Anne Gardner
Succeeded2:Jason Overstreet
Party:Republican
Spouse:Tasha Ericksen
Children:2
Birth Name:Douglas John Ericksen
Birth Date:28 January 1969
Birth Place:Bellingham, Washington, U.S.
Death Place:Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Website:Official

Douglas John Ericksen[1] (January 28, 1969 – December 17, 2021) was an American politician and lobbyist who served as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 42nd district from 2011 to 2021.[2] Ericksen was the ranking member of the body's Energy, Environment, and Telecommunications Committee.[3] In April 2019, he registered as a foreign agent to consult and lobby for Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia.[4]

Early life and education

Ericksen was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in government from Cornell University and a Master of Arts in political science and environmental policy from Western Washington University.[5]

Career

Ericksen began his political career working for Washington State Senator Ann Anderson, 42nd Legislative District, while he was attending Western Washington University. In 1998, he accepted a position with the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Legislative Affairs Coordinator. He left his position with the Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1998 to run for the Washington State House of Representatives.[6] After serving six terms in the House, Ericksen was elected to the Washington State Senate in 2010.[7]

As ranking member of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, Ericksen opposed bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[8]

In November 2016, following protests against Donald Trump and fracking, Ericksen authored a bill that would treat some common protest actions, such as blocking traffic and rail lines, as economic terrorism and allow for felony prosecution of individuals who take part in such action.[9] [10] At that time, Ericksen said to reporters: "I completely support your First Amendment right to protest, [but] you do not have the First Amendment right to block a train."[11]

In January 2017, Ericksen accepted the temporary position of interim director of communications with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, but stated he would not resign from his senate seat.[12] He was named Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator for Public Engagement but declined to take the job over commuting concerns and his position as senator.[13]

Ericksen was narrowly reelected in 2018, receiving 49.9% of the 72,779 votes cast.[14]

In November 2020, Ericksen proposed legislation[15] to eliminate the voting by mail system used by the state for years and change other voting measures, citing unsubstantiated concerns about "election security".[16] Ericksen claimed that the bill was necessary and falsely claimed that there was widespread voter fraud in the state's 2020 election.[17]

In 2021, Ericksen was primary sponsor for a bill "Protecting the right of every Washington resident to decline an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19."[18] Ericksen had also voiced opposition toward state measures aiming to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as masking, social distancing, and vaccine mandates.

Lobbying

In May 2013, the Associated Press reported that Ericksen was "the biggest beneficiary of lobbyist expense accounts" among Washington state legislators during the first four months of 2013, receiving free meals, drinks or golf 62 times in that period. Ericksen said his meetings with lobbyists allow him to learn about issues, and argued that "A $49 dinner is not going to sway me from doing what's right for my constituents."[19] [20]

In May 2018 Ericksen joined fellow state senator Michael Baumgartner, Representative Vincent Buys, and football coach Mike Leach on a trip to Cambodia.[21] [22] [23] He returned in July with Representatives Buys, Drew MacEwen, and Brandon Vick to observe the 2018 Cambodian general election, though MacEwen and Vick departed after the U.S. Ambassador expressed concerns about the election, which was widely called a "sham".[23] [24] [25] He met with Cambodia's authoritarian prime minister Hun Sen[23] [26] and later called the election "very free, very fair", saying the opposition party's elimination was a "political question".[27] Ericksen's actions were condemned by Governor Jay Inslee[23] [28] and the NGO Human Rights Watch, which said of the delegation, "they hold in contempt the principles of free and fair elections, an independent media, and a neutral election administration—because all those things are lacking in Hun Sen's Cambodia."[29] In a meeting with Sen at the United Nations in September, he called for allowing a search for MIA Vietnam War soldiers.[30]

Ericksen visited Prime Minister Hun Sen again in Phnom Penh in March 2019, where he stated his belief the 2018 Cambodian general election was "free, just and non-violent",[31] as quoted by Cambodian media that inflated his position as "US Senator".[32] [33] Cambodia's elections were widely criticized by human rights groups and international observers, and the White House said they were "neither free nor fair and failed to represent the will of the Cambodian people".[34] [35] Some of Ericksen's travel was paid for by campaign funds, which state law requires to be used for official responsibilities.[33]

In April 2019, Ericksen registered as a foreign lobbyist for the Cambodian government; his consulting company, co-owned with former state representative Jay Rodne, will be paid US$500,000 a year to arrange official visits between the countries and business leaders.[34] [36] They are the only registered Cambodian agents besides a major lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.[37] The move was criticized by Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, who sought to sanction Cambodia's "brutal dictatorship".

