10th District House, Position 2: Terry, Bailey exchange sharp words

Democratic candidate Patricia Terry is attempting to call into question the record of Republican Rep. Barbara Bailey on child safety issues in their race for the 10th Legislative district.

Terry recently paid for cable television ads pointing out that Bailey voted this year against mandatory labeling of toys that contain lead and against keeping strong pesticides off school grounds.

She asked whether those votes served the needs of the people in the district.

Bailey fired back by saying she often votes against bills because of the details in the legislation.

She said that the title of legislation may sound good, but the law may actually be bad or have unintended consequences.

In the August top-two primary, Bailey, 64, of Oak Harbor, garnered 55 percent of the vote for the 10th District Position 2 seat. Terry, 54, of Camano Island, received 27 percent.

Since the primary, Terry said she has focused on doorbelling in the district and talking to people about their concerns. A longtime nurse, health systems evaluator and member of the Island County Community Health Advisory Board, Terry said she would bring the ethics and integrity of nursing to Olympia.

Along with health care, environmental stewardship, transportation issues and college tuition costs, Terry said her interest in Olympia would include changing the business and occupation tax to favor small businesses.

With reductions in revenue projected, the state will have to require fiscal impact evaluations in every area, Terry said.

Bailey said protection of the state's economy is her primary issue going into the general election.

The incumbent said she is well-positioned on several House committees to be effective in the area of new jobs, veterans affairs and transportation.

With her wide margin of votes in the primary election, Bailey said she is anxious that some people might think of her as having already won re-election and not vote in the general election.



Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.