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| Richard Hildreth, Democrat |
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| Candidate: State Representative, |
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| Richard Hildreth |
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District 25, Position 1 |
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| Age: 41 |
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| Residence: Pacific |
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| Occupation: |
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Electrician |
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| Education: |
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Electrical apprenticeship; C.C. in welding technology, machine design, South Seattle Community Branch, Clover Park Technical College |
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| Political history: |
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Precinct committee officer, 25th District Democrats chairman and president |
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| Endorsements: |
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District Lodge 751, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Puyallup Firefighters, Washington Conservation Voters |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.richardhildreth.com |
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| Campaign theme: |
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Leadership that listens. |
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| 1. |
What is your position on the initiatives proposed on this year's November ballot? |
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I-713 - Animal trapping |
no |
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I-722 - Property taxes |
no |
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I-728 - School district financing |
yes |
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I-729 - Charter schools |
no |
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I-732 - Teacher raises |
yes |
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I-745 - Transportation funding |
no |
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| 2. |
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has declared blanket primary elections like Washington's violate political parties' constitutional rights, what form of new primary election system would you propose adopting? |
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I propose that we look to one similar in nature to Louisiana's where the top two finishers regardless of party advance. |
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| 3. |
Would you continue the trend of recent years and support tax cuts for businesses? Which ones specifically? If not, why? |
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Yes, I support cutting the overall tax burden for everyone. Washington business taxes are the highest in 11 Western states. I support restructuring the business-and-occupation tax and credits for employee skills training and expansion of facilities. |
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| 4. |
Would you support a Constitutional amendment that would allow tax breaks for homeowners but not for business or commercial property? Why or why not? |
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I do not like the idea of constitutional amendments unless clearly needed. I do not support split tax rolls. |
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| 5. |
What privacy legislation would you support? Would you exempt financial institutions? Why or why not? |
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I support restricting the sale and trade of personal information. I would not support exempting anyone, including governmental agencies. |
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| 6. |
A commission studying transportation funding says a new financing mechanism is needed to keep Washington transportation projects on track. How would you propose financing future transportation projects? |
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I firmly believe in dedicated funding sources that are germane to what they fund. Gas/fuel taxes are already dedicated; I would support a modest increase in fuel tax, and research of use taxes. |
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| 7. |
With some states reconsidering the death penalty, what is your position and what changes, if any, do you think are needed in Washington's law? Under what circumstances would you support a moratorium? |
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Right now an execution, along with the automatic appeals, etc., cost up to six times the amount needed to house inmates for 50 years. I would change automatic appeals, and supplement them with something more reasonable. I would support a moratorium until we fiscally reform the process. |
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| 8. |
A judge struck down Initiative 695's provision that would have required a public vote for all tax and fee increases. Would you support a Constitutional amendment that would require the public vote? Why or why not? |
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As I mentioned before, I do not support amending the Constitution unless drastically needed. I feel that the voters have veto authority at the ballot box. I would support increasing a requirement to increase citizen input before implementing any increase. |
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