In February 2021, Ericksen missed legislative votes to act as a monitor for the 2021 Salvadoran legislative election, which strengthened the position of El Salvador's authoritarian president's party.[38] He praised the country's "large military and police presence" at polling places as "reassuring".[39]

Personal life and death

Ericksen and his wife, Tasha, had two daughters, Addi and Elsa, and lived in Ferndale, Washington. Tasha is a high school teacher.[40]

In November 2021, Ericksen tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after arriving in El Salvador. Unable to get back to the United States, Ericksen emailed Republican colleagues to help send him monoclonal antibodies (a treatment for COVID-19) as they were reportedly not available in El Salvador.[41] [42] Although it was initially reported that Ericksen was medically evacuated via helicopter to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to continue treatment, the senator had not been heard from publicly since his request for the antibody treatment.[43] [44] Ericksen died on December 17, 2021, at the age of 52.[45] [46] [47] [48]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Candidate Registration, Douglas John Ericksen. Public Disclosure Commission, State of Washington. September 2, 2020. December 14, 2021. December 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211215071043/https://apollo.pdc.wa.gov/public/registrations/registration?registration_id=19984. live.
  2. Web site: Project Vote Smart.org, Douglas Ericksen biography . June 21, 2012 . November 1, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101101013256/https://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=26187 . live .
  3. Web site: Environment, Energy & Technology Committee Members & Staff. Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee – Washington State Legislature. April 6, 2019. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406172623/http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/ENET/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx. live.
  4. Web site: US Republican senator registers to lobby for Cambodia. April 6, 2019. South China Morning Post. April 6, 2019. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406014814/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3004939/us-republican-senator-doug-ericksen-registers-lobby. live.
  5. Web site: Doug Ericksen. July 25, 2020. Ballotpedia. en. November 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106015421/https://ballotpedia.org/Doug_Ericksen. live.
  6. News: Doug Ericksen will see Gardner's seat. The Bellingham Herald. June 11, 1998. December 19, 2021. December 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219235457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90844619/doug-ericksen-will-see-gardners-seat/. live.
  7. Web site: Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies after COVID battle at age 52. CBS News. December 20, 2021. December 20, 2021. December 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220130455/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doug-ericksen-dies-covid-age-52-washington-state-senator/. live.
  8. Web site: September 20, 2014. Clash over climate change powers state Senate race in 42nd. December 19, 2021. The Seattle Times. en-US. December 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211218235326/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/clash-over-climate-change-powers-state-senate-race-in-42nd/. live.
  9. Web site: Sen. Ericksen to propose bill making 'illegal protests' a felony. bellinghamherald. en. April 7, 2019. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020433/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=115342263&intcid=ab_archive. live.
  10. Web site: Ericksen files bill adding penalties for 'economic disruption' acts. Lynden Tribune. December 21, 2016 . en. April 9, 2019. January 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210120075831/https://www.lyndentribune.com/news/ericksen-files-bill-adding-penalties-for-economic-disruption-acts/article_133b241c-c78f-11e6-b773-d72b009f73b9.html. live.
  11. News: New protest bills: Stamping out 'economic terrorism' or chilling free expression?. March 16, 2017. Christian Science Monitor. April 8, 2019. 0882-7729. December 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181212002612/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2017/0316/New-protest-bills-Stamping-out-economic-terrorism-or-chilling-free-expression. live.
  12. Web site: January 23, 2017. Trump administration taps 2 Washington state GOP legislators to help reshape EPA. December 2, 2020. The Seattle Times. en-US. October 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201015030450/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/trump-administration-taps-two-washington-state-legislators-to-help-reshape-epa/. live.
  13. Web site: Records show Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen was appointed to $133,000 EPA job, but backed out. February 27, 2018. The Seattle Times. en-US. April 8, 2019. April 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405213453/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/records-show-washington-state-sen-doug-ericksen-was-appointed-to-133000-epa-job-but-backed-out/. live.
