Compiled by Ann McCreary and Don Nelson
A total of seven candidates are vying for two seats in the Washington state Legislature to represent the 12th District. The 12th district encompasses all of Douglas and Chelan counties, and parts of Okanogan and Grant counties. It extends from Wenatchee in the south to Omak/Okanogan in the north (the rest of Okanogan County is in the 7th District).
Four candidates filed to replace Republican Cary Condotta, who will not seek re-election to representative Position 1: Keith Goehner of Leavenworth (prefers Republican); Ann Diamond of Winthrop (Independent); JD Greening of Waterville (prefers Republican); and C. Keiki Stacy Weigle of Okanogan (prefers Democratic).
Incumbent state Rep. Mike Steele (R-Chelan) will be challenged for the 12th District’s representative Position 2 seat by Valerie Sarratt of Twisp (prefers Democratic) and Alan Fahnestock of Winthrop (no party preference).
We asked each candidate to provide some information about themselves and to address several relevant issues: health care, jobs and wages, education and training opportunities, affordable housing, infrastructure needs, environmental and natural resources, and constitutional and equal rights. We also asked them to identify the most pressing issues and offer solutions. Some of the responses were edited for length.
Position 1
Ann Diamond
Biography
I am a family physician, and I have worked in eastern Washington for 22 years. Family and friends helped build The Country Clinic in 2000, the first medical clinic in Winthrop. From eight patients the first day, I directed the clinic as it grew to 20 employees and helped over 10,000 patients.
My patients taught me that health is bigger than a country doctor’s role: Health means food on the table, a roof overhead, a secure job, safe neighborhoods and schools. To improve health, I worked together with the community to create the Mazama Community Market, the Association of Parents and Teachers, a new Anatomy and Physiology class for the high school, and the Friday Free Clinic for uninsured children.
Common sense solutions exist. We can be healthier, increase economic development, build homes, and responsibly manage our natural resources. As a doctor, I do not choose who walks through my door. As an independent, I will keep my door open to all constituents, and invite everyone to sit at the table. Patients expect me to listen, to advocate, and to work in their best interest. I believe we want the same professionalism from our Legislature.
Health care
Though more patients are able to access health care, I hear individual stories of increasing insurance premiums, high-priced medications, and “out of network” bills not covered by insurance. Patients should never have to choose between treating a life-threatening illness or bankrupting their family. More than 30 countries around the world provide universal health care for less money, and with better health outcomes, than the United States.
I will work to:
• stabilize the Washington Exchange, where nearly half of eastern Washington’s residents obtain health insurance.
• increase access to The Veteran’s Choice program, which allows local medical providers to see veterans closer to home.
• decrease costs by buying medications in bulk and passing savings on to patients.
• increase transparency.
• ensure quality coverage with no pre-existing conditions.
Education and training opportunities
With the McCleary decision, half the state budget is now directed to public schools. Each of the 294 school districts has a different plan and the Legislature must negotiate a broad agreement. I support expanding state and private vocational and technical apprenticeships, and developing a regional graduate res earch center to train research and technology professionals.
Affordable housing
Our region has housing pains. Affordable housing is the No. 1 concern I hear from millennials in eastern Washington. Young people move to the region because of family, quality of life, or a job, but cannot find housing. Locally we are strategically planning to increase housing with accessory dwelling units, a moratorium on turning neighborhood homes into short-term rentals, and working in support of the Methow Housing Trust.
The state needs to expand the Housing Trust Fund, and to consider the use of agricultural housing off-season.
Jobs and wages
We must support our small farms and small businesses, the heart of rural Washington. Orchardists spend too much time documenting compliance, instead of tending trees. Large orchards undergo multiple inspections. I support streamlining administrative paperwork, while still protecting workers and respecting public safety. I support creating local jobs for local people, training workers in eastern Washington for existing job opportunities and needs. An example of this is a four-year professional program created by Wenatchee Valley College to address a nursing and engineering shortage.
Economic recovery is moving forward, but there is a scarcity of jobs with wages that support a family. I will work regionally to improve affordable housing, decrease health care costs, and spearhead work/loan repayment programs.
