Kitsap County voters will cast their ballots to help decide on who will present the 26th Legislative District in the Senate and House, along with some Pierce County voters.

The 26th Legislative District stretches from Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula in western Pierce County up through south Kitsap County and includes Port Orchard and downtown Bremerton.

There are many issues facing the state Legislature in the next several years and we need capable people representing us in Olympia.

Republican State Sen. Jan Angel is being challenged by newcomer Judy Arbogast.

Angel, of Port Orchard, has experience in Olympia as a state representative and now as a senator, since 2009. Over the past two years, the Legislature has directed more money toward education.

Angel’s professional background in business, along with experience as county commissioner, makes her knowledgeable about transportation, social services and education. She is co-chair of the Financial Institutions Housing and Insurance Committee and vice chair of the Trade and Economic Development. She also serves on the Transportation and Health Care Committees.

Challenger Judy Arbogast, a Democrat from Olalla, is a retired teacher and teachers union representative. Her background as a teacher gives her specific knowledge and an inside perspective on education, an issue she is passionate about.

For the 26th District’s House Position 1 seat, there are two intelligent candidates looking to fill the position for the next two years.

Rep. Jesse Young, a Republican, has spent nearly a year at the seat since his appointment in January. Young works as a technology consultant and is a small business owner. He earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Notre Dame.

During his first year in the House, Young was on the Transportation, Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs, Early Learning and Human Services, Government Operations and Elections (assistant ranking Republican) and Transportation Committees.

Nathan Schlicher, a Democrat, was appointed as the District 26 senator in 2013, but lost to State Rep. Jan Angel last November. While serving as senator, he was on the Health Care, Trade and Economic Development, and Transportation Committees.

Schlicher is an emergency room doctor at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and associate director of the TeamHealth Patient Safety Organization. Schlicher graduated from Central Kitsap High School and earned his medical degree and a law degree from the University of Washington. He also has a bachelor’s degree in political science and biology from Pacific Lutheran University.

A political newcomer is challenging an incumbent for his 26th District’s House Position 2 seat. Republican Michelle Caldier lost by one point in the August primary to State Rep. Larry Seaquist, a Democrat.

Caldier, a dentist, has a practice that provides dental care for nursing home patients and serves as an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. She is also a member of the Washington State Dental Association and is an advocate to reinstate Adult Dental Medicaid.

Seaquist, a retired naval officer, has been state representative since 2006. He has served as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, Ways and Means, Early Learning and Children’s Services, Select Committee on Pension Policy, and Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Committees.

The Port Orchard Independent encourages voters to cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 general election.