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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) (click to enlarge) Kirk Pearson and David E. Personius   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Sunday, October 12, 2008 Jobs and budget cuts focus in Legislative race By Gale Fiege Herald Writer The current state of the economy is weighing heavily on the candidates for 39th Legislative District, Position 2. Incumbent Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe said the upcoming legislative session in Olympia will be a tough one, with lots of hard work ahead to trim spending, protect jobs and help small business. Challenger David Personius of Arlington calls himself a Franklin Delano Roosevelt-style Democrat and cautioned that cutting social services in tough times is not the way to go. "The governor has a plan to cut the projected budget deficit in half and that should help," Personius said. "We may need a hiring freeze, but we can't cut any state jobs." Arlington manufacturer Meridian Yacht's recent announcement that it plans to close its doors was sad news, Pearson said. "It's a tragedy. It's a real hard time for our state, and our budget depends on the success of our small and medium businesses like Meridian," Pearson said. "We need jobs that provide a stable paycheck and health care." Helping businesses of all sizes stay competitive in the market along with providing tax relief to the owners of small businesses is what's needed, Pearson said. Running for his fifth two-year term, Pearson said he also wants to ensure the safety of children and curb college tuition costs. Along with the economy, though, his major concern is safety on U.S. 2. "That east-west corridor is important to trade and it's going to take a concerted bipartisan effort to make it safe and provide congestion relief," Pearson said. "Everyone I know has lost friends or loved ones to that highway." Though he received nearly 58 percent of the vote in the August primary election, Pearson said he isn't taking re-election for granted. "This is a presidential election year and anything can happen, so I've been campaigning hard," Pearson said. "Besides, the people in my district deserve to see me out in their communities." During the primary election campaign Personius charged that Pearson is a full-time legislator who can't relate to working people. Pearson defended himself. "My dad was a union butcher, and, until I got into politics, I raised five boys on a single income working in a factory. I've been laid off before, so I know what it's like," Pearson said. "During my tenure in Olympia, I felt the only way I could do a good job was to work at it full time." Despite their tenure, the Republican incumbents in the region are not bringing home the bacon for public works projects, Personius said. "We need to broaden the tax base, not reduce it. We have quite a bit of wealth in this state and we need to spread it out more," Personius said. "The state should do more for us, and it's my turn to help." U.S. 2 also is at the top of his list of concerns, Personius said. "We need to figure out a way to fund that work immediately, not down the road a piece," he said. The 39th legislative district needs to be laid out differently, said Personius, who pledged to work on redistricting. If elected, Personius said he would take a hard look at the Washington Assessment of Student Learning as well. "The WASL needs constant attention as far as examining its actual usefulness," Personius said. "High school students aren't learning civics the way we did because they spend so much time getting ready for that test." Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com. Kirk Pearson Age: 50 Residence: Monroe Education: Monroe High School and attended Central Washington University. Party: Republican Experience: Running for his fifth term as state representative, a job he's had since 2000. Committee assignments include public safety, capital budget, sentencing guidelines and ecology and parks. Former Monroe planning commissioner. Served as a special assistant to U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf, 1995 to 2000. Web site: kirkpearson.blogspot.com David Personius Age: 52 Residence: Arlington Education: Green River Community college, IBEW electrical apprenticeship, life insurance and real estate training. Party: Democratic Experience: Member of Electricians Local IBEW 46 since 1977 and an electrician at Sea-Tac International Airport. Has served as shop steward and on labor negotiations teams. Previously an owner of a small business. Web site: David Personius at MySpace.com

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