Infrastructure needs
The 2017 year-long delay in passing a capital budget bruised all of us. In the Methow, we lost fire reforestation funds, Pearrygin Lake State Park funds, and the ability to move forward on the Twisp Civic Center and soccer fields. Across the region, school construction, water systems, clinics, mental health and emergency services were all unnecessarily stalled. As a small business owner, I made payroll on time every time, and I believe lawmakers should too.
As an agricultural region we need roads, rails and bridges to get products to market. Broadband infrastructure to provide greater high-speed Internet access is an economic and educational necessity. More attention to water storage and irrigation systems may be needed with earlier and faster spring runoff.
Environment and natural resources
If we responsibly manage our natural resources, we can safely harvest timber, reduce catastrophic fires, and support forest health. Public lands are our public treasure s. On a global scale, we need to move beyond fossil fuels. Energy innovation, conservation incentives, wind, solar and hydroelectric power are all clean energy opportunities that provide jobs.
Constitutional and equal rights
I believe every person has the right to equal opportunity and protection under the law.
Keith Goehner
Biography
Dryden has been my home for most of my life except for a few years in college and teaching sixth grade in Moses Lake. My wife, Lisa, and I have been married for 43 years and have three children and six grandchildren. For the last 40-plus years, we have been growing pears in our family orchard. In addition to farming, my life has been centered around public service. Involvement in our church, the pear industry, political activities, other community organizations, and the last 15-plus years as a Chelan County commissioner, has given me exposure to a wide variety of issues and concerns.
Qualifications
My experience as a Chelan County commissioner has allowed me to interact with legislators and establish relationships that will help me represent the interests of the 12th District. I have faced the challenges of balancing county budgets through a recession and know the difficulties of providing government services with limited resources. I am committed to limiting the scope of government in order to promote private sector growth while ensuring responsibilities of state government are adequately funded. In my business, I have seen the effects of increased regulation and will work to promote an industry climate that is attractive to new operations and keeps existing business competitive. My involvement in natural resource issues has positioned me to influence management policies that will protect and enhance our environment.
Key issues
My priorities include government funding obligations of the state, transportation needs, addressing environmental concerns and public health concerns.
Local government
Counties, cities, fire districts and other junior taxing districts must have funding provided for the functions the state requires of them. Local taxing districts should not be burdened with having to generate revenue for services that have been imposed by the state.
Environment and natural resources
Forest health is the most pressing environmental issue in the 12th District. The lack of a vibrant timber industry has led to forests that are overstocked. We must reduce fuel loads if we are to avoid the catastrophic fires we have experienced. Much planning for forest practices is taking place, but relatively little action has occurred. We are addressing the habitat and water quality issues for fish, but upland habitat is not adequately factored in forest health management considerations. The state must aggressively partner with federal land managers to have forests that are productive and provide multiple landscape values.
Water availability will continue to be an issue of great concern for the 12th District. In order to grow and attract new businesses, we must assure that water supply will be predictable. We need to continue to pursue water storage as an option to accomplish this.
Health care
We need to assure that health care is accessible to everyone without burdening the providers for the costs that are not covered by insurance or government programs. Escalating costs of treatment are making it difficult for clinics and hospitals to stay solvent. Much of the funding formula is a federal issue and complex but I believe there are opportunities for the state to allow for access to other funding options.
Transportation and infrastructure
Consistent transportation funding must be established to support significant projects. There are too many variables in the current funding process which leaves rural areas struggling to preserve current infrastructure. The Public Works Trust Fund is critical for local governments to have as a funding resource. The Legislature should not be able to sweep the fund for other programs.
Education
Although the basic school funding issue was resolved, systemic issues need to be addressed. We have special needs students who require more assistance, social issues have created the need for counseling and guidance, and vocational training programs must be adapted to meet the needs of a changing work skills environment. If we are to meet the needs of our future workforce, we must invest in education and training to enable success for our youth.
Affordable housing
Affordable housing continues to be a concern, but the state continues to modify standards that increase construction costs. County comprehensive plans and zoning densities should provide allowances for greater utilization of the land. For counties governed by the Growth Management Act, we need to take advantage of creative planning opportunities that increase building options and lower land costs. I would support tax incentives and bonus densities, in certain situations, to encourage lower cost housing.
Constitutional and equal rights
Constitutional rights are fundamental to our society and its structure. We need to have respect for each other and allow for differences of opinions. The rights that are granted are not without responsibilities as citizens.
