Editorial: Lovick, Ondracek for the House’s 44th District
Published 1:30 am Friday, October 21, 2016
By The Herald Editorial Board
44th Legislative District, House of Representatives
The 44th District is positioned centrally in Snohomish County and includes all or parts of the cities of Marysville, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Everett and Mill Creek.
Position 1
Rep. John Lovick, a Mill Creek Democrat, is seeking election to the post following his appointment by the Snohomish County Council in June, replacing Hans Dunshee, who was appointed to the council. Lovick and Janice Huxford, a Lake Stevens Republican, were the top two candidates in a three-candidate primary.
Huxford has not held elected office before but serves on the Lake Stevens Planning Commission and is on the board of the city’s summer festival, AquaFest. She has worked in wireless technology for 25 years and owns a roofing business with her husband and a related construction recycling service. Frustration over state regulation of the recycling service, Huxford said, was one of the reasons she is running, citing a desire to reduce regulations that she believes are holding back businesses and the economy.
Huxford believes the Legislature already has made significant investments in education, raising per-pupil spending by thousands of dollars and that too great a portion of education spending goes to administration and not the classroom.
Lovick’s appointment returned him to the House where he served for eight years, five as its speaker pro-tem. Since then he has served as the Snohomish County sheriff, and Snohomish County executive. Prior to the Legislature he served on the Mill Creek City Council. He also worked 31 years with the Washington State Patrol and with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Regarding education funding, Lovick said he would turn to taxes as a last resort, believing that investments in the economy will result in increased revenue. He does support reviewing tax loopholes and would consider a capital gains tax, but is opposed to an income tax. Lovick also said lawmakers will need to consider a levy swap to resolve funding disparities among school districts. While the state may have to take a larger role in contract negotiations with teachers, Lovick said local school districts should retain some local control over contract talks.
The editorial board endorsed Dave Somers last year when he and Lovick ran for the county executive office, but Lovick’s past experience in the House, his ability to work with both Democrats and Republicans and his leadership skills will be needed in the Legislature during the next two sessions. The Herald endorses Lovick for Position 1.
Position 2
Rep. Mark Harmsworth, a Mill Creek Republican, is seeking election to his second term. He ran unsuccessfully in 2012 against Hans Dunshee for Position 1. His challenger is Katrina Ondracek, an Everett Democrat, who is making her first run for public office, having defeated three other Democrats in the primary.
Harmsworth previously served on the Mill Creek City Council. He currently serves on the Everett Community College Foundation board and the county board for Boys &Girls Clubs. He works in the tech industry, including several years for Microsoft.
Harmsworth gained visibility this year with his opposition to I-405’s express toll lanes. He sponsored legislation to reduce the toll lanes, but now says he would seek a complete removal of the toll lanes, believing they have been ineffective in reducing congestion.
On education funding, Harmsworth says schools should be the leading budget priority, with other needs prioritized after it. The Legislature was successful this year in funding increased education, mental health and other spending without raising taxes. A levy swap will likely be part of the funding package, he said.
Ondracek, a Lake Stevens resident, serves as executive vice president for the United Way of Snohomish County and has been with the organization for 10 years. In recent years, the United Way has refocused its funding programs on breaking the cycle of poverty in the county by aiding programs related to early learning, workforce development and affordable housing. Ondracek now wants to take those same priorities to the House.
While she has not held public office before, Ondracek appears knowledgeable on education and tax issues. She recommends eliminating some tax loopholes, including one originally intended for the timber industry but now used exclusively by oil refineries. Teacher pay needs to be increased, she believes, to halt the high rate of turnover. She disagrees with Harmsworth’s “education first” policy because it’s likely to take funding from social programs that themselves are necessary to prepare children for school.
We can’t fault Harmsworth as a lawmaker, but Ondracek’s background in addressing poverty and providing for the larger needs of the county’s communities would maker her a stronger legislator. She deserves the district’s support.
