It’s the first run at the 10th District Position 1 seat for both candidates.
Republican party veteran Norma Smith was appointed in January to the Legislative seat she hopes to retain. Smith was named to the position by the Snohomish County Council and Island and Skagit county commissioners after former state Rep. Chris Strow resigned in December to take a job with the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Smith is challenged for the seat by experienced campaigner Democrat Tim Knue, who attempted to unseat Position 2 Rep. Barbara Bailey when he first sought legislative office two years ago.
In the August primary election, Smith, who lives on south Whidbey Island, garnered about 53 percent of the vote to Knue’s nearly 47 percent.
Those numbers don’t faze south Skagit County resident Knue, who said he and his family and supporters have been busy doorbelling throughout the district.
“My new phrase is ‘To know me is to vote for me.’ No one cares more about taking care of where we live and what we have,” Knue said. “No one (running for office) in the 10th District, except (state Sen.) Mary Margaret Haugen has lived here longer.”
Knue grew up on his family’s small farm in the Oak Harbor area and retired as a longtime, award-winning high school agriculture teacher. He said his experience on a governor-appointed state board where he represented career and technical education allowed him to become a voice to influence legislation.
“This is all about leadership and the ability to influence others,” Knue said. “It’s about solving problems that meet the triple bottom line: making sure solutions are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible.”
Knue said his primary concerns as a legislator would be education, support for farmers and the owners of small businesses, and tackling issues such as growth and transportation, including highways and ferries. Knue is in favor of performance audits to make sure state money is spent well, he said.
In the area of education, Knue is especially interested in making sure high school graduates have access to technical schools and apprenticeships.
“We’re running short on tradesmen and craftsmen in this state. Kids who go into the trades instead of college are bright, too,” Knue said. “A good, well-trained and adaptable work force is what’s needed and what will bring business to our state.”
Smith shares Knue’s interest in the state’s economic vitality and said she would like to be returned to Olympia to continue her bipartisan work to protect home owners and small businesses.
“Our real challenge will be to address the overspending that has taken place and address the priorities of our state government,” Smith said. “We’re facing a projected budget shortfall, and we find ourselves in this position because we haven’t been living within our means or looking at the economic storm clouds on the horizon.”
Both she and Knue believe that the current regulatory climate is tough for the owners of small businesses and family farms.
“It’s great that we have a high rate of small-business starts, but it’s unfortunate that we have a high rate of small-business failures,” Smith said. “We need to address the punitive nature of our business and occupations tax and make it more fair. That will go a long way to stimulating the economy.”
The solutions to transportation problems, especially in the state ferry system, will require a tough look at the budget, Smith said.
“Right now the budget doesn’t support it, but we have to start the process of getting new boats built,” she said.
Smith, a widowed grandmother, said she believes in treating people respectfully and that she had an encouraging welcome in the state house in January by members on both sides of the aisle.
“Now, it would be a great honor to be elected to serve this district,” Smith said.
Reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427 or gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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