Jobs and business
Increasing regulations make it more difficult for businesses to succeed. We need to allow more creativity in compensation for entry-level jobs for the purpose of job skills training, which prepares workers for advancement to higher-level employment. The availability of skilled labor hampers the economy in some areas. Blending tax incentives, providing more workforce training, and restructuring the regulatory environment will encourage more investment in our district.
JD Greening
Biography
I am 28 years old, a Christian and love being outdoors with my dog, Rocky. I compete in marathons for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Flags for the Fallen and am currently training to run in the 2019 Boston Marathon. I am involved with the Eastern Washington University Alumni Board of Directors and the Free and Accepted Masons and am a regular blood donor. I was born and raised in Wenatchee before moving to Waterville in high school, after which I joined the United States Navy.
Why I am running
I am no stranger to public service. After high school I enlisted in the United States Navy, serving multiple deployments overseas. After my honorable discharge in 2012, I earned my BA in political science with a minor in sociology.
I found my passion for public service while working for the Washington state Legislature as a legislative assistant in the non-partisan Office of Program Research with House of Representative members who made up the Capital Budget committee.
Following my work at the Legislature, I moved to Washington, D.C., and started a fellowship through the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer as a Military Congressional Fellow, which placed me in the office of Congressman Dave Reichert who represents Washington’s 8th Congressional District.
I returned home to enroll in Eastern Washington University where I’m working on a master’s in public administration.
I’m running because this is the right opportunity for a fresh voice in Olympia. My experiences in Olympia and Washington, D.C. make me an excellent candidate. Not only did I get exposure to what is entailed in the legislative process, but I worked for most of the district on both levels. I’m tuned in not only to the needs of the community but how to implement solutions in Olympia.
My service in the military is foundational to my ability to serve. I learned how to take the lead and how to be a team player. That is vital when working in Olympia, which requires diplomacy and cooperation.
Priority campaign issues
I am a fiscally conservative Republican and my top issues are the protection of our state’s natural resources, veteran affairs, mental health, affordable housing and proper funding of public infrastructure, including state trail and recreation projects. I will use connections and relationships forged both at the state and federal levels to make sure the 12th District’s constituents are given a voice. One of my primary goals is to address wildfire prevention within the state and reassess the effectiveness of the current 20-year Forest Health Plan and see if there are more proactive approaches we could take.
Health care
I believe health care should be a state issue and the people should have multiple options that best fit their needs; one plan may not fit.
Jobs and wages
Washington is experiencing record low unemployment, yet we face income stagnation and reduced buying power due to cost-of-living increases. We should invest in growing workers capable of meeting the demands of a dynamic market. This will ensure employers have a pool of workers with skill sets necessary for the job, and that employees have choice to pursue jobs that make sense for their lives, either through wages, benefits or quality of life.
Education and training
I’m concerned with how the McCleary decision affects the operation and budgets of small rural schools. Technologies and communities change and there is a continuing need to figure out how we best provide public education.
Affordable housing
More people are living out of vehicles and more families are affected by the pressure of tenuous living situations and homelessness. We will keep our community welcoming and prosperous by supporting local agencies and builders to deliver housing options to ensure that there is affordable and mid-market housing options for young families and first time home buyers.
Infrastructure needs
Our district’s growth demands expansion of infrastructure. It’s important that Olympia understands this challenge and provides meaningful funding programs that allow the maximum dollars to reach the streets and that new infrastructure projects are right-sized and agile enough to meet changing demands.
Environment and natural resources
For our region, the most pressing matter is building and supporting fire-wise communities for safety, quality of life and economic viability. This is a front-end investment to mitigate the devastating costs of wildfires as we have seen them in recent years. Our natural resources draw tourists that support the economy and also provide the backdrop for our way of life. We want to manage these resources with best practices and protect our communities from preventable damage as best we can. Community fire-wise programs deserve support and local responders should have proper training and equipment.
Constitutional and equal rights
I believe firmly in the GOP platform concerning constitutional and equal rights, and that is a limited government, separation of powers, individual liberty, and the rule of law. We denounce bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice and religious intolerance.
Keiki Stacy Weigle
Background
Keiki (pronounced “Kaye-Key”) is short for Keikilani, one of my middle names given to me from the Hawaiian side of my family. Originally from and educated in the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve lived in several states and several countries for my work. From 1978-2004, I worked in the technology industry in and related to Silicon Valley, working in a management and team-building capacity for start-up companies, including Advanced Micro Devices and Sperry Univac Defense Systems.
