Newcomers vying for Senate

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, September 10, 2006

The Democratic primary in the race for state Senate in the 44th District pits two newcomers with differing backgrounds and approaches to the issues.

Steve Hobbs, 36, of Lake Stevens is a veteran of the Iraq war. Lillian Kaufer, 38, of Silver Firs is a political activist known for her vocal opposition to a proposed Wal-Mart store in Thomas Lake.

The winner will take on Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, who is seeking his third term in the Senate. The 44th District covers Mill Creek, Snohomish, Lake Stevens and slivers of southeast Everett.

Hobbs, who served nine years in the Army and served as a captain in Iraq, said his experience there honed his desire to run for office. He was defeated last year in the Democratic primary for Snohomish County Council by Dave Somers, who went on to defeat Jeff Sax in the general election.

Hobbs said the troops didn’t get the reinforcements or the support they needed from the Bush administration.

“When you see politicians who don’t pay attention to the people, it’s very disconcerting,” he said.

Kaufer is a precinct committee officer for the 44th District Democrats and worked on campaigns for Somers and County Councilman Dave Gossett before jumping into the battle against Wal-Mart.

She’s also worked as a Girl Scout troop leader and fundraising captain for the Everett Family YMCA. She’s making her first try at elected office.

“I want to go to Olympia and use the drive and energy I have to represent the people,” Kaufer said.

As might be expected from her Wal-Mart fight, development is a big issue for Kaufer. County fees charged to developers should be increased to slow growth and raise more money for roads, she said. These fees don’t necessarily have to be passed on to homebuyers, she argued.

“We need to sit down and negotiate it and figure out the best way to approach it,” Kaufer said.

Hobbs stresses job growth in the county for controlling sprawl and traffic. “We need to start looking at it holistically,” he said.

To promote jobs, the state should help establish a four-year college in Snohomish County with a technical bent, he said, “and provide incentives and tax breaks for businesses to get lined up with that college.”

The state could help set up insurance pools to help small businesses provide health care for their employees, Hobbs said. Many larger companies that don’t provide health insurance for their workers should be required to do so, he said.

Kaufer, who runs a vending machine company with her husband, said the state business and occupation tax could be revised to help small businesses. To help businesses provide insurance, she said, the Legislature should review mandates that restrict competition.

“I think everyone needs to be at the table to find a solution,” she said.

In education, both stressed putting more resources into vocational education. Kaufer has two daughters, 14 and 11, and Hobbs has three sons, 8, 5 and 3.

Kaufer worked as a paralegal before going into business with her husband. Since leaving the Army, Hobbs has been working as a facilities manager in the University of Washington electrical engineering department.

Hobbs lists Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon, former Gov. Gary Locke and six state legislators from other districts among his endorsers. Kaufer is endorsed by 44th District Reps. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, and John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, the 44th District Democrats and six other legislators.

Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.