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

Party: Democrat

Date of birth: April 9, 1953

Residence: 7318 54th Ave NE, Seattle

Education: B.A. Macalester College, M.P.P. (public policy) U of Michigan, Ph.D. (economics) U of Washington

Political offices held: Elected:
1998 – present: State Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, 46th Leg. Dist. Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Appropriations Committee

Appointed:
1985 – 1987: Special Assistant for Fiscal Policy, Governor Booth Gardner.
1981: Special Legislative Assistant, Congressman Augustus Hawkins, U.S. House of Representatives.
1980 – 1981: Economist, Committee on Labor and Human Resources, U.S. Senate.
1977 – 1980: Economist, Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress.

Public service and volunteer experience: Caseload Forecast Council, State of Washington, since 1998; chair, 2002-present.
Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program, Washington Legislature, since 1999; chair, 2001-present.
Joint Administrative Rules Committee, Washington Legislature, since 1998; chair, 2000-02.
State Insurance Reform Task Force, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2001-03.
Chair, Community Economic Revitalization Board, State of Washington, 1994-98.
Public Policy Commission, Washington Association of Churches, 1997-98.
Board of Directors, Common Ground (nonprofit housing developer), 1990-1996; chair, 1995.
Fair Lending Advisory Committee, King County Office of Civil Rights, 1995-1996.
LVR Soccer Coach, 1992-98.
Elder, Wedgwood Presbyterian Church.

Endorsements: Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Washington Conservation Voters
Children’s Campaign Fund
King County Women’s Political Caucus
National Abortion Rights Action League
Public School Employees of Washington
“Outstanding” Seattle Municipal League
Progressive Majority
Howard Dean
Washington State Council of Firefighters
Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs
Washington State Association of Fire Chiefs
Washington Teamsters
Washington Restaurant Association
King County Association of Realtors
46th District Democrats
King County Democrats
Young Democrats of Washington
Cascade Bicycle Club
Aerospace Machinists Industrial District Lodge 751
Washington State Federation of State Employees
Amalgamated Transit Union
United Transportation Union
Sheet Metal Workers Local 66
National Association of Social Workers
Washington Public Employees Association

Campaign theme: Fiscal reform to better fund public schools, health, parks and transit.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? Experience: I have 25 years of experience in government policy, teaching, applied research and consulting, specializing in labor economics and public finance. I was the founder and director of the Fiscal Policy Center at the University of Washington for 5 years, and I have been on the faculty of the University’s Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs for over 15 years. I have served as a policy advisor to congressional committee chairmen and Washington governors, and maintain an economic consulting practice with a national consulting firm. I have also lived in north Seattle for 23 years, where I have raised three children and have been active in their public schools, sports teams and in my church.

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? Better funding for public education, including higher education. Two years ago the governor proposed a budget with deep cuts in education and health care. I helped craft, and voted for, a spending and tax plan to restore many of these cuts. However, the Republican Senate wouldn't agree and forced us to set aside voter-approved commitments to teacher salary increases and class size reductions and cut tens of millions of dollars in core funding for higher education. We need to restore our children's future by restoring this funding and building our knowledge base to create new ideas, new technologies, new products, new markets and new jobs. Currently we forecast a $570 million ending fund balance for this biennium. Next biennium, anticipated expenditures are approximately $700 million more than the revenues we now expect for the same period. As in the past, we will look for opportunities to use funds left over from this biennium to offset future costs. We will also look for efficiencies and savings in the base budget, prioritize our spending needs and at the same time review and prioritize tax exemptions for possible elimination before considering general tax increases as a last resort. Given the history of past recoveries, it may still be too early to tell how much may be needed. Clearly, the answer to this question depends heavily on the fate of the Education Trust Fund - Initiative 884. I have endorsed this initiative, and I hope it passes.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? Yes, I support the Education Trust Fund. Investments in education are critical in preparing our children for the information-based economy of the future. A well-educated workforce is paramount in making Washington an attractive and competitive place to do business.

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, I would have preferred to retain the blanket primary. However, I do not support the "top 2" or "cajun" primary either. The "cajun" primary is a false alternative that will give more voters fewer choices by forcing all but the dominant parties off the ballot in the general election, when the number of voters is the greatest. This is NOT the way to encourage voter participation. As an alternative, I will propose that we amend our current primary ballot to include a designation of "INDEPENDENT," and allow these voters to vote for whomever they choose. Then we should give the parties the option of accepting independent votes...I don't think it would take the parties long to "opt-in" and recognize the value of independent voters.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I am opposed to this measure. It would vastly expand gambling, and problem gambling, in Washington, but would very likely take most of these revenues from the state lottery and the tribes. The net gain in revenues is likely to be far less than the proponents of this measure expect, leaving yet another hole in the state and local capacity to provide critical public services.

Contact

7318 54TH AVE NE
SEATTLE, WA 98115
(206) 985-2575
jlmac@wolfenet.com

Campaign Web site:
www.jimmcintire.com