Summers of my youth were spent camping, hunting and fishing in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties, and I relocated with my family to Okanogan in 2015. Since 1996, I’ve worked as a consultant in business development and product launch projects. I have been active in human and civil rights since 1975 and involved as a volunteer for various LGBTQ rights, equality advocacy and political organizations since 1995. I currently serving as vice chair for the Okanogan County Democratic Central Committee and founder/chair of #ResistForGood Indivisible.
Over the last 25 years, I have also enjoyed community service, most recently with Mahalo Meals for wildland firefighters, and volunteering at the Omak Stampede. In my leisure time I enjoy ethnic cooking, hula and a variety of outdoor sports.
Why I’m running
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said, “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.” This is the simple and true basis for my motivation to run for office.
This election is personal to me. My son heads to college this fall and wants to come back after college, but worries the prospects aren’t favorable. He isn’t the only one who feels this way. Over the last three years, I’ve listened closely to students, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and business owners speaking on issues they feel lessen the prospects of living here. We must do better to improve those prospects for our youth, families, seniors and businesses by setting and meeting clear objectives.
I won’t court corporations with special interests who seek influence or control. I’ll run a barebones campaign, putting minimal effort toward fundraising. I’ll decline candidate debates and do a few select forums or panels. I find it far more effective to listen face-to-face, get to know folks and answer direct questions from individuals or small groups.
Priority campaign issues
If elected, I’ll focus my efforts on addressing interrelated key issues that will improve the prospects of living in our district, including:
• expanded/upgraded/accessible/affordable state-of-the-art technology/broadband.
• expanded education/vocational training.
• universal health care, including prescription coverage and local access to health care and specialists.
• town revitalization programs, new business development and job growth with living wages.
• affordable housing and transitional homeless shelters.
• protected Social Security, expanded Medicare, fair Medicaid options.
• DACA protection and immigration/asylum, legal paths to citizenship.
• honoring tribal treaties with protections for waters, lands and natural resources.
• protection of equal rights, civil rights and human rights.
• expanded public safety, enhanced community service programs.
• environmental protections for water, wildlife, public lands.
• renewable energy and recycling programs.
Health care
I am committed to working on affordable universal single-payer health care, with affordable prescription coverage, expanded local facilities and local access to specialists. For our district affordable health care and local access is a necessity.
Jobs and wages
Job creation will result from upgraded and expanded district-wide technology access (broadband) and town revitalization programs. I support a minimum wage of $15 per hour, with a program for a higher minimum through incentive education and job classifications/segmentation.
Education and training
Public education should include improved technology curriculum taught in our schools earlier and with expanded offerings. We also must offer local vocational training, specifically in the trades, technology and health care fields, for youth not going off to college and for adults who seek to expand their skills and job potential.
Affordable housing
With town revitalization programs and new job creation as the foundation, new business can be attracted to our district, increasing revenues for towns and counties, which could go toward establishing and funding affordable housing programs and transitional housing for our homeless.
Infrastructure needs
With new business, jobs and town revitalization, upgrades and expansion of light rail, as well as airport expansion and bridge repairs/replacements would be necessary in many areas of our district. These are priorities over roadways, with the exception of mountain passes with high accident risk.
Environment and natural resources
I would work on protection programs for our environment, wildlife, public lands and natural resources, including those on tribal lands. I would focus on protecting access to public lands by restricting vacation of roads for the sole benefit of corporate or business entities.
Constitutional and equal rights
Protecting and legislating for our constitutional, equal, civil and tribal rights is a must. There is no excuse for any inequalities or oppression between or on Americans. Elected officials should be committed to assurances and protections of these rights. I am.
Position 2
Alan Fahnestock
Biography
I was born in Montana, raised in rural Louisiana and then suburban Seattle. I attended Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, followed by the University of Washington.
After a variety of other things including construction, I re-entered the UW as a non-matriculated student, then entered the Jackson School to study the Soviet Union, learned four languages, studied in Leningrad and Tashkent, and ended up with a master’s degree in the history, economics, and languages of the Soviet Bloc.
