Ten candidates are running for the three legislative seats representing Washington state’s 26th Legislative District. We invited the candidates to answer five questions that our readers might want to ask:
1. What are the three most important issues to 26th Legislative District constituents?
2. Do you believe it’s more important to adhere to your ideological principles or cross party lines and seek compromise?
3. Was the state Legislature’s solution to resolve the McCleary Case in funding education a suitable one?
4. What should the state Legislature do, if anything, to address the growing problem of homelessness in our communities?
5. What is your pet peeve concerning the state Legislature? If elected, what would you do to address it?
STATE SENATE
Marty McClendon
Republican
1. The three most important issues for 26th LD residents are congestion, taxes and education. Jan Angel working with the Department of Transportation sponsored a traffic congestion relief project and I will work to make sure those dollars get allocated to projects that relieve congestion in the 26th LD. The residents of the 26th live here because of the quality of life, the lower relative cost of living, the safe communities and great schools and they are worried that the Seattle style thirst for taxes, loose enforcement of the law and punitive business policies are headed this way. I will fight to keep taxes low, neighborhoods safe and the quality of life high. Both Peninsula and South Kitsap school districts are in need of new school building and there is a need for expanded opportunities for all students through CTE, voc tech and apprenticeship programs. I will work on a new funding model encouraging a more accountable government and engage legislation that brings greater opportunity and more choice to all students.
2. Working with people across all political stripes to find win-win solutions is what I have done my entire life, whether in real estate or healthcare. I believe you can adhere to your core values while working on common goals. I am passionate about reaching commonsense solutions for the residents of the 26th LD and the state of Washington.
3. According to the Washington State Supreme Court, it was a suitable solution.
4. The state Legislature should give guidance as to the resources available in order to start addressing this growing problem that is multifaceted, including drug addiction, mental health issues, job loss and choice. The state can coordinate triage centers that can get people on the right track for their situation.
5. My pet peeve is that the state Legislature has not been able to find compromise on critical issues like education, homelessness and support for small business. I will work tirelessly with all who are willing to find and implement commonsense solutions for these issues and others.
Emily Randall
Democrat
1. My neighbors care, like I do, about being able to afford healthcare without breaking the bank; providing all kids an equal shot at a good education and a bright future; and growing good jobs and an economy that works for working people here at home. For over a decade, I have worked to expand access to health care and education for women, kids and the LGBTQ community. I have been an advocate and a capacity builder, a voice for change. As a senator, I will continue to put people first.
2. To me, the most important work a legislator can do is to put the needs of their neighbors and constituents first. Serving real people — not big corporations or partisan games — is the foundation of my political ideology. I will work with anyone who will work in service of our community and the people of Washington.
3. We have made tremendous strides. Still, our children are facing issues of equity. Special education continues to face a shortfall, and we can all agree that our highest-need students deserve an equal shot at a good education. Additionally, we are facing huge disparities in student learning environments. Districts that are able to pass bonds can construct new schools, make much-needed repairs and safety upgrades, manage class sizes. Meanwhile, districts like South Kitsap and Peninsula are crowding more and more portables onto lawns and playfields. We can — and must — do better.
4. Our neighbors are struggling to afford the rising cost of living, and we need to take action. I’ve been in conversation with Housing Kitsap, Bremerton Housing Authority, Homes for All, homeless activists and allies to think about solutions that are right for our community. Each person’s situation is different, and we need a multitude of solutions to fix our housing crisis. Legislators must listen to those service providers on the ground, in our communities, who truly understand the problem, not pass a one-size-fits-all package that may work for Seattle or Spokane, but isn’t right for Bremerton or Port Orchard.
5. Too often we send legislators to Olympia who forget their roots. They forget their neighbors in their home district sent them to the capital to work for “we the people,” and end up at the mercy of big corporate donors and special interests. I’d like to see the Legislature be truly accountable to their constituents. As a first step, I vow to make my schedule public, to report regularly to my constituents, and to be out in the community both during and after session — whether or not it’s a campaign year.
Bill Scheidler
Independent
1. There are only two important issues at stake — to elect a person who understands what it means to “protect and maintain individual rights.” That is the most solemn obligation demanded of every public servant by Washington’s Article 1, Section 1. And, to have the courage to use every tool available to a legislator, such as those powers provided by Article 4, Section 9 and Article 5, Sections 1-4, to ensure every public servant is “protecting individual rights.”
I have that courage as I’ve had to sue our legislators Jesse Young, Michelle Caldier and Jan Angel for their breach of Article 1, Section 1.
2. With all due respect, this is a stupid question. Let me ask your readers: Do you want your elected official to maintain your rights as mandated by Washington’s Constitution and laws? Or do you prefer to have your elected officials compromise your individual rights for the sake of getting along with the other children? There is no person whose rights are far more important than another’s. Life, liberty and property are not for compromise.
