It’ll be a rematch between state Rep. Dan Kristiansen and Scott Olson for the 39th District.
Kristiansen, a Republican who lives in Snohomish, is seeking his fourth two-year term and only narrowly defeated Olson in the last election.
Olson, a Democrat who lives in Monroe, is convinced that means that he’s on the right track to unseating Kristiansen this time around. The district stretches over rural areas in Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and King counties.
Kristiansen argues his experience in Olympia helped win about $14 million for safety improvements along deadly U.S. 2, he said. His bills about the highway got hearings in the House Transportation Committee, controlled by Democrats, he said.
Olson said that none of those bills got out of the committee. And overall improvements for the highway are expected to cost more than $2 billion.
The $14 million is too little, Olson said.
If elected, Olson said he will be more effective to improve U.S. 2 because he belongs to the majority party. He wants to work hard to get money for specific safety projects along the highway, instead of trying to fix the whole corridor at once.
In addition to U.S. 2, Olson said that health care and education are his top issues. The state shouldn’t cut money for education despite the tough national economy.
Kristiansen said that health care and education are important, but need to be paid for by a strong economy. His priority is to balance the state’s budget next year mainly by cutting spending, he said.
Before becoming a state lawmaker, Kristiansen said he used to own a small construction firm and retail stores. That experience has helped in Olympia, he said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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