That led to a job with a major telecommunications company in Moscow, negotiating and building joint-venture cellular systems in Russia and Ukraine. Returning home, I enrolled in the Sloan Master’s Program at London Business School and earned an MBA. This landed me a job with a telecom infrastructure company out of San Diego, where I became a vice president but got laid off when the industry went sideways in 2001. I reverted to program management and business consulting, which I’ve done off and on since then.
I’m a volunteer firefighter and fix-it guy for a few people, including Room One.
Why I’m running
I’m running because I’m very seriously done with voting for people who, at best, offer only slightly varying versions of the same nonsense. Trump and his minions are just the latest, most-toxic edition of what’s been going on for decades: affluent folks (like me) get the cake, while the average person might get to lick a little frosting off the plate if he/she is seriously lucky. I’ve been at both ends of that economic spectrum.
I’ve got no illusions that I’m the best of all possible legislators, but I’m honest; pretty well-informed; seriously annoyed; and I can put all my energy into it.
Major issues
There’s really only one issue, and that’s socio-economic equity. Not “equality.” Some folks will always have it better than others. But everyone should have some opportunity to “pursue happiness,” and that’s tough to do when you have to work 24/7 just to exist on the ragged edge. All other issues are about nibbling around the edges of this. Universal health care, living wages, tax reform, you name it, each takes a bite out of the problem, but there are a lot of bites that need to be taken. Developing a system that benefits everyone is hugely difficult in a country as huge and disparate as ours, but it’s a cinch that you can’t get there by not trying.
Health care
Single-payer health care is inevitable. We need to be pushing it and preparing for it, at all levels of government. There are lots of models, all with their own warts, and ours will never be perfect, but the current efforts to undermine even the ACA (itself a sadly inadequate solution to the problem) are evidence of culpable idiocy.
Jobs and wages
Theoretically, the United States is well below the level of “natural unemployment.” The problem with this theory is that a large proportion of those jobs won’t support even a single individual, even if they are full-time. This could help explain why labor-force participation is near a record low. We need livable wages, reasonable benefits and a return to “honor” for the worker.
Education/training
There’s no such thing as too much funding for education and training, there’s only however much can be squeezed out of a “reasonable” budget. Education and training create opportunity, and opportunity is where it’s at.
Affordable housing
Again, we’re nibbling around the edges of “equity.” A “living wage” implies the ability to afford suitable housing; single-payer means more money for the rent. Much of the current distortion in housing costs reflects the huge disparity in incomes. I don’t like the idea of subsidized housing very well — it simply adds distortions to the market — but I don’t see a lot of alternatives in the near term.
Infrastructure
It’s not clear to me why we could build the interstate highway system last century and can’t fix the Carlton Bridge properly now. Oh, wait: maybe it’s because I and a whole bunch of people richer than I am got a huge series of tax cuts.
Environment
We have reached the point where it’s going to be very difficult for humanity to innovate its way out of extinction. It would help if people would simply pay attention, but that’s not enough. Governments are going to have no choice but to mandate further controls on consumption and pollution.
Constitutional and equal rights
I’m seriously tired of people who think a modern country can be run according to their highly restrictive interpretation of what some guy wrote over 200 years ago. Yes, the Constitution should remain sacrosanct, but, please, it was written by a bunch of people who couldn’t possibly foresee the changes in humanity and the human condition that have occurred since.
Discrimination happens, but it needs to be condemned out of hand and discouraged through law and education. The same goes for gender discrimination, discrimination based on disability, etc.
Valerie Sarratt
Biography
I’m proud to be a Washington state native. I earned a B.A. from the American University of Paris, and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Central Washington University. I’ve had a 17-year teaching career in Alaska, southern California and Washington state. I’ve lived in the 12th District for 10 years — five years in Wenatchee and five in the Methow Valley. I’m currently a secondary public school teacher in Brewster, and my husband and I live near Twisp, where we enjoy cycling, volunteering, gardening and raising chickens.
Why I’m running
I’m running because now is the time to stand up for democracy. I will sponsor and support state legislation protecting rights and protections that are being threatened at the national level. Our voting rights are currently being jeopardized; affordable quality health care is at risk for the average citizen; destructive immigration policies are depriving local growers of the workers they need; women’s right to choose is under threat; and protections for clean water and air are being dismantled. I have strong skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving developed from years of public school teaching.
