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

Party: Libertarian

Date of birth: February 21, 1983

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? My opponents may have the best intentions, but they always support bigger government and less freedom of choice for individuals. Both the Democrats and the Republicans have lost all faith in liberty and in the ability of free persons to care for themselves and voluntarily to extend a helping hand to their neighbors in need. They think that government is the solution to all our problems; I think that government is the biggest problem. You as a person are better able to control your life than I am.

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 for all government are to return to a government limited to the defense of life and property, while maximizing the liberty and individual freedom of all citizens equally. There should be no special privilege for anyone. A government cannot grant special privileges to anyone that it does not take from someone else. The projected $1 billion gap is a result of government spending that is clearly out of control. In the last 20 years, government spending has ballooned in the State of Washington. 1979-1981 state operating expenses totaled $9.5 billion. 2001-2003 saw a total expense of $50 billion! That’s an increase of over 500%. During this same time period, population has increase by only a little more than 40%. The answer is to simply reduce the size and scope of government, and let individual citizens have the freedom and responsibility to care for themselves.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? No. A recent study has determined that the average taxpayer in the State of Washington worked until July 12th, or 193.5 days in 2004 to pay his share of federal, state and local government taxes and regulations. When will this confiscation of an individual’s income rise to 100%? How much liberty does a person have when over half his earnings are taken from him without his consent and are spent for purposes distasteful to him? Every year we spend more and more on education, while test scores and achievement continue to decline, only to hear the familiar call that we need to spend more money on education. There is no way for schools to “give” an education. An education must be earned. Schools provide an opportunity for education, and that is all. If schools guarantee you’ll pass, why learn? If government guarantees a living, why work? The answer to improving our schools is not to raise taxes and increase spending on education.

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? No. No.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I’m in favor of any initiative that allows competition in a free market, increases individual freedom and reduces taxes.

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