Democratic state Rep. Hans Dunshee faces the challenge of Republican Rob Toyer this fall in a contest pitting one of Snohomish County’s veteran politicians against one of its up-and-comers.
Dunshee, 60, of Snohomish, is seeking a 10th consecutive term and 11th overall in the state House of Representatives. Toyer, 33, won a seat on the Marysville City Council in 2011 and is making his first bid for state office.
The victor in the Nov. 4 election will serve a two-year term representing the 44th Legislative District, which includes the cities of Lake Stevens, Snohomish and Mill Creek and part of Marysville. The annual salary is $42,106.
Dunshee serves as chairman of the House Capital Budget Committee, a post that gives him influence in the chamber.
He is responsible for crafting the House plan to provide money for school and college construction projects, for new public works, for community groups and for acquisition of open space throughout the state. It requires trying to fill requests from lawmakers in every district.
“I think I know the place a little and can get things done,” he said of the state Capitol.
If re-elected, Dunshee said, his top priority will be to secure $61 million in the capital budget for Washington State University to construct a building across the street from Everett Community College. It would house the University Center operation that WSU manages.
“I want to get that. It’s the first real brick,” said Dunshee, who has been a central figure in helping cement WSU’s presence in Everett. “It’s the flag we’ve been waiting for.”
Toyer knows the odds of winning the seat are long but rejects the notion he’s the GOP sacrificial lamb in the race.
“Obviously I’m an underdog and I’m well aware of that,” he said. “Personally, I don’t think a person should make (legislative office) a career. The community can’t hope to have a fresh perspective if we do the same thing.”
When asked what tops his to-do list, Toyer said: “I don’t have an agenda. Fiscal responsibility is a big issue for me.”
Dunshee and Toyer agree that the challenges of funding education and transportation improvements will dominate lawmakers’ attention in 2015. They disagree on the approaches needed to overcome them.
Complying with a state Supreme Court order in a school-funding case known as McCleary will require “doing some tax reform” to come up with additional revenue, Dunshee said. But, he added, “it can’t be an income tax and it can’t be a sales tax.”
Toyer said he wants to fund education first out of existing revenue and opposes any new taxes, unless there is support by two-thirds of lawmakers or a vote of the people.
On transportation, Toyer said, he understands the need and the cost and acknowledged an increase in the state gas tax might be necessary to pay for improvements. But, he said, any proposal containing a gas-tax hike must be put on the ballot for voters to consider.
“I’m not one for raising taxes, but there are times that there needs to be reasonable taxes,” he said.
Dunshee said he doesn’t expect any proposed transportation package to be as large as what lawmakers discussed the past two years. Those previous plans were predicated on raising gas taxes by as much as 12 cents a gallon.
He said it’s more likely that a slimmed-down version, focused on maintaining existing highways and bridges, will emerge. It would require a much smaller gas-tax increase, he said.
The two candidates differ on each of the three statewide ballot measures.
Dunshee backs Initiative 1351 to reduce school class sizes, though he said it might need to be amended to reduce the cost.
“Class size matters. It’s part of McCleary to me,” he said, referring to the Supreme Court case.
He also will vote for Initiative 594, for universal background checks on gun sales.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s something we’ve got to do.” Dunshee opposes Initiative 591, which would prevent expanded background checks.
Toyer opposes I-1351, calling it a good idea the state can’t afford until it figures out McCleary.
He opposes I-594 and backs I-591 because “I am concerned about government confiscating guns without due process,” he said.
As expected, campaign spending is quite lopsided in this race.
Dunshee had raised $132,052 and spent nearly $100,000 through Oct. 7, according to records posted online by the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Toyer had collected $7,730 and spent nearly all of it. He’s done almost no fundraising since the Aug. 5 primary, in which Dunshee won by 1,400 votes.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
The candidates
The job is a two-year term as a state representative in the 44th Legislative District in Snohomish County. The district includes the cities of Lake Stevens, Snohomish and Mill Creek and part of Marysville. The annual salary is $42,106.
Hans Dunshee
Party: Democrat
Age: 60
Residence: Snohomish
Experience: State representative; owned septic-tank design business.
Website: www.hansdunshee.com
Rob Toyer
Party: Republican
Age: 33
Residence: Marysville
Vocation: Marysville city councilman; owner and financial advisor at Toyer Wealth Management
Website: www.robtoyer.com
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