 |
|
|
|
| Christopher Hurst, Democrat (Incumbent) |
| |
| Candidate: State Representative, |
 |
| Christopher Hurst |
|
| |
District 31, Position 2 |
| |
| Age: 45 |
| |
| Residence: Enumclaw |
| |
| Occupation: |
| |
Police detective |
| |
| Education: |
| |
A.A. in aviation, Green River Community College; currently enrolled at City University for B.S. in public administration |
| |
| Political history: |
| |
State representative |
| |
| Endorsements: |
| |
Washington State Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO |
| |
| Campaign Web site: http://www.chrishurst.com |
| |
| Campaign theme: |
| |
He promised. He delivered. |
| |
|
| |
| 1. |
What is your position on the initiatives proposed on this year's November ballot? |
|
| |
I-713 - Animal trapping |
no |
| |
I-722 - Property taxes |
yes |
| |
I-728 - School district financing |
yes |
| |
I-729 - Charter schools |
yes |
| |
I-732 - Teacher raises |
yes |
| |
I-745 - Transportation funding |
no |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
I strongly support blanket primaries like ours where the voters get the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice, as opposed to a system controlled by political parties. Washington's system has not specifically been judged unconstitutional, and should not be changed until tested in court. |
| |
| 3. |
Would you continue the trend of recent years and support tax cuts for businesses? Which ones specifically? If not, why? |
|
| |
We just got done lowering unemployment insurance taxes by $600 million for businesses. I would not support additional tax cuts until we have provided property-tax relief for seniors and solved our massive underfunded transportation problems. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
I am opposed to split rolls, with one exception. That is for senior citizens, who need immediate property-tax relief. Many are literally being taxed out of their homes. All other property-tax relief should be done across the board, without favoring any particular group. |
| |
| 5. |
What privacy legislation would you support? Would you exempt financial institutions? Why or why not? |
|
| |
I was a co-sponsor of both pieces of privacy legislation in the House (by Reps. McIntire and Kastama). I supported the negotiations by the attorney general, but felt that the end product did not provide enough protections. The final draft did provide proper exemptions for financial institutions. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
As a member of the Transportation Committee I am very familiar with the problems we are facing. I am awaiting the report by the Blue Ribbon Commission and would support putting a referendum on the ballot to the people with the recommendations they outline for funding. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
The death penalty system in Washington is not working and costs 10 times as much as putting someone in prison for life without the possibility of parole. Aside from the issue of wasting tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, I am opposed to the death penalty on religious grounds. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
The Supreme Court was right to strike down this provision. The notion and expense of hundreds of public elections to change the price of milk in schools and library fines is ridiculous. People voted for Initiative 695 because they wanted $30 car tabs, not electoral bureaucracy. |
|