  14. Web site: Mittendorf. Robert. Ericksen, Van Werven hang on to legislative seats after hand recount — but just barely. April 5, 2019. The Bellingham Herald. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020516/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=222613480&intcid=ab_archive. live.
  15. Web site: SB 5143 – 2021–22. live. December 19, 2021. Washington State Legislature. December 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219045300/https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5143&Year=2021.
  16. News: Mittendorf. Robert. November 10, 2020. Whatcom legislator seeks end to Washington's all-mail voting. Bellingham Herald. live. April 3, 2021. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020435/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=247100297&intcid=ab_archive.
  17. Web site: Krieg. Hannah. March 8, 2021. WA looking at ranked-choice voting among election reform ideas. live. August 16, 2021. Crosscut.com. en. August 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210816044155/https://crosscut.com/politics/2021/03/wa-looking-ranked-choice-voting-among-election-reform-ideas.
  18. Web site: SB 5144 – 2021–22. live. December 19, 2021. Washington State Legislature. December 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219044546/https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5144&Year=2021.
  19. News: Baker. Mike. May 29, 2013. Report: Ferndale lawmaker accepts most free meals from lobbyists. AP via Bellingham Herald. dead. May 19, 2014. https://archive.today/20140227191623/http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/05/29/3029408/report-ferndale-lawmaker-accepts.html. February 27, 2014.
  20. News: Associated Press. May 29, 2013. Lobbyists pamper Washington state lawmakers with free meals in Olympia. AP via The Oregonian. May 29, 2013. August 23, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140823150941/http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/lobbyists_pamper_washington_st.html. live.
  21. Web site: Dara . Mech . US Senator holds talks on 'strengthening cooperation' . The Phnom Penh Post . July 28, 2018 . July 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180727142328/https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-senator-holds-talks-strengthening-cooperation . live .
  22. Web site: Leach joins lawmakers on trip to Cambodia The Spokesman-Review. www.spokesman.com. April 5, 2019. April 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405215529/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/may/09/leach-joins-lawmakers-on-trip-to-cambodia/. live.
  23. Web site: Questions raised over Washington state lawmakers' visit to Cambodia to observe elections. August 4, 2018. The Seattle Times. April 5, 2019. April 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405213502/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/questions-raised-over-washington-state-lawmakers-visit-to-cambodia-to-observe-elections/. live.
  24. Web site: State Sen. Doug Ericksen out of order to approve of a sham foreign election. The Seattle Times editorial board. September 23, 2018. The Seattle Times. April 5, 2019. April 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405213442/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/lawmaker-out-of-order-to-approve-of-a-sham-foreign-election/. live.
  25. Web site: Hun Sen wins 'sham' Cambodia election in landslide after silencing main opposition. July 30, 2018. ABC News. en-AU. April 9, 2019. June 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609014649/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-30/hun-sen-wins-cambodia-election/10049498. live.
  26. Web site: CAMBODIA 2017 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT . https://web.archive.org/web/20180421053256/https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/277315.pdf . dead . April 21, 2018 . state.gov . US State Department . July 28, 2018.
  27. Web site: What in the world was Sen. Ericksen doing in Cambodia?. Santos. Melissa. bellinghamherald. en. April 9, 2019. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020436/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=219153930&intcid=ab_archive. live.
  28. Web site: Governor Inslee letter re: trips to Cambodia. State of Washington Office of the Governor. April 9, 2019. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124620/https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Gov%20Inslee%20ltr%20re%20trips%20to%20Cambodia.pdf. live.
  29. Web site: Garbell. Chelsea. Why Are Washington State Legislators Covering for Cambodia's Sham Elections?. thediplomat.com. the diplomat. July 28, 2018. July 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728191459/https://thediplomat.com/2018/07/why-are-washington-state-legislators-covering-for-cambodias-sham-elections/. live.
  30. Web site: Cambodia to let U.S. military search for MIAs; move follows controversial trips by Washington state lawmakers. October 13, 2018. The Seattle Times. en-US. April 8, 2019. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406215128/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/cambodia-to-let-u-s-military-search-for-mias-move-follows-controversial-trips-by-washington-state-lawmakers/. live.
  31. Web site: US politician lauds progress during meet with Hun Sen. March 24, 2019. Khmer Times. April 5, 2019. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020434/https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50589681/us-politician-lauds-progress-during-meet-with-hun-sen/. live.
