Lovick, Huxford in a tight race for 44th District House seat
Published 1:30 am Sunday, October 16, 2016
MILL CREEK — When Democrat John Lovick lost his bid for re-election as Snohomish County executive last year, he never viewed it as the end of his political career.
Sure enough, in June, he was appointed to the legislative seat vacated by fellow Democrat Hans Dunshee upon his move to the County Council.
Lovick is now running for the full two-year term against Republican Janice Huxford, a first-time candidate with impressive civic-service bonafides.
The two are competing in the Nov. 8 election to represent the 44th Legislative District that takes in the cities of Mill Creek, Lake Stevens, Snohomish and part of Marysville.
Lovick’s defeat a year ago was his first electoral setback. Until then, the 65-year-old Mill Creek resident had won elections to serve on the Mill Creek City Council, in the state House, as Snohomish County sheriff and a one-year term as county executive.
He’s served four terms in the state House and was speaker pro tem, which meant he presided over floor debates and held a leadership position in the Democratic Caucus. He resigned after being elected sheriff in 2007.
“I am going to come back as an old freshman,” he said smiling. “I still have the same energy level. I still have the same passion. I think I have a greater understanding of what the needs are for our community and our state.”
Having already established relationships with lawmakers and policy makers will pay dividends, he said.
“In public service you are only successful when people know you and can depend on you,” he said. “That is what I am going to take back to the Legislature.”
Huxford, 49, of Lake Stevens, is a city planning commissioner. She’s recognized around town for years of helping organize Aquafest, serving as a Boy Scout troop leader and as a co-owner, with her husband, of Snohomish Valley Roofing.
Frustration with the state’s regulatory scheme for her company’s hauling of recyclable solid waste incited Huxford to run. Easing the regulatory burden on small business won’t be her only focus, she said.
After eight months of campaigning she said she wants to provide the community with a different voice and political approach than it’s had for so long with Dunshee.
“People are frustrated. They want change in this district, an alternative to what we’ve seen for decades,” Huxford said. “They want somebody to be excited about.”
She said she wouldn’t expect Lovick to bring such change. As a lawmaker, he voted the party line 4,572 times and against it only 21 times, she said.
“That doesn’t represent his district,” she said.
In 2017, the Legislature will be enacting a new two-year operating budget for the state. How it deals with education, and specifically funding the state’s public school system, will be the most debated component.
The state Supreme Court has given lawmakers until Sept. 1, 2018, to create a constitutional means of amply funding a program of basic education for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. This is the essence of the McCleary case.
While the last two budgets increased funding for several elements, lawmakers still must figure out how the state can pay competitive salaries for all teachers, staff and administrators. This will be expensive and could require raising revenue from new or higher taxes.
One idea under discussion is swapping local levy dollars for state property tax funds.
Huxford said she thinks there’s enough money in the state coffers but would consider the levy swap if it makes sense for schools in the districts. Lovick said he’s open-minded but noncommittal to the swap idea as well.
Both candidates said they will oppose a capital gains tax or income tax.
Lovick and Huxford also want to scrap the I-405 express toll lanes and go back to having a carpool lane and general purpose lanes on the stretch of highway between Lynnwood and Bellevue.
They disagree on many other matters in front of voters this fall, and, potentially, lawmakers next year.
Lovick is backing Initiative 1433 to raise the state’s minimum wage and Sound Transit 3, the proposed $54 billion expansion of light rail and bus service. Huxford opposes both measures.
Huxford opposes Initiative 1491, which would allow families to go to court to obtain a protection order against a family member at risk of injuring themselves or others. As part of such an order, firearms possessed by the at-risk individual could be taken away. She said there are existing laws to help families respond in such emergency situations.
Lovick supports the measure, saying the community needs to do “all it can” to curb access to firearms for individuals who may present a danger to themselves or others.
Lovick said he has “concerns” with Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s proposal to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines of bullets. It is “too vague” and prefers greater emphasis on enforcing existing laws and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.
Huxford is opposed to Ferguson’s gun proposals, saying such changes would infringe on people’s 2nd Amendment rights.
This is one of a handful of House races on which the outcome could alter the balance of power in the chamber in 2017.
Democrats now hold a 50-48 edge on Republicans. Lose one seat and the two parties share power. If the GOP can gain two seats, it will be in the majority for the first time since 1998.
Lovick won the August primary with 50.9 percent while Huxford captured 46.2 percent. A third candidate received the remainder.
That slim margin indicates it could go down to the wire as occurred in 2008 when it took a recount to determine Republican Mike Hope beat Democratic Rep. Liz Loomis. She had been appointed to replace Lovick following his election as sheriff.
This year, Lovick and Huxford are raising money at the same clip while outside groups are making their own sizable investments in the race as well.
Huxford had raised $184,707 and spent $84,011 as of Thursday , according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission. Lovick had taken in $182,274 and spent $87,961, reports show.
Both candidates’ biggest financial support is coming from their respective political parties.
The House Republican Organizational Committee has provided $50,442 in cash and in-kind contributions to Huxford while the House Democratic Campaign Committee has plied Lovick with $78,479 in total assistance.
Meanwhile, the party caucuses also are key sources of money for independent political committees responsible for roughly $250,000 in expenditures for and against the candidates.
Huxford is under fire from New Direction PAC which reported a $103,013 expenditure on Oct. 8 for commercials and direct mail pieces. It is financed primarily from the soft money operations of the Democratic caucuses in the state House and Senate. Several labor groups, including one representing state workers, also kick in.
Lovick is targeted by Community Progress which reported an $84,880 expenditure Oct. 6 and has now spent $92,304 this election cycle. All of the funding has come from the soft money arm of the House Republican caucus.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com Twitter: @dospueblos.
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 $46,839.
JOHN LOVICK
Party: Democratic
Age: 65
Residence: Mill Creek
Experience: Appointed state representative in 2016; Snohomish County executive, 2013-15; Snohomish County sheriff, 2007-13; state representative, 1999-2007; former Mill Creek Councilman; Washington State Patrol, 31 years.
Website: www.electjohnlovick.com
JANICE HUXFORD
Party: Republican
Age: 49
Residence: Lake Stevens
Experience: Co-owner, Snohomish Valley Roofing; Lake Stevens planning commissioner, 2010-present; Aquafest executive board.
Website: www.janicehuxford.com
