State Senator, District -- 41

Party: Republican

Residence: 9507 SE 61st Place, Mercer Island, WA 98040

Education: BSME, Univ. of Illinois; graduate studies in Industrial Engineering, Southern Methodist University

Political offices held: Elected Washington State Senate, 1996 and 2000. Elected Washington State House of Representatives ,1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994. Served 16 years on Mercer Island City Council and as the city’s mayor before being elected to the State Legislature.

Public service and volunteer experience: Active in many local community service organizations, including Board of Advisors, Children Response Center, and Board of Directors, Mercer Island Lions Club. Also past Board of Trustees member with Veterans of Foreign Wars and have volunteered with Little League, Boy Scouts, and school citizens’ groups.

Endorsements: Mercer Island City Council, Commendation for Dedication and Leadership in Washington Transportation; City of Bellevue, Commendation for Transportation Issues; Associated General Contractors, Legislator of the Year; Maritime Industry, Elected Official of the Year, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Public Official of the Year and University of Illinois College of Engineering, Distinguished Alumni Award.

Campaign theme: Senator Jim Horn listens to our concerns, shares our values, and works to achieve consensus to get things done.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? My legislative experience and proven ability to work with my colleagues from both parties to help make our community a better place for all families. Specifically, as the new chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, I have an advantage in working to influence a strong transportation plan for our area and the state. Long time involvement in community activities.

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? The highest priorities affecting our community are improving our economy and state’s job climate, maintaining quality education, and building needed transportation infrastructure. Improving Washington’s job climate to allow employers to maintain and create good jobs is the key to generating additional tax revenues to pay for government services. Raising taxes would be completely counter-productive to this goal, plus it would impose an unneeded burden on taxpayers. Our job in the Legislature is to set spending priorities that will allow us to live with existing revenues.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I have always supported education. I have 2 granddaughters in local public schools so I, as many other parents and grandparents, will be voting for the initiative.

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 with the new primary voting system Gov. Locke created when he vetoed the Legislature’s proposal. We all preferred our blanket primary system which the courts ruled unconstitutional. I do not support the top 2 primary system that gives the voters choice in the primary but deprives them of choice in the general election. (25% of races would be between 2 Republicans or 2 Democrats)

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? Apparently the amount of tax dollars to be saved by taxpayers has been somewhat overstated, which makes a bad idea even less appealing. But again, in November, voters will have the final say on this issue.

Contact

9507 SE 61 PL
MERCER ISLAND, WA 98040
(206) 232-2347
jimhorn1@comcast.net

Campaign Web site:
www.jimhorn.org/