Spurred in part by intense debate and budget issues surrounding the federal health overhaul, three physicians are pursuing part-time freshman positions in the House in the state Legislature — the most in the last half century, say politics-watchers at the Washington State Medical Association.

There hasn't been a doctor in the House — or the Senate — since 2008, when state Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park and a cardiologist, gave up her seat.

Dr. Peter Dunbar, 56, an anesthesiologist from Mercer Island who practices at Harborview Medical Center, is doorbelling in the 41st District. Dunbar, a former president of the state medical association, is running against incumbent Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, a real-estate associate broker and small business owner.

Dr. Sumner Schoenike, a semi-retired pediatrician from Gig Harbor, is running as a Democrat in the 26th District, facing incumbent Janice Angel, a businesswoman and Republican from Port Orchard.

Dr. Art Coday, a general medical doctor from Shoreline, is running as a Republican in the 32nd District against former Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu, a Democrat and small business owner from Richmond Beach, and Doris McConnell, a Shoreline Council member.

Heightened awareness of health issues and economics because of the national health-care overhaul helped pull these docs into politics, suggests Dr. Peter McGough, chief medical officer for UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics. “Now, it’s become clear that health care is a lynchpin in a lot of the issues,” he said.

Tom Curry, executive director and CEO of the state medical association, says his organization is encouraging doctors to support all three candidates. Its Political Action Committee, WA Medical PAC, has contributed $1,600 each to Dunbar and Schoenike, and a similar amount to each party for its state Senate and House campaign committees.

“We think the Legislature would benefit from having a doctor in the House,” Curry said. Too often policy makers pass laws affecting health-care delivery, health programs or license issues, he said, without a clear idea of their impact.

With lawmakers facing a $3 billion budget shortfall in the next biennium, the upcoming legislative session likely will be contentious and difficult —but, Curry said, perhaps rife with opportunity. Health care, in one way or another, “is such a huge part of the state budget, and these folks can bring some kind of direct knowledge,” he said.

Doctors’ professional ethics urge them to advocate not only for their patients, Curry said, but for the public good.

Dunbar got a taste of lawmaking five years ago, after dueling tort reform initiatives drained the coffers of both lawyer and doctor groups before being roundly rejected by voters. Then heading the medical association, he helped negotiate a compromise law that left both sides with a few goodies.

Other than that, none of these candidates has ever been a lawmaker, but all say they’re eager to tackle the job. Said Dunbar: “It’s an adventure.”