State Representative, District -- 37, Position -- 1

Party: Democrat

Date of birth: July 5, 1961

Residence: Rainier Beach neighborhood, Seattle

Education: B. A., The Evergreen State College; M. A., Northeastern University

Political offices held: State Representative, 37th Legislative District, Position 1; Majority Whip, House Democratic Caucus, Washington State Legislature; Member, Rules Committee, Democratic National Committee

Public service and volunteer experience: Church Council of Greater Seattle, Skyway Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board, Japanese American Citizens League Board, University of Washington Business and Economic Development Program Advisory Board

Endorsements: Children's Campaign Fund, Escrow Assoc. of WA, Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28, King County Journal, King County Women's Political Caucus, Public School Employees of WA, WA-PACE National Assoc. of Social Workers, WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO, WA State Nurses Assoc., Rated "Outstanding" by Municipal League, Rated "A" by Women in Unity, Rated "4" (Exceeds Expectations) by Seamec

Campaign theme: My campaign focuses on Building Healthy Communities by strengthening public education, improving healthcare, and cultivating neighborhood jobs and businesses. I support full funding of early learning, K-12 and higher education as an essential economic development strategy. I also support increased funding for community health services to prevent illnesses and diseases which ultimately cost us more to remedy than to prevent. Finally, I support targeting economic development efforts toward supporting small businesses and community-based jobs.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? I am proud to represent the legislative district where I grew up and have served as a community activist for more than 25 years. Through this long history of involvement, I have worked with countless individuals and organizations on issues such as quality public education, affirmative action in employment and contracting, affordable housing and healthcare, and civil and human rights. These ongoing partnerships contribute immensely to my effectiveness as a legislator and advocate for the people and the communities of the 37th 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? My priority is to advance our State’s commitment to the full funding for public education and to affordable healthcare. But, as a result of a structural flaw in our tax system, the State doesn’t currently collect sufficient revenues to meet these critical obligations. Alone, neither raising taxes nor cutting services will solve the underlying cause of the budget gap. Rather, we must restructure our tax system to promote accountability, transparency, fairness, and adequacy. Limits on tax incentives could bridge some of the gap in the short term while working for long term tax reform.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? I do not support an increase in the sales tax to raise funds for education because this would disproportionately affect those who are least able to afford an increase in personal taxes. In Seattle, it would drive up the sales tax burden to nearly 10%. Instead, I support improvements in the fairness and adequacy of our tax system to meet our essential priorities like full funding for early childhood, K-12 and higher education. I support the establishment of a dedicated education fund that is not tied to a specific revenue source but, rather, through segregating a portion of the General Fund.

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 prefer Washington’s blanket primary system to the “modified Montana” system now in place. But after the courts ruled it unconstitutional, I sought a replacement system that would: 1) Protect voter choice and 2) Protect voter privacy. The new primary ensures that each of the major parties will be represented in the general election and that the ballot selection of voters is kept confidential. Although the “top 2” system appears to preserve voter choice, it in fact limits voters’ choices in the general election when crossover voting is permitted. I do not support the “top 2” primary method.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? I oppose I-892 which would allow electronic slot machines in neighborhood restaurants, taverns, bowling alleys, and non-profit organizations as well as in card rooms and horse-racing facilities. Although the initiative promises to reduce property taxes, this enticement is misleading. In fact, gambling proceeds would offset only a small fraction of the property tax intended to support state government services. The average taxpayer is unlikely to realize a significant tax break. But, all Washingtonians will pay more for the social problems associated with gambling addictions.

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