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| Di Irons, Democrat |
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| Candidate: State Representative, |
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| Di Irons |
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District 5, Position 1 |
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| Age: 46 |
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| Residence: Sammamish |
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| Occupation: |
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Small-business owner |
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| Education: |
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A.A. in general studies, with emphasis on early-childhood development, Bellevue Community College |
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| Political history: |
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Candidate for King County Council, 1999 |
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| Endorsements: |
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Washington State Business and Professional Women, Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Washington School Administrators |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.diirons.com |
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| Campaign theme: |
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Responsive, reliable, efficient government. |
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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 |
yes |
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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 |
yes |
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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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Return to the grass-roots caucus. |
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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. Business and occupation tax. |
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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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No. I support a universal tax rate on all property with a standard exemption for low income and elderly. |
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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 privacy legislation that safeguards personal, financial and medical records with exemptions only for national security and felony criminal activity. |
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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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The Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding is studying new financing mechanisms for transportation funding. I anticipate being able to support proposals that come out of this commission. Any suggested tax increases for transportation projects would need strong labor and business support to get legislative support. |
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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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We need procedures in place to ensure the use of modern DNA testing of available evidence for all capital crimes. I would support a moratorium while such a program is developed and implemented. |
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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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The voters overwhelmingly endorsed this issue and before further action is taken by the Legislature, the voters should be given the opportunity, in the spirit of the initiative process, to clarify their desires. |
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