State Representative, District -- 46, Position -- 1

Party: Green

Date of birth: July 10, 1972

Residence: Wedgwood

Education: BA, English/Linguistics; Native American Studies; University of Montana

Political offices held: none

Public service and volunteer experience: I interned with Pastors for Peace after college and helped organize caravans and education excursion to Latin America, and toured the country speaking to community groups about US foreign policy. I am a volunteer journalist for Real Change newspaper. I organized the "Watchful Eyes" program of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, to protect people from hate crimes in the wake of 9-11. I am also a volunteer soccer coach.

Endorsements: Seattle School Board Directors Brita Butler-Wall and Sally Soriano; Operating Engineers Local 609; Sailors' Union of the Pacific; Paul Bigman (ILWU International Organizer); John Fox (Director, Seattle Displacement Coalition; Kim Wells (owner, Silver Platters independent CD store); Marlin Hathaway (owner, Asteroid Cafe)

Campaign theme: Send a Teacher to Olympia!

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I will stand up for public education. The incumbent voted to suspend the small class initiative, voted to suspend the teachers' raise initiative, and then voted to divert $100 million from public education funds to go to charter schools - even though voters, including his constituents, rejected charter schools twice!

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 $1 billion gap is due to the fact that Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the country (some say the northern hemisphere!) Incumbent McIntire helped enable this budget gap by using his power as Chair of the House Finance Committee to funnel billions of dollars in tax breaks to large corporations, including $3.2 billion to Boeing alone. A fair and progressive tax structure would increase government revenues while decreasing the burden on taxpayers. We need a progressive income tax and to reduce the sales tax. We need to get rid of the anti-small business B&O tax and replace it with a corporate income tax. Boeing and Microsoft need to pay their fair share!

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I call this the "Sophia's Choice Initiative": it pits the fact that Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the nation against the fact that Washington ranks 47th in the nation in per-pupil education spending. We're darned if we do, darned if we don't...

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 believe that voter apathy and low voter turnout is the greatest threat to our democracy. We need an electoral system that encourages and promotes participation. Neither the new primary nor the "top 2" system address these problems. We need Instant Runoff Voting. We need I-318, www.irvwa.org

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? Washington needs real tax reform, as stated above, to reduce our taxes. I-892 is a cyncial, backhanded measure rife with hidden intentions and unforeseen consequences.

Contact

PO BOX 27779
SEATTLE, WA 98165-2779
(206) 523-1932
chris@votechris.org

Campaign Web site:
www.votechris.org