23rd Legislative District

"*" = incumbent

State Senate | State House Position 1| State House Position 2 |

State Senate

Name: Steve Hargrove

Office sought: state Senate

Party: Republican

Campaign phone: 360-598-1937

Birthdate: 5/8/41

Occupation: heating contractor

Education: B.A., Calvary Bible College

Political history: North Kitsap School Board 1985-89; candidate for state House, 1990; state representative, 1995-present

Family: spouse: Gloria; children:Barbie, Sonja, Steve; one grandchild

Endorsements: Washington Association of Realtors, Human Life, National Federation of Independent Businesses, National Rifle Association

Why are you running for this office?

I am a positive voice, protecting us from intrusive, out-of-balance government.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1. reduce the tax burden
2. prosecute youths 16 and older as adults for serious crimes
3. curtail frivolous lawsuits

Name: Betti Sheldon *

Office sought: state Senate

Party: Democrat

Campaign phone: 360-479-7621

Birthdate: 4/9/35

Occupation: former executive director of the Bremerton Chamber of Commerce

Education: attended Gonzaga University, certification in organizational management from Stanford University

Political history: state Senate, 1993-present

Family: five children, four grandchildren

Endorsements: Washington State Labor Council, Womens' Political Caucus, Washington Education Association, Conservation Voters

Why are you running for this office?

I ran initially to better represent Kitsap County in Olympia -- to put the interests of voters, rather than private agendas, first. We continue to need my balanced and commonsense approach.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1. education: strong supporter of schools and access to post-secondary education
2. property tax: we need sensible relief
3. environment: clean water and clean air

State House Position 1

Name: Phil Rockefeller

Office sought: state House, position 1

Party: Democrat

Campaign phone: 360-613-1396

Birthdate: 11/20/38

Occupation: attorney, educational consultant

Education: B.A., Yale University, L.L.B., Harvard University

Political history: special assistant to Gov. John Spellman, regional commissioner for the U.S. Office of Education

Family: spouse: Anita; children: Rebecca, Melissa, Erika

Endorsements: Children's Campaign Fund, State Labor Council, Sierra Club, Washington State Council of Firefighters

Why are you running for this office?

As a resident of Kitsap County for the past 25 yeras, I have grown tired watching our families take a back seat to special-interest politics. I will go to Olympia as an independent new voice to solve the problems that really matter to us.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1. Providing a first-rate education: accessible, affordable schools
2. Protecting our environment: protect air, water, rebuild salmon runs
3. Fighting crime: reform juvenile justice system, bring back accountability for juvenile offenders

Name: Paul Zellinsky

Office sought: state House, position 1

Party: Republican

Campaign phone: 360-479-4168

Birthdate: 2/21/33

Occupation: retired auto dealer

Education: attended UW, B.A. Seattle University

Political history: state representative, 1983-1994

Family: spouse: Joanne; four children, seven grandchildren

Endorsements:
Why are you running for this office?

I sincerely believe it is time to put some sense back into government, modifying its size and eliminating unnecessary programs. I'm the only district House candidate who doesn't live on Bainbridge Island. This community has been good to me and I have a desire to serve it again.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1. property tax relief
2. zero-tolerance on violent crime
3. breaking the cycle of lifetime
welfare dependency

State House Position 2

Name: David Harrison

Office sought: state House, position 2

Party: Democrat

Campaign phone: 360-779-4660 or 206-842-7519

Birthdate: 12/3/47

Occupation: consultant, UW lecturer

Education: M.A., Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Political history: Bainbridge Island School Board, 1993-present

Family: spouse: Cynthia; children: Jordan, 19; Benjamin, 15

Endorsements: Washington State Labor Council, Bainbridge Island Education Association, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Women's Political Caucus

Why are you running for this office?

To help return the state and the legislative district to initiatives that will shape our future, rather than the narrow focus of the incumbent.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1. strengthen public education, reform the property-tax system upon which it precariously rests
2. better protect Puget Sound and the quality of life that Kitsap County citizens treasure
3. diversify Kitsap County's economy, creating family-wage jobs in the face of cutbacks in military expenditures

Name: Karen Schmidt *

Office sought: state House, position 2

Party: Republican

Campaign phone: 206-842-3266

Birthdate: 11/27/45

Occupation: travel agency owner

Education: attended Arizona State University

Political history: state representative, 1981-present

Family: spouse: Sim Wilson; two adult children

Endorsements: Washington State Firefighters Association; Washington State Patrol Officers Association; Inland Boatmens Union, National Federation of Independent Businesses

Why are you running for this office?

The next two years will be a critical time to transportation and transportation relates directly to the health of our economy. We should not only protect our current economy but provide the growth we need to accommodate all our citizens.

What will be your top three priorities if elected?

1.tranportation: relieve congestion, address safety improvements, purchase new high-speed passenger and car-carrying vessels
2.criminal justice: improve communication, coordination among local, state and federal law enforcment agencies
3. eliminate duplication, redundancy in state government, consolidate and economize