State Representative, District -- 1, Position -- 2

Party: Democrat

Residence: Bothell

Education: College and Professional

Public service and volunteer experience: 34 years of public service as youth services worker, police officer, detective, Chief of Police, and Director of Administrative Services; Little League coach, Northshore Little League Board, girls fast pitch instructor (volunteer) for 10 years, Make-a-Wish foundation, Bothell Police Holiday Food Drive, Greater Bothell Association Board, Civil Rights Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (10 years)

Endorsements: Women's Political Caucus, NARAL, Snohomish Co. Conservation Voters, Washington Education Assoc., Progressive Majority, Bothell Police Officers Guild, Bothell Professional Firefighters, Everett Professional Firefighters, Wash. Council of Police and Sheriffs, Law Enforcement Administrators of Wash., Wash. State Troopers Assoc., Wash. State Council of County and City Employees, SEIU, Wash. State Labor Council, IBEW 46 & 191, Plumbers/Pipefitters Local 32, IUOE Local 302 and 609, Aerospace Machinists Lodge 751, Amalgamated Transit Union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1105, Rental Housing Assoc. of Puget Sound, Washington Public Employees Assoc., Washington State School Retirees, Laborers Local 1239, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, Congressman Jay Inslee, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Jeanne Edwards, Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, Representative Al O'Brien, Representative John Lovick, Rated "VERY GOOD" by the Municipal League of King Co.

Campaign theme: As police chief, active community member, volunteer softball coach, and the father of five daughters, I have a lifetime of experience and a proven record of results. As your State Representative, I'll insist on an efficient and accountable state government that delivers the services our community needs.

I will work to create balanced economic development programs that create growth for our economy, provide economic incentives to small business to keep jobs in our area, direct more money to the classrooms of our public schools to prepare our children for tomorrow's jobs, implement solutions to our traffic problems that reduce commute time and take traffic out of our neighborhoods, and make health care more affordable.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? The biggest difference is that I have many years of proven leadership and experience in serving the public and members of our community. I have been responsible for managing and balancing multi-million dollar budgets, administering contracts, have been responsible for hiring, supervising, and managing employees, and developing services in response to the needs of our community. I have many years of experience with legislative process, budgets, our legal system, and elected officials.

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? My highest priorities are: develop a long term plan for prioritizing and funding services; economic development that supports and attracts small businesses; ensure that our services are efficient; that public education is appropriately funded, focused on the classroom and that teachers are appropriately compensated; improvements to our major transportation routes are funded. Closing the gap will require eliminating funding for low priority services, increasing revenue, or a combination of both.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I agree with the trust fund concept but do not favor increasing sales tax as the funding source. I would support sales tax increase as the funding source on a temporary basis on the condition that it sunsets after a permanent source is identified and implemented.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I oppose the expansion of gambling.

Contact

P.O. Box 1496
BOTHELL, WA 98041
(206)999-0004
ericks4rep@comcast.net

Campaign Web site:
www.markericks.org