State Representative, District -- 37, Position -- 1

Party: Republican

Date of birth: March 3, 1977

Residence: Central Seattle

Education: New Jersey Institute of Technology, City College City University of New York, Seattle Central Commun

Public service and volunteer experience: Washington representative, National Hip-Hop Political Convention; founder, Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Youth Council; Director, Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival and Parade; Founding Director, African American Heritage Museum; volunteer, Rainier Beach High School; coach, Seattle Little League baseball; CD Panthers Football League.

Campaign theme: My campaign is about making government accountable to the people by increasing the quality and quantity of information about what is going on and how we the people can best mobilize to achieve the positive changes that we desire. I am committed to fighting for high quality education, ending ethnic cleansing i.e. gentrification in Seattle, promoting economic development for all, and building positive institutions in our community such as the African American Heritage Museum & Cultural Center to prevent crime and increase safety and prosperity in our community.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I represent the hope for a brighter future and the courage to challenge the status quo which has failed to provide real strategies to the state of affairs including poor education, unemployment, ethnic cleansing, economic apartheid, crime and violence in central and southeast Seattle and urban cities across the nation. The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln and we must restore it to its pro-freedom, justice and equal opportunity roots. It is from this perspective that I am committed to being a voice for practical common-sense solutions and efficient government in these critical times.

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? All students deserve a culturally relevant, career-based curriculum and related development opportunities that effectively engages them in the learning process and prepares them to be positive, productive members of their communities. Increase support for effective out-of-school time programs to channel youthful energy into constructive activities. Closing the gap between revenue and expenses begins with cutting government waste, rolling back tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy and redirecting funds to effective crime prevention rather than costly, ineffective prison system.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? Education is the most valuable investment an individual, community or society can make in itself, however we must carefully observe the line between investment and waste. I do not support investing in failed strategies, policies, and practices. Before we spend another penny we need to have thorough evaluation of the billions of pennies that we have been spending with dismal results. Only after we have corrected the flaws in current education funding and spending and exhausted all other potential resources should we ask citizens to increase their tax burden.

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 favor the old primary system. I oppose I-887 which would further reduce our choices.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I do not support the initiative to bring slot machines in our communities. We should give people a real chance at achieving their dreams through access to high quality education, living wage jobs, business development and wealth building opportunities. A false sense of hope based on a game of chance is the last thing we need in our communities.

Contact

PO BOX 22328
SEATTLE, WA 98122
(206) 726-1184
info@votewyking.com

Campaign Web site:
www.votewyking.com