3. The McCleary decision is, on its face, the judicial branch overtaking our representative government and establishing themselves as an aristocracy. Said another way, the words “Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed” have been kidnapped by the judicial branch … The entire premise that the Legislature is in breach of its constitutional obligation to fund basic education is based in a manufactured controversy that is packaged as a constitutional issue. It is a fraud upon society and our children …
4. Great question. Public servants have the overriding obligation to protect and maintain individual rights. If we actually elected people to public office and held them to that primary obligation, then businesses would not be regulated out of business, homeowners would not be taxed out of their homes, children would not be taken from parents under the guise of “child protective services.” Many end up homeless. Entire estates would not be grabbed by greedy lawyers and judges through their scams involving bankruptcy, guardianship, divorce … and on and on. One corrupt government act has some adverse effect on some aspect of our society. To fix homelessness, you need to start by fixing government.
5. My peeve is that we have a bunch of gutless, ego-driven and morally corrupt public servants. If elected, I would continue to fight against government corruption as I’ve been doing as one of the “governed” for nearly 20 years.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION 1
Naomi Evans
Republican
1. Education, specifically funding for capital projects, fully funding special education and unfunded mandates. Housing shortages, skyrocketing rental costs and homelessness due to GMA, taxes, mental health, and drug abuse are complex issues. Property and other taxes are making living unaffordable.
2. I believe strongly it is prudent for a successful representative to have an open mind and door to all people. People come before party. However, I am unapologetically conservative and liberty-minded on most issues. I believe most people want the same result, but the difference lies in how we find the solution to that issue.
3. It has good and bad points, but as a whole, I think it was a good collaborative effort from both sides of the aisle to fix an issue that has impacted our state for quite some time. There are certain things I would like to work on, such as better funding formulas for special education and working on how our state helps fund capital projects. As an elected school board member for Bremerton, I have first-hand experience in how some of these issues need to be addressed.
4. This is a complex issue, but one main point I believe needs addressing is the housing shortage and extreme rent prices due to a desperate need to reform the Growth Management Act, reduce unnecessary regulations, zoning, building permits and fees so we can build the homes we need and stabilize market supply and demand. My husband has worked in construction for 20 years and I have seen how building has become overly regulated and costly upon builders, who pass those costs on to buyers/renters.
5. My biggest pet peeve in the state Legislature is the partisan fingerpointing. I have greatly appreciated working on a nonpartisan elected school board and although we may have passionate discussions about issues, our focus remains on representing and fighting for our constituents. Our nation is greatly divided right now, and I would like to set a strong example of ethical and effective leadership that bridges partisan division, while still fighting for issues as a conservative. I believe that with the right leadership, we can collaborate on issues and find common good.
Connie FitzPatrick
Democrat
1. As a veteran, small business owners and PTA mom, I have a deeply rooted understanding of my community’s needs. My top priorities are education, infrastructure and demanding more from our leaders. Education: We can stand up for our students, veterans and families by fully funding education and increasing access to affordable higher education, including trade schools and apprenticeship programs. Infrastructure: Each day, locals in the 26th District face declining infrastructure and high transportation costs, potentially driving away business and threatening our local economy. While there are a number of issues I want to address, it’s important to understand their common thread: we have not demanded enough from our leaders. My opponent has taken extreme votes against children and our economy and was investigated and fined for inappropriate behavior in his office. I want to restore the moral standards and put the needs of families over partisan political gain.
2. I am a firm believer in reaching across the aisle and working with others to reach a common goal, despite the obstacles. Although this is a part of who I am, I will never — and would never — compromise my personal values or morals for the sake of reaching an agreement.
3. We may be in compliance, but we haven’t done enough. I will fight to ensure class sizes at every grade level are lower and secure more funding for early learning and special programs.
4. Homelessness is a critical issue. To address it, we must prioritize affordable housing, mental health care and job training, among other things. I will speak up for such policies instead of criminalizing people experiencing homelessness.
5. Time and time again, I have been disappointed by the intolerable behavior of my opponent and the system that allows him to get away with it. Not only has he consistently voted against school funding, infrastructure improvements, veterans and those struggling with mental illness and addiction, he recently was barred from employing legislative staff members by the Legislature because of his pattern of abusive behavior toward women in his office. Such a man should not serve the people of Washington. If elected, I will hold our government and communities to a higher standard, and advocate for every voice in Washington.
Jesse L. Young
Republican
Jesse L. Young did not respond to our request for answers to our questions.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE POSITION 2
Michelle Caldier
Republican
1. It is difficult to limit my constituents’ issues to only three, but the most common concerns I hear are: how we fund school construction, gaps in mental health services and transportation issues.
