 |
|
|
|
| Renee Radcliff, Republican (Incumbent) |
| |
| Candidate: State Representative, |
 |
| Renee Radcliff |
|
| |
District 21, Position 2 |
| |
| Age: 41 |
| |
| Residence: Mukilteo |
| |
| Occupation: |
| |
President/CEO, Everett Area Chamber of Commerce |
| |
| Education: |
| |
A.S. in medical technology, Pacific Union College; attended Sonoma State University, California State University at Los Angeles |
| |
| Political history: |
| |
State representative |
| |
| Endorsements: |
| |
Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Children's Campaign Fund |
| |
| Campaign Web site: http://www.electradcliff.com |
| |
| Campaign theme: |
| |
Totally reliable, totally responsive, totally RADcliff. |
| |
|
| |
| 1. |
What is your position on the initiatives proposed on this year's November ballot? |
|
| |
I-713 - Animal trapping |
yes |
| |
I-722 - Property taxes |
no |
| |
I-728 - School district financing |
no |
| |
I-729 - Charter schools |
yes |
| |
I-732 - Teacher raises |
no |
| |
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 don't believe we have a lot of choices in this regard, so would propose a system whereby citizens register by party for primary elections. General-election ballots should still include all candidates so individuals may "switch" over to another party's candidate should they choose. |
| |
| 3. |
Would you continue the trend of recent years and support tax cuts for businesses? Which ones specifically? If not, why? |
|
| |
I would support tax changes for the health-club industry (removing the sales tax and returning to their pre-1993 business and occupation tax rate) and lowering the B&O tax rate on landscaping. These are "old business" items from 1993. Would possibly consider regionally targeted cuts to stimulate business growth in depressed areas. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
No, this would increase the tax burden on rental properties, thus indirectly hitting our state's lowest-income families. A split-roll property tax is grossly unfair to just about everyone except an individual who owns only one piece of property _ the home in which he or she resides. |
| |
| 5. |
What privacy legislation would you support? Would you exempt financial institutions? Why or why not? |
|
| |
Until I see actual language, I am only willing to support legislation that deals specifically with the crime of identity theft or legislation that increases the security of our driver's license document. I will not commit to any other type of privacy legislation without seeing actual bill language. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
Well, some of us have been saying that for years! I support the gas tax because it is constitutionally directed toward roads and ferries. I would also support some other type of revenue and have proposed tax-increment financing that could support alternative transportation options such as rail and transit. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
I have not been convinced that Washington's present law regarding the death penalty needs revision. However, as new technologies emerge (such as DNA testing) that can more clearly substantiate guilt or innocence, we need to be sensitive to incorporating them into our evidence-gathering systems. |
| |
| 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? |
|
| |
No, I am a strong supporter of our current system of representative government. The legislative process is designed to provide for significant public input, research and study before votes are taken. I believe the public hires legislators for this task and will fire us when they disapprove of our performance. |
|
