Candidates for open House seat share goals, differ on strategies

By Jennifer Lloyd
Times Snohomish County bureau

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Both candidates for House Position 2 in the 1st Legislative District agree on a need for better education, faster transit and more jobs. But they have different ideas for funding those goals.

Democrat Mark Ericks, a former Bothell police chief, is running against Republican Joshua Freed, a family and marriage counselor. The incumbent, Democrat Jeanne Edwards, did not run for re-election.

Ericks and Freed were unopposed in the primary. Their district includes Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Bothell and Maltby.

Ericks proposes changing the business-and-occupation-tax system by gradually cutting some tax incentives for small businesses. Instead, he suggests tax breaks for businesses that are hiring employees, increasing health benefits or promoting car-pooling.

"Then we're pointing our tax relief to benefits we might need," said Ericks, who is endorsed by the Washington State Labor Council.

Ericks said education is "absolutely essential, not only [kindergarten] through 12, but also higher ed. I really see public education as an opportunity for a level playing field for all people regardless of their economic status or what walk of life they come from."

Ericks wants to give teachers cost-of-living pay increases as a way to retain good educators. He also wants to ease the region's transportation problems by increasing lanes and improving public transit.

"I've been in public service for 34 years and all of that in local government," said Ericks, who spent 30 years as a police officer in Bellevue and Bothell. "... I know the needs of the community and the needs of our district."

Freed, who is endorsed by the Washington Association of Realtors and Washington Restaurant Association, proposes simplifying regulations for businesses and performing an audit of all state agencies to find wasted tax dollars.

"I believe in accountability, and I believe in transparency, and that comes through opening books and showing where the money is spent," Freed said.
 
Freed said a portion of any money found going to waste could be put toward classroom supplies, teachers salaries and other educational needs.

He was a member of a Bothell citizens advisory group created to work on reducing congestion and incorporating transit lanes along Highway 522, and he advocates improvements to bus service.

Freed ran against Rep. Al O'Brien for House Position 1 in 2002 and lost by about 1,000 votes.

He has operated a private practice called Encourage Counseling for the past three years and is a member of the King County Mental Health Advisory Board. From listening to citizens, Freed said, he has a grasp of what people need. "Increase jobs, therefore support families and support kids, because I can see the chain reaction between it all," Freed said.

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