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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Mike Hope and Liz Loomis (click to enlarge) Mike Hope and Liz Loomis   ADVERTISEMENT   Candidate bios Liz Loomis Hometown: Snohomish Education: George Washington University Age: 38 Party: Democrat Experience: Appointed to the state House of Representatives in January to fill a vacancy. Snohomish mayor and a city councilwoman from 1997 to 2005. Founder of a communications firm. Web site: www.lizloomis.com Mike Hope Hometown: Lake Stevens Education: Bachelor of arts in sociology and criminology, John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio; master of arts in policy studies, University of Washington. Age: 33 Party: Republican Experience: Seattle police officer and owner of a Monroe gym Web site: www.mikehope2008.com   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 44th Legislative District: House Position 2: Loomis, Hope outline their priorities for government By David Chircop Herald Writer The former mayor of Snohomish and a Seattle police officer are in a hotly contested race for the 44th Legislative District state House of Representatives seat. Democratic Rep. Liz Loomis, a business owner and former Snohomish mayor, who was appointed to the vacant seat last year, is being challenged by Mike Hope, a Seattle police officer and gym owner. Hope, 33, a Republican who lives in Lake Stevens, lost to Rep. Hans Dunshee in 2004 and 2006. His experience in business and law enforcement, give him valuable insight at a time when the state government is looking to save money, he said. If elected, Hope said his priorities include balancing the budget without raising taxes; promoting safety projects for Highway 9 and U.S. 2, including a bypass in Monroe; eliminating the WASL, and reducing K-12 classroom sizes. Loomis, 38, who lives in Snohomish, describes herself as a bipartisan lawmaker who teamed up with Republicans this year to increase penalties for sex offenders and to secure millions of dollars to improve safety on U.S. 2. Loomis said she would fight to hold the line on state expenses and work to prioritize spending on transportation, education and health care. If elected, Loomis said her priorities include funding all-day kindergarten and expanding high school trade and apprenticeship programs; completing transportation projects promised with the 5-cent gas tax increase in 2003, securing funding for highway safety projects and working to reduce traffic gridlock. Loomis said she supports expanding bus service in the county and is willing to consider commuter rail. Both candidates support efforts to build a new University of Washington branch campus in Snohomish County. Loomis said she prefers a site in Everett. Hope said he prefers the Marysville option. 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

1. Fire destroys Emory's restaurant 2. Man dies in apparent suicide on Edmonds beach 3. Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back? 4. Storm dents Tulalip couple's retirement plan 5. For many cougars, it's one night only 6. Lulu the St. Bernard helps out with crossing guard job 7. Business Briefly: L.A. man gets prison for repackaging Boeing 737 plane parts 8. Sultan man charged with assault for firing at deputy 9. Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first 10. Emory's blaze causes $2 million in damage 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

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