State Representative, District -- 32, Position -- 2

Party: Republican

Date of birth: August 9, 1952

Education: general ed degree, honor grad comm tech school USAF, utility management classes

Political offices held: twice elected as special purpose district commissioner for over 20,000 connections to water and sewer

Public service and volunteer experience: Elected in January 2004 by purveyor committee representatives as their chair for regional contract oversight.
Appointed by the NUD Board to represent the district at the MWPAAC monthly meetings on water treatment (includes Brightwater Treatment Plant issues.)
MWPAAC representative to the infiltration and inflow program development meetings setting policy on private property affects of the regional system.

Endorsements: People who believe we need a change of direction in Olympia believe that I can represent them. People who like the way things are going should not endorse me.

Campaign theme: It's time for a change. We can no longer afford double digit growth in government with no accountability for their success or failure to provide the services authorized by the legislature.

Questions for candidates

What are the biggest differences between you and your opponent(s)? The incumbent is proud of all the tax money she has spent, and a bit disappointed that her best new programs are not more effective. I don't want to spend more money but get government out of the way of the small business spirit that will put more of our citizens back to work. Reduced regulations will reduce the agencies that need budget increases just to maintain their workforce. I am pro tort reform and pro business. Her voting record indicates that she has different priorities.

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? See above paragraph. I have signed the Evergreen Freedom Foundation pledge to vote for performance audits that will determine ways to increase productivity in our government agencies. I also favor setting priorites of government and funding those in order instead of higher taxes that give all government department heads their full wish list of increases in pay and hiring.

Do you support the initiative to raise the sales tax 1 penny to raise money for schools and higher education? NO. I would prefer to drop the WASL that costs over $70 to grade for the Iowa tests (ITBS) that only cost $2 each. Reducing other regulatory mandates and returning control to local school boards would reduce costs even more and make that money available for classroom teachers.

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? State legislators take an oath to uphold BOTH constitutions, the state and the federal. What good is it to vote for something that will be overturned by the US Supreme Court? I would no more want to eliminate the two party system (3 if you count the Libertarians,) than I would vote to outlaw unions. At least we still have maximum input to the party's choice for the general ballot and not the extreme positions of those who attend caucuses.

What do you think of the initiative to expand the use of slot machines to reduce taxes? Like any game, it will eventually wear thin for the general public and won't produce the sums currently expected. The Lotto hasn't produced as expected either. The initiative does recognize the need for funding of gambling detox and that is something that is not currently required of legal casinos.

Contact

14444 91ST AVE NE
BOTHELL, WA 98011-5142
(425) 821-3320
electwiggins@comcast.net

Campaign Web site:
www.margaretwiggins.com