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

Party: Republican

Date of birth: March 21, 1966

Residence: 7318 SE Curtis Drive, Snoqualmie, WA 98065

Education: J.D. cum laude, 1997, Gonzaga University School of Law; B.A., 1988, Creighton University

Political offices held: Washington State Representative, 5th Legislative District
City Councilmember, Snoqualmie City Council
-Chair, City of Snoqualmie Public Safety Committee (2002-2004)
-Co-Chair, City of Snoqualmie Finance & Administration Committee

Public service and volunteer experience: Member, Snoqualmie Valley Rotary; Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce; Issaquah Chamber of Commerce; Maple Valley Chamber of Commerce;
Volunteer Attorney, King County Bar Association Legal Clinic Program; Volunteer, Toys for Tots program

Endorsements: Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, Association of Washington Business, National Federation of Indpendent Business. Individuals: Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn; Dino Rossi; David Irons, Jr., King County Council; Michael Winkler, Issaquah School Board; Larry Ishmael, Issaquah School Board; Randy Fletcher, Mayor of Snoqualmie; Ken Hearing, Mayor of North Bend

Campaign theme: Let's get our region back on track by fostering economic growth and jobs, investing in public education, and restoring accountability and trust in government.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I have solid experience as a local elected official and as a state legislator and have earned the reputation as a common-sense public servant who can rise above partisan politics to achieve and meet the needs of our district.

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? Creating jobs and fostering the economic revitalization of our region, protecting education funding and accountability, making health care accessible and affordable, reducing transportation gridlock and restoring accountability and trust in goverment through performance audits. I am opposed to tax increases as a means of closing the approximately $1 billion budget shortfall. Raising taxes would only hamper our fledging economic recovery and put more citizens out of work. Instead, we need to make government more efficient and streamlined as but one means of addressing our state's fiscal challenges. Ultimately, we need to revitalize our state's economy by enacting common-sense regulatory reforms that will help our small businesses and improve our state's overall business climate.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? It is a reality that our schools are facing tough financial challenges. It is only understandable that concerned parents (of which I am one), educators and administrators would want to take all reasonable steps to improve the level of funding for education. However, it is important that we realize the trade-offs that might be involved, particularly in terms of the impact of a sales tax increase on the state's general fund as a result of diminished consumer purchasing.

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? We have our current primary system as a result of Gov. Locke's veto of the bill that would have implemented a "top two" primary. I have heard from many constitutents both for and against the closed primary that we currently have. I am supportive of this issue going before the voters so that we can once and for all end the legal challenges and court proceedings that have characterized this issue and instead focus our attention on the pressing concerns that we as a community face.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I have concerns from a public policy perspective that we would fund or subsidize government services through gaming revenue.

Contact

PO BOX 2627
ISSAQUAH, WA 98027
(425) 890-3336
jrodne@comcast.net

Campaign Web site:
www.jayrodne.com