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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Val Stevens and Fred Walser (click to enlarge) Val Stevens and Fred Walser   ADVERTISEMENT   Candidate bios Val Stevens Hometown: Arlington Age: 68 Education: Attended public schools Party affiliation: Republican Experience: State representative 1992-1995; State senator 1996-present; Washington State Director for Concerned Women for America 1987-1991; state chairwoman for American Legislative Exchange Council 2000-2007; and elected to the exchange council’s National Board of Directors 2006-present. Web site: Web site: www.valstevens.com Fred Walser Hometown: Monroe Age: 68 Education: Associate degree in liberal arts from Everett Community College; bachelor of science in law and justice administration from Central Washington University. Party affiliation: Democrat Experience: Served for about 40 years in law enforcement as an officer for the Washington State Patrol and as Sultan police chief, and has been the chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition for 11 years. Former member of various community organizations, including Monroe Lions Club, Monroe Rotary Club and East Snohomish County Health Network at Valley General Hospital. Web site: www.fredwalser2008.com   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 39th Legislative District Senate: Retired cop Walser challenges veteran senator Stevens By Yoshiaki Nohara Herald Writer Sen. Val Stevens, an Arlington Republican, is attempting to defeat former Sultan Police Chief Fred Walser to retain her seat in the 39th Legislative District. Stevens, 68, is seeking her fourth four-year term and she wants to "get the government out of the way" for businesses struggling in the slow economy. Walser, 68, a Democrat who lives Monroe, spent about 40 years as an officer for the Washington State Patrol and as Sultan police chief. He said he's been "very active in the community" through many organizations. He said he plans to maintain his style as a lawmaker. Walser, chairman of the U.S. 2 Safety Coalition, said that transportation is his top issue and he's especially concerned with the deadly highway. The highway needs more than $2 billion in overall improvements. Walser said that it's his efforts that has helped win $14 million for the highway this year. Walser said that in addition to transportation, he's focusing on education and public safety. His wife taught as a teacher in Monroe for 27 years; that has helped him learn about education issues such as Washington Assessment of Student Learning, Walser said. Stevens said that if re-elected, she wants to reintroduce a bill that aims to siphon parts of sales tax from automobile products to pay for transportation issues including those along U.S. 2. Stevens said she plans to focus on reforming the Children's Administration in the state Department of Social and Health Services. The agency has a problem supervising children in foster care. It doesn't support foster parents well, she said. As the state is facing a budget deficit next year because of the slow economy, Stevens said she's committed to reducing the scope of the government and balancing the state budget without raising taxes. In June, Walser pleaded guilty to providing false information to a public servant, a gross misdemeanor, while being police chief in Sultan. He was ordered to do community service and pay fines to the city. Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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