2. You can still adhere to your ideological principles and cross party lines for a compromise. It is important to put your differences aside and focus on common ground. For example, Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) and I worked together to fight CHI Franciscan/Harrison Hospital when they were overcharging Kitsap County residents on medical care. During that process, there were some issues that came up that were very partisan, but we decided to set those differences aside and work together to fight for our constituents.
3. What we passed in the Legislature was far from perfect, but it did fix most of the inequities between school districts in our state. In addition, it put parameters around levy dollars to require they are spent only on what voters approved. Another important piece of the legislation was fixing health care for educators. Residents in South Kitsap School District will benefit greatly from the McCleary solution that was passed.
4. We need to make changes to the Growth Management Act, which has prevented construction to keep up with population growth. This has resulted in increased costs of housing that many families are unable to keep up with. We also need to provide a continuum of services to the mentally ill and individuals who are substance abusers.
5. My pet peeve in the state Legislature is that many legislators do not have an open-door policy. I came to Olympia as a citizen several years ago and was frustrated with how many refused to meet with me. As a result, when I was sworn into office, I made a decision to personally answer every email and phone call, and meet with anyone who requested a meeting, even if they didn’t have an appointment. One day, over 50 people arrived in Olympia without a meeting. It was difficult, but we managed to fit everyone in that day. I promise you to continue to have an open-door policy in Olympia, regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum.
Marco Padilla
People Over Party
1. Competitive industries to provide jobs and opportunities, affordable housing/development in our region, and finding an equitable sustaining funding for education, especially capital projects. As the only post-9/11 veteran, I want to implement veteran initiatives that will provide them with the tools necessary for retention and success in our region.
2. My campaign is the only one with the drive to put “People Over Party.” I am tired of the divisive politics and rhetoric that currently has a grip on our society. I understand that we need a fresh approach to finding solutions for District 26, instead of differences. This is why I do not represent any specific party agenda. In addition, in Olympia, we must represent everyone, not only a specific few.
3. That is not enough. All of our current legislators have failed our children and that alone is grounds to get fired. The major reason why we cannot find a suitable solution is because of party politics in Olympia. Without raising taxes, I propose an equitable, sustainable funding through cannabis revenue that sits in the state at the moment.
4. We need to attract and retrain green collar industries so that we can provide competitive jobs and quality salaries in our district. In addition, we need to eliminate the red tape, work with local developers who are truly invested in our community, like Sound West, for example, to find equitable solutions to affordable housing. Collaborate with local government and nonprofits so that we can build “tiny homes” projects in our region. Finally, incentivize local business owners to participate in retraining programs that will allow indigents the ability to work at these businesses for six to 12 months while they transition into a better future.
5. Our current legislators have no leverage. We need to reshape and reform politics in Olympia. Because of the close majority margin, party members vote party lines always. We need a voice that will not caucus with any major party. Giving my “swing vote” the power to focus on our district needs. Through unity and civility, we can implement common-sense policies in Olympia and together accomplish more.
Joy Stanford
Democrat
1. The issues I’m focused on are formed by the conversations I’ve had knocking on doors and talking to actual residents of the 26th District. (They are) transportation, education and taxes. Folks want better, more affordable and robust options for getting to work. They want fully funded, high-quality education for all children, including smaller class sizes and dedicated resources for special education. Lastly, I’ll fight to lower property taxes. People shouldn’t have to worry about being taxed out of their homes.
2. I believe it is essential to look for bipartisan solutions that really create results. I’m not a politician, and it’s not natural for me to retreat to partisan politics like many in our Legislature do. In my career, I’ve succeeded by collaborating and finding common ground to develop solutions that work. That’s the same approach I’ll bring to Olympia for the people in our district.
3. While the Legislature’s fix did add money to K-12 education, it failed to fund other aspects of our education system that I consider basic. As a substitute teacher in the Peninsula School District, I have a strong understanding of what kids across our district need to succeed. This new “fix” does not comprehensively fund special education and it doesn’t add new classrooms, even after school districts were mandated to lower class sizes. We still have work to do, and I’ll make it my job to ensure our education system here in Washington is the best that it can be.
4. Homelessness is a tough problem. There isn’t just one solution or program that will solve homelessness for all. Instead of trying to micromanage the problem, we need to get to the root of the issue. Here is the 26th District, we have veterans, families and students who are homeless. The reason wildly varies — mental health struggles, drug addiction and affordability. The state needs to better understand what’s driving people to homelessness and work regionally with cities and counties to better serve those in need.
5. My biggest pet peeve is the negative rhetoric and talk from one party to another. Whether in the Legislature or throughout the campaign, we’re faced with a neverending barrage of partisan attacks. Voters don’t elect leaders to squabble and whine over party talking points, they elect them to lead. If I’m elected, I’ll create real change by working for the people of our district and our state.
Randy Boss
Republican
Randy Boss did not respond to our request for answers to our questions.
Some of the candidates’ answers were edited for brevity.