  32. Web site: chivorn. Cambodia Develops Rapidly with Peace and Stability: US Senator Doug Ericksen. December 2, 2020. FRESH NEWS. March 22, 2019 . September 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210930164732/http://en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/13461-2019-03-22-11-02-16.html. live.
  33. News: Brunner. Jim. May 6, 2019. Cambodians who fled to Seattle 'shocked' as details emerge of state senator's $500K deal with regime. The Seattle Times. December 2, 2020. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129171330/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-sen-doug-ericksens-500000-contract-from-autocratic-cambodian-regime-draws-condemnation-scrutiny/. live.
  34. Web site: April 5, 2019. A Washington state senator praised the Cambodian government last year. Then it gave him a US$500,000 lobbying contract.. April 6, 2019. The Seattle Times. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406144327/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/state-sen-doug-ericksen-gets-500000-lobbying-contract-from-cambodian-government-he-praised/. live.
  35. Web site: Cambodia's Government Defends Decision to Hire US Lawmaker to Lobby Congress. December 2, 2020. Radio Free Asia. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129235244/https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/lawmaker-04092019170615.html. live.
  36. Web site: Washington state senator will lobby for Cambodia. April 5, 2019. POLITICO. April 5, 2019 . February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020426/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2019/04/05/washington-state-senator-will-lobby-for-cambodia-421936. live.
  37. News: May 14, 2019. Sen. Doug Ericksen should break his Cambodia deal or step down. The Seattle Times. December 2, 2020. December 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201227113048/https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/sen-doug-ericksen-should-break-his-cambodia-deal-or-step-down/. live.
  38. News: Gentzler. Sara. March 18, 2021. Whatcom legislator missed floor votes during travel to El Salvador. News Tribune. live. March 19, 2021. April 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210426145239/https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/state/washington/article250013589.html.
  39. Web site: March 18, 2021. Mourn the dead, fight for the living ¿Donde esta Doug? Amazon's dominos. December 19, 2021. The Stand. en-US. December 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219042356/https://www.thestand.org/2021/03/031821-news/. live.
  40. Web site: Perlman. Derek Kravitz,Al Shaw,Claire. Douglas Ericksen Trump Town. July 25, 2020. ProPublica. March 7, 2018. en. July 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200725214502/https://projects.propublica.org/trump-town/staffers/douglas-ericksen. live.
  41. Web site: O'Sullivan. Joseph. November 12, 2021. Washington Sen. Doug Ericksen tests positive for COVID-19 while in El Salvador, seeks medical help from lawmakers. live. November 17, 2021. The Seattle Times. en-US. November 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117192341/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-sen-doug-ericksen-tests-positive-for-covid-19-while-in-el-salvador-seeks-medical-help-from-lawmakers/.
  42. News: Mittendorf. Robert. November 15, 2021. Ferndale legislator ailing with COVID in El Salvador. Bellingham Herald. November 17, 2021. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020441/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=255772036&intcid=ab_archive. live.
  43. News: Mittendorf. Robert. December 10, 2021. No word on condition of Whatcom state Sen. Doug Ericksen after COVID treatment. Bellingham Herald. December 17, 2021. February 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220210020443/https://account.bellinghamherald.com/paywall/subscriber-only?resume=256465666&intcid=ab_archive. live.
  44. Web site: Perrett. Connor. Washington lawmaker who fell ill with COVID-19 in El Salvador and was reportedly evacuated to Florida hasn't been seen since. December 13, 2021. Business Insider. en-US. December 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211213001809/https://www.businessinsider.com/condition-of-washington-senator-who-fell-ill-while-abroad-unclear-2021-12. live.
  45. Web site: A Washington State senator died at 52 after a Covid infection. The New York Times. December 19, 2021. May 9, 2024.
  46. News: Gutman. David. December 18, 2021. Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies; sought treatment for COVID. The Seattle Times. December 20, 2021. December 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219131119/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-state-sen-doug-ericksen-dies-after-battle-with-covid/. live.
  47. News: December 19, 2021. Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies after COVID battle. ABC News. December 20, 2021. December 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220004231/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/washington-state-sen-doug-ericksen-dies-covid-battle-81837915. live.
  48. Web site: MyNorthwest . MYNORTHWEST STAFF The team that brings you . 2021-12-19 . Washington state Senator Doug Ericksen dies . 2023-02-10 . MyNorthwest.com . en.

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