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| Leo Van Hollebeke, Republican |
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| Candidate: State Senator, District 1 |
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| Leo Van Hollebeke |
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| Age: 37 |
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| Residence: Bothell |
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| Occupation: |
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Small business owner, landscape maintenance company |
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| Education: |
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B.A., political science, University of Washington |
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| Political history: |
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Chairman, 1st District Democrat (1989-1991); Republican precinct committee officer, Kentish precinct, 1998-present |
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| Endorsements: |
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Education Excellence Coalition, Washington chapter National Federation of Independent Businesses, Independent Business Association |
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| Campaign Web site: http://www.leo2000.org |
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| Campaign theme: No response. |
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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 |
yes |
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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 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 would support a system similar to the way we currently vote in presidential primaries. This would comply with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling by allowing each party to have their own ballot. This also would maintain an independent ballot for those who choose not to declare a political party affiliation. |
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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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It is important that the state maintain a healthy business climate providing job opportunities for families. Lowering B&O taxes is an important step in keeping small businesses and our local economy going strong; I would support such legislation. |
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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 support the current clause of the Washington state Constitution which provides for equal treatment of all property owners. High property taxes impact everybody and reductions should be across the board. |
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| 5. |
What privacy legislation would you support? Would you exempt financial institutions? Why or why not? |
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All institutions collecting information that impacts our privacy should be required to fully disclose their actions. I support such policies to protect the privacy of our state's residents. |
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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 Legislature should take action to ensure money is available for long-term transportation funding. However, the greater problem is that too much money is being spent on unnecessary studies and overhead. I will encourage shifting a portion of those funds to make the road improvements necessary to reduce congestion. |
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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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Today, advancements in criminal justice technology (including DNA testing) have given us a tremendous advantage in determining a suspect's guilt or innocence. The state should take all possible measures to use such technology to reaffirm the criminal's guilt before a death sentence is carried out. |
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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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While I am hesitant to change the state constitution, I strongly support the will of the people with regard to I-695. The people of our state approved the initiative and certainly should have the opportunity to choose a constitutional amendment that would allow it to be fully implemented. |
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