State Representative, District -- 36, Position -- 2

Party: Democrat

Date of birth: September 3, 1946

Residence: 719 North 68th Street, Seattle

Education: Master of Social Work ; post graduate work in public administration and business administration.

Political offices held: State representative from the 36th District for 10 years.

Public service and volunteer experience: Founded TreeHouse and the Ballard Family Center. Current member of the Washington State Sentencing Guidelines Commission and the Family Policy Council. Member of the state interagency committee that focuses on the needs of children ages birth to three. Former PTA volunteer and leader for Project Kidsplay! Member, People for Puget Sound and Mothers Against Violence in America.

Endorsements: Washington Conservation Voters; NARAL; Washington Council of Sheriffs and Police; State Labor Council; National Association of Social Workers; King County Democrats; 36th District Democrats; and many other organizations.

Campaign theme: My focus is on common sense solutions for jobs, health, and transportation.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I have ten solid years of experience in the State Legislature making a difference for the people of my district and this state. I also have over 25 years of civic leadership in the community.

What are your highest priorities for state government? If you had to close the projected $1 billion gap between state government revenues and expenses, how would you do it? Education, jobs, public safety, health, and transportation are the top priorities. Of these, education is job #1. If we have a projected $1 billion gap between revenues and expenses, I would first look for non-essential expenditures to cut. Frankly, we have cut almost all of those in dealing with the $2.7 billion deficit two years ago. I believe we need to increase revenues and would look at the recommendations of the Gates Commission for guidance. Our current tax system is badly in need of a complete reform. It is unfair to individuals and small business and does not produce reliable revenues for necessary services.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? Yes I do, because this may be the only way we can get enough revenue to adequately fund our education system. The sales tax does put a higher burden on lower and middle income residents of Washington, so the initiative has some drawbacks, but seems the best solution that we have for now.

Are you happy with Washington's new primary? Are you supporting the initiative that would give Washington a "top 2" primary system that the parties oppose? I am not happy that the federal court made us change from the blanket primary that this state had for decades. I would have preferred to stay with that version of the primary. However, since we had no choice but to change, I believe the best option is the one that we currently have rather than the "top 2." Why? Because the "top 2" would mean that in the general election voters in many districts would have NO CHOICE between a Democrat and a Republican. They would get to choose only between two Democrats and two Republicans. Also third parties wouldn't have a chance under the "top 2." The current primary system leads to a general election system that remains unchanged from the one we have known. Moreover, party selection in the primary is confidential and names are not given to the party organizations.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? The initiative is probably unconstitutional. It will give us an unstable source of revenue and a VAST expansion of slot machines and gambling problems across the state. I oppose it.

Contact

719 N 68TH ST
SEATTLE, WA 98103
(206) 782-6129
maryloudickerson@earthlink.net

Campaign Web site:
maryloudickerson.com