State Representative, District -- 5, Position -- 1

Party: Democrat

Date of birth: March 22, 1961

Education: Degree in Fire Command and Administration

Political offices held: Twice elected as Fire Commissioner of King County Fire District #10; past Chair of the Board of Directors of Eastside Fire and Rescue; City of Issaquah Fire Review Board Member, 2 terms.

Public service and volunteer experience: 23 year firefighter, 8 year member of the Volunteer board of directors of the Issaquah Friends of Youth. Alaska Airlines CARE team member for Alaska flight 261. Member of an Emergency response team that has responded to disasters in Central and North America since 1983. Little League coach. Traffic safety volunteer for Cascade Ridge Elementary School.

Endorsements: Firefighters across the state, Fire Commissioners, Teachers, School administrators, Seniors for America, Childrens Defense Fund, Sierra Club, NARAL, Planned Parenthood, labor groups across the state, hundreds of business owners and residents of the 5th district.

Campaign theme: Getting the 5th district the representation it deserves. Putting people before politics.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I have lived and worked in the 5th district for over 20 years. I have been involved in local issues and am connected to the community in ways that my opponent is not.

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 first. To close the financial gap we will need to create efficiencies in state government. We will need to do performance audits to existing programs and make them work better. We will also have to look at all of the tax breaks and incentives being given out and get rid of the ones that do not create living wage jobs or serve us as a society. We need accountability for every tax break.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? Only as a last resort.

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 have doorbelled over 11,500 homes and people are not happy about the new primary system. I do not think the "top 2" system will be any better received once people start to analyze how it can be abused.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I am against it.

Contact

4580 KLAHANIE DR SE #272
ISSAQUAH, WA 98029
(425) 391-0668
jgriffin4statehouse@msn.com

Campaign Web site:
www.jeffgriffin.org