State Representative, District -- 30, Position -- 2

Party: Republican

Date of birth: March 18, 1950

Residence: Federal Way

Education: B.A., Political Science- Willamette University -J.D. with Honors - George Washington University

Political offices held: State Representative 30th District City Council Member/Mayor, City of Federal Way

Public service and volunteer experience: Friends of the Hylebos Board, Multi-Service Center Board, Federal Way School District Construction Oversight Cmte., Advancing Leadership Program Board, President-Franciscan Fellowship

Endorsements: King County Municipal League Rated "Outstanding", Washington State Council of Firefighters, Federal Way Firefighters Local 2024, National Federation of Independent Business, Affordable Housing Council, Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs, Aerospace Machinists Industrial District Lodge 751, Association of Washington Business, Washington Conservation Voters, Seattle-King County Association of Realtors.

Campaign theme: Integrity, Experience, Leadership

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? With Skip Priest, voters know that they have a candidate who focuses on maintaining and enhancing community quality of life. This means that I focus on 1) improving the quality of public education 2) protecting environmental quality and 3) improving the business climate of the state that supports living wage jobs.

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? When I first went to Olympia two years ago, the state faced its greatest financial crisis in its long history. Not only did we face our largest projected budget deficit--some $2.6 billion--but we also had the highest unemployment rate in the country. In addition, many of our state's most vulnerable citizens faced unacceptable cuts in necessary services provided by the state. Through a bi-partisan effort, we were able to balance the budget without raising taxes while still protecting those citizens who needed our help the most. I am proud of my contributions to this accomplishment and I believe the next biennium and the projected budget deficit calls for the same approach.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I have significant reservations about this particular initiative. While well-intentioned, I am concerned that I-884 will severely limit the legislature’s flexibility to deal with the other high priority problems facing the state during the next budget cycle. The next legislature must address education funding. But it must do so in a way that ensures equitable funding among districts, creates an accountable plan that tells taxpayers what their money is buying and also balances other high-priority needs such as environmental protection, health care costs and the basic health plan and improving our fragile economy.

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. If there’s one issue that people are angry about at the local level, it’s the new primary system. They feel it takes away their right to choose. I voted for the “top 2” primary system and I support the initiative to enact that system and restore voter choice.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I oppose the initiative to expand the use of slot machines. I have extreme reservations about the expansion of legalized gambling in Washington. Gambling too often drains precious financial resources families need to build their future. This is not an ethical way to address the state’s fiscal needs.

Contact

PO BOX 23237
FEDERAL WAY, WA 98093
(206) 510-7810
mspriest@comcast.net

Campaign Web site:
www.skippriestcampaign.com