By Bryan Trude and Daniel Nash
District 5, Position 1
Rep. Jay Rodne
Party: Republican Hometown: North Bend Education: Gonzaga University School of Law Professional Experience: In-house general counsel for King County Public Hospital District No. 4, Marine Reserve Political Experience: Snoqualmie City Council (2001-2004), Washington State House of Representatives (2004-present) Family: Husband to wife Heidi and father of one son, Tye, and daughter, Kalyn.Key Issues
Fiscal accountability: At a roundtable hosted by the Issaquah Chamber, Rodne expressed displeasure with several state organizations. “I’d clean house on (the Department of Transportation) quite honestly … 8 cents of the gas tax includes a guarantee to the Washington state ferry. The ferry system is in need of such reform. I’d cut them off until they get their house in order.” Rodne said he was likewise frustrated with the high state rates on Labor & Industries disability pay and that he would support a privatization of the system.
Education: “The state has underfunded K-12 basic education for years. We fully intend to make significant gains toward the requirements of McCleary in the next session. We’re making targeted investments in K-3 education.” Rodne does not support Initiative 1351, the class size reduction measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. “I oppose the initiative because it does not have a funding source.”
Why should someone vote for you?: “We need long-term solutions to bolster our economy and create jobs, reform our state budget process and prioritize state government to focus on education, public safety and the safety net for our most vulnerable. I have put forward solutions in these areas — in addition to education, property rights and transportation — and will continue to advocate for them and others.”
Essie Hicks
Party: Democrat Hometown: Issaquah Education: Seattle University (Masters in Public Administration) Professional Experience: Former small business owner, therapeutic massage; Volunteer for Issaquah Schools; Planning commissioner for Maple Valley Political Experience: Planning commissioner for Maple Valley; liaison to the Maple Valley Economic Development Committee. Family: Husband and five sons.Key Issues
Education: “I support (Initiative 1351) because as a mother of children in the Issaquah School District, one of the best things we can do is get children the classroom they need. The legislature has to come up with the money, but we don’t need to come up with $4 billion right away.” Hicks said she wrote her masters thesis on education funding in Washington state and is concerned about placing the burden of revenues on the middle class. “I think we can make sure the tax code is more fair … the legislature has been asked to come up with $1.3 billion and I think we can find that money.”
Transportation: “I believe we need to make sure to get a comprehensive transportation package passed with an increase to the gas tax. Our roadways have a lot of water run off them, so I think we need those SEPA reviews to keep them in shape. We need to make sure our transportation solutions are solid. If you look at the numbers of SoundTransit and the Metro, we are increasing our riderships … so we need to make sure those organizations are running efficiently.”
Why should someone vote for you?: “My experience as a business owner, and daughter of two business owners and organic farmers, has given me an entrepreneurial spirit, and creative problem-solving attitude. It also taught me that the best way to serve is through strong lines of communication … You deserve a representative who will give you the same stellar customer service that you provide in your work every day.”
District 5, Position 2
Chad Magendanz
Party: Republican Hometown: Issaquah Education: Cornell University (B.S. in Electrical Engineering) Professional Experience: U.S. Navy, Microsoft, software design consultant Political Experience: Issaquah School Board (2008-2011), Washington State House of Representatives (2012-present) Family: Wife, Galen; and sons, Quinn and DuncanKey Issues
Education: “We joined the (McCleary Case) as a plaintiff when I was president of the Issaquah School Board, now as a defendant and a ranking member of the Education committee in the House, I can finally do something about it. We’ve made some progress so far … but we’ve still got a lot further to go. It’s important that we not only provide funding, but the reforms so that our education dollars have the biggest punch for kids.”
Transportation: “It will be a priority. I don’t sit on the transportation committee, but I am focused on providing for the transportation infrastructure we need to reduce congestion. Two projects I am focused on in particular is the completion of SR-18, and widening the Maple Valley Highway all the way to Black Diamond.”
Why should someone vote for you?: “I’m kind of a rarity among Republicans. I am a very moderate Republican, and I am progressive on social issues. I am very centered politically, and I think that reflects my district. Polls on the eastside show that 72 percent are pro-choice, and I am a pro-choice Republican. On societal issues I think we need to put laws in place for a more just society, but I am also sensitive to the fiscal issues. We need to be budgeting in a fiscally responsible way, and we need to ensure that the limited fiscal resources we have have the best outcome for future generations.”
David Spring
Party: Democrat Hometown: North Bend Education: Washington State University (B.A. Science Education), University of Washington (M.A. Education and Child Development) Professional Experience: Professor, Bellevue College; Rescue Leader, King County Search and Rescue; former owner, Wilderness Sports, North Bend Political Experience: Legislative District Representative, King County Democratic Party Central Committee; Board Member, Washington State Progressive Caucus Family: Daughter SierraKey Issues
Education: “The most important issue is how to fully fund our public schools. … The only way we can fully fund our public schools without raising taxes on the poor or middle class is to roll back the $45 billion in tax breaks our state Legislature gives away to wealthy multinational corporations every year. This would not harm these corporations as they could deduct their state taxes from their federal taxes.”
Transportation: “Our state has a $20 billion road construction backlog, yet we also pay among the highest gas taxes in the nation. … I oppose raiding the gas tax, which would severely harm the poor and middle class. Instead, we should roll back corporate tax breaks to clear up our road construction backlog.”
Property Taxes: “In my opinion our property taxes are way too high and people are being driven out of their homes by excessive property taxes. … I oppose any increase in our property taxes. Instead, I think we should lower property taxes back to what they were in the 1990s by rolling back corporate tax breaks to what they were in the 1990s.”
Higher Education: “I believe that it is wrong to saddle students with tens of thousands of dollars of debt just to get a higher education. I support restoring state support for higher education to what it was in the 1990s by rolling back corporate tax breaks to what they were in the 1990s.”
Political Corruption: “Not only do massive corporate tax breaks lead to lower school funding, lower transportation funding, lower higher education funding, and higher local property taxes, but it also corrupts our democracy. … We must put an end to corporate tax breaks and the resulting bribes and kickbacks if we are ever to restore our democracy.”
Why should someone vote for you: “I will fully fund our public schools by rolling back corporate tax breaks … I will fully fund urgently needed transportation projects by rolling back corporate tax breaks … I will fully fund higher education by rolling back corporate tax breaks … I will reduce political corruption in Olympia by outlawing the current system of bribes and kickbacks that are destroying our democracy.”
