Developer challenges state Senate veteran

By Jennifer Lloyd
Times Snohomish County Bureau

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Democrat Rosemary McAuliffe has represented the 1st Legislative District as a senator for almost 12 years. She said she's found reasons to run again this year, while her Republican opponent, Jason Bontrager, would like to take the Senate seat in a new direction.

Bontrager is a commercial-real-estate investor and land developer with no government experience.

"That's my claim to fame," said Bontrager, who lives north of Woodinville and owns Alexandria Investment.

But Bontrager said his work with neighborhood associations, as well as with "800-pound gorilla" companies such as Wal-Mart and Costco Wholesale, has taught him how to negotiate for the benefit of all parties.

He's running against McAuliffe, of Bothell, who spent 14 years on the Northshore School Board before joining the Legislature.

Both candidates were unopposed in the primary election.

McAuliffe, the former chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee and now the committee's ranking minority member, has focused much of her attention on education issues.

"Preparing our children to graduate from our schools, being able to go to the job or college of their choice, is really my goal," said McAuliffe, who is endorsed by the Washington Education Association.

"After 12 years, you have to really evaluate what are you going to do in those next four years. I would like to see us complete our work for education reform."

McAuliffe wants to ensure students have alternatives to passing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, a graduation requirement for the class of 2008.
 
McAuliffe, who owns a sushi restaurant in Bothell and an events facility in Woodinville, also wants to improve the business climate through tax incentives for startup businesses and by providing slots at community and technical colleges for employee retraining. McAuliffe also is endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council.

On transportation, McAuliffe's priority is to get Highway 522 ramps for the University of Washington, Bothell, campus completed on time and within budget. The $8 million project is expected to begin in spring 2007 and be completed by fall 2008.

But such priorities must be first funded by a good economy, Bontrager said.

"You cannot legitimately pay for those programs until you've taken care of your economic woes," said Bontrager, who is endorsed by the Washington Association of Realtors.

"I think we have to give our business community every hand up that we can. It's not a handout; it's a hand up."

Bontrager believes classroom supplies, textbooks and field trips should be funded first, then teachers' salaries.

"The education system is not set up to give teachers health care," Bontrager said. "The No. 1 priority is to educate kids as best we can."

Bontrager would like to streamline business regulations, particularly the process for permits. He wants to add lanes to freeways to decrease traffic congestion.

"I think that 12 years is enough time," Bontrager said of his opponent. "What the state needs is energy, is progress, is a new direction."

Jennifer Lloyd: 425-745-7809 or jlloyd@seattletimes.com