Top: Carolyn Eslick (left) and Jessica Wadhams. Bottom: Tyller Boomgaarden (left) and Kathryn Lewandowski.

Top: Carolyn Eslick (left) and Jessica Wadhams. Bottom: Tyller Boomgaarden (left) and Kathryn Lewandowski.

Eslick faces 3 foes and new voters in bid for another House term

In the 39th District, a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent are trying to oust the two-term GOP incumbent.

SULTAN — Rep. Carolyn Eslick says she’s seeking re-election to finish what she’s started in an array of policy arenas.

But the Republican lawmaker’s path to a