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| Cheryl Pflug, Republican (Incumbent) |
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| Candidate: State Representative, |
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| Cheryl Pflug |
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District 5, Position 2 |
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| Age: 43 |
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| Residence: Hobart |
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| Occupation: |
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Registered nurse |
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| Education: |
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B.S. in nursing, University of Washington |
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| Political history: |
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State representative, 1998-present |
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| Endorsements: |
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Washington Taxpayers Association, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.pflug.com |
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| Campaign theme: |
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Leadership for today and tomorrow. |
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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 response |
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I-722 - Property taxes |
yes |
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I-728 - School district financing |
no response |
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I-729 - Charter schools |
yes |
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I-732 - Teacher raises |
no response |
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I-745 - Transportation funding |
no response |
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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 support a public hearing process to design a closed primary system that allows each party the opportunity to nominate candidates for public office. Independent voters and minority parties should also be included in the primary process. |
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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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I support a uniform reduction in the tax burden for all citizens, particularly the burdensome property 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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Our Constitution contains a uniformity clause that is there for good reason. It is designed to protect the minority from oppression by the majority. States without this clause have experienced having the majority vote excessive taxes on the minority. I would not support removing that clause. |
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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 would like to see full disclosure of intended uses, full prosecution of identity theft, improved redress for victims of identity theft, full access to your own information with the opportunity to contest errors and protections from the sale of private information. I would not exempt financial OR government institutions. |
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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 commission has been asked to make planning and financing recommendations. Those proposals should be examined in the public-hearing process for effectiveness, accountability and fairness. The public must be guaranteed its money's worth before additional tax structures are considered. |
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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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I support the death penalty. Every effort should be made to ensure qualified legal counsel is available to the accused and that due process is provided. However, heinous crimes should not go unpunished. |
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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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I co-sponsored HB 4223, which would have amended our constitution so that any general tax increase not directly related to benefits received (i.e., not a user fee) would require a public vote. I trust the voters to set priorities and think that their will should be respected. |
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