It’s gearing up to be a close race.
Democratic state Rep. Luis Moscoso held a narrow lead over Republican challenger Ed Barton in the top-two primary election for Washington’s House of Representatives.
Now, with Democrat Dave Griffin out of the race for the second House seat in the 1st Legislative District, his votes are up for grabs. Griffin finished the August primary with 12.4 percent of the vote.
Moscoso, a two-term incumbent, had 44.1 percent of the votes compared to 43.4 percent for Barton, who has not previously held office.
The 1st Legislative District covers parts of south Snohomish and north King counties, including Bothell, Brier, Mountlake Terrace and parts of Kirkland.
The two candidates have similar support heading into the Nov. 4 election but Moscoso is outspending Barton. His campaign for the two-year term also has more on hand.
“This is a race but I’m the only one running,” Moscoso said. “If he’s not willing to work to get the job, I’m wondering if he even wants it.”
Moscoso has reported raising $74,363 compared to Barton’s $7,495, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Moscoso has spent $37,418 versus Barton’s $4,410.
“I’m finding that it’s not about the money. It’s how many folks you can talk to,” Barton said. “It’s anybody’s game come November.”
The two candidates are reaching voters in different ways. Barton is focusing on social media while Moscoso is knocking on doors.
Moscoso, 64, of Mountlake Terrace, is a liberal. He spent the better part of his career working for Community Transit, including some 20 years behind the wheel, and organizing its union. He’s vice chair of the House Transportation Committee and helped form the Legislative Rail Caucus.
Barton, 43, of Bothell, is a business owner, certified public accountant and financial analyst. Barton considers himself a moderate with socially liberal, fiscally conservative views. The Republican said many of his positions on social issues are similar to those of his Democratic opponent, though his reasoning may be different. He said his personal choices often differ from those he makes for public policy.
“The government doesn’t really have a place to interfere in people’s lives,” Barton said.
The two candidates largely agree that transportation, education and public safety are key issues facing the district. But they have different ideas about what should be done and how to pay for it.
To help ease clogged commutes for drivers in the district, Moscoso wants to increase bus service and open commuter rail through the eastside corridor. He suggests refurbishing existing publicly owned rail, such as the line from Renton to Snohomish.
Barton supports expanded bus service but said rail would take too long to efficiently address transportation issues.
The candidates also have different ideas on how to pay for transportation improvements. Barton favors waiting until reforms to make the state’s transportation system more efficient are in place. If the state still needs money, he said, he’d be willing to look at increasing the gas tax or car tab fees.
“I’d rather avoid tax increases,” he said. “But I’m not going to pull a George Bush and say, ‘no new taxes’.”
Moscoso said the state can’t wait on reforms. It needs to pass a transportation revenue package so work on projects can begin sooner. He thinks it’s best to handle the reforms and the funding package separately.
Moscoso also is working on opening freight rail to help farmers and businesses.
“My work on transportation is what helps make the economy work for everybody,” he said.
Both candidates are concerned about the increasing number of coal and oil trains rolling through the area. Barton wants the economic benefits that come with the trains, including the jobs at shipping terminals.
“Those are going to be good, union jobs, which may sound funny coming from a Republican,” he said.
But, Barton said, the state needs to be mindful of the environment and safety.
Moscoso also worries about those issues. Additionally, he’s concerned that coal and oil trains are clogging the tracks, making it harder for other commodities to get to market.
“I’m against coal trains but I can’t stop them,” he said.
That’s why he’s looking into solutions that have worked in other places.
Both candidates concur that the state needs to pass a budget that satisfies the state Supreme Court’s mandate to pay for public education and to increase housing and services for mentally ill patients. They both support investing in mental health services to address the root causes of problems, such as crime and poverty.
For education funding, Barton said, he doesn’t necessarily think adding dollars is the answer. He wants to look at ways to more effectively use existing money.
He also proposes a levy swap. That is lowering local school property taxes and replacing the money with higher state property taxes earmarked for schools.
Moscoso is waiting to hear what ideas the education and budget committees come up with before he decides how the state should pay for public schools. He’d like to see the tax system changed.
“Or we’ll always be robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said. “This cannot be kicked down the road any further.”
Moscoso supports Initiative 1351, the measure that would require fewer students per classroom. But, he said, the state needs to find a way to pay for it.
Barton opposes the smaller class-size measure because he believes it would only be effective for kindergarten through third-grade students.
Barton is against both gun measures on the November ballot.
Moscoso opposes Initiative 591, which seeks to stop the government from confiscating firearms without due process and implements stricter background checks than what is required federally. He favors Initiative 594 for universal background checks on firearms purchases.
Both candidates agree that the state should handle its medical and recreational marijuana systems separately. They each want to see the medical system regulated in a way that works for patients.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports
Party: Republican
Age: 43
Residence: Bothell (unincorporated Snohomish County)
Experience: President, G2 Web Services; co-owner of Glass Doctor of Seattle-Tacoma; former owner Port Gardner Yacht Sales of Everett; former U.S. Army National Guard Engineer Officer; former city of Mill Creek planning commissioner.
Education: J.D. from Northwestern California University, M.B.A. from Syracuse University, B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame
Website: bartonforwa.com
Party: Democrat
Age: 64
Residence: Mountlake Terrace
Experience: Vice Chair of the House Transportation Committee, member of the Government Accountability and Oversight and Public Safety committees, former Community Transit organizational improvement specialist, former Washington State Public Employees Association government relations director
Education: B.A. in Archaeology from the University of Iowa
Website: voteluis.com
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