Health care
I support state-based universal health care. Having access to affordable, quality universal health care is a human right. The United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, yet our patchwork health care system has been failing us for decades. A single payer solution would provide coverage to all residents in our district, energize our economy, and save millions in taxpayer dollars that are currently spent treating uninsured people in emergency rooms.
Jobs and wages
Working families are the engines of our economy. Today people in eastern Washington are struggling because their real wages are falling, as they have to pay more for health care, housing and other living expenses. I’ve been a union member my entire career, and I am grateful for the benefits of collective bargaining, especially good wages and working conditions.
We must also focus on providing all residents with access to high-speed Internet. Through the rollout of broadband in more rural communities and the preservation of net neutrality, residents can access critical information resources, such as education, marketing, and online work.
Education and training
State Democrats were the majority in both chambers last session, so our state was finally able to secure ample funding for K-12 public schools. If elected, I will work to ensure that these funds are used wisely.
Affordable housing
Currently, there is a housing shortage caused by low inventory, resulting in high rental and purchase costs. I will support and seek creative solutions in the Legislature to ease the affordable housing crisis in our district. Beyond bricks and mortar, we also need adequate health care, transportation, child care and other services to create vibrant communities.
Infrastructure needs
To have thriving, sustainable communities, we must have reliable revenue streams for the maintenance of highways, bridges, electric grids, public transportation, water and gas supplies, public spaces, waste-management and high-speed Internet in our district.
Environment and natural resources
Eastern Washington is an amazing place to live, with clean air and water, beautiful vistas, and plenty of wildlife. We must protect our community’s health and safety, as well as our quality of life. I drive an electric car, and I strongly support renewable energy. Not only is renewable energy better for our environment, clean energy jobs bring increased employment to our state. I pledge to support legislation that will protect our environment and water resources.
Constitutional and equal rights
We must carefully guard our constitutional and human rights. This year Democrats in the Washington State Legislature passed the Equal Pay Opportunity Act to help close the longstanding gender pay gap between men and women in our state. I believe in equal work for equal pay, and I will support legislation that will continue to address these inequalities.
Mike Steele
Biography
I am currently serving my first term in the Washington State House of Representatives. I was born and raised in Lake Chelan. After graduating from Pacific Lutheran University and majoring in political science and business administration, I served in the White House as a member of the Political Affairs Team, later returning to the Washington State House of Representatives to serve as a staff member for the Republican Caucus. I now live in Chelan and have been the executive director of the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce for 12 years. I served six years on the Chelan City Council. I am also on several local boards, and I am immediate past chair for the Washington State Chamber of Commerce Executives. I enjoy spending time on the lake at the family cabin, skiing at Mission Ridge and hanging out with my English Springer, Bentley.
Qualifications
I have been honored to serve the people of the 12th Legislative District for the past two years. I have and will continue to work hard for the people of this district. I want to continue to push for education reforms, more career and technical education opportunities and economic development opportunities for our region. I now have a proven record of collaboration and an ability to work across party lines. We need people that focus on policy and not partisanship to achieve our goals in this state. I have done that and hope for the opportunity to continue serving.
Issues
• Creating policy that expands opportunities for career and technical education.
• Advocating for policies that encourage small business growth and job creation in the 12th Legislative District.
• Encouraging innovation in both environmental stewardship and effective land management.
• Addressing the essential need for workforce housing in both the 12th Legislative District and the entire state.
Health care
In many of our communities around the 12th District our health care systems are some of the largest employers. I continue to work with our health care systems, districts and providers to ensure they have the resources and support necessary to be successful. This includes work to improve the current health care structure in our state collaborating with our Insurance Commissioner to expand and provide additional coverage opportunities for the people of this district.
Affordable housing
I have sponsored several bills that encourage public/private partnerships that would encourage workforce housing developments. These partnerships would work with the state to create tax benefits and incentives that encourage workforce housing development.
Infrastructure needs
I have worked hard to include money in the state transportation budget to ensure our local infrastructure needs are being met. My work on the Technology and Economic Development Committee also includes policy work around broadband infrastructure and buildout. This buildout is crucial for economic development in our district.
Constitutional and equal rights
I believe in equal rights for all people and would encourage and sponsor policy that ensure equal access and protection for all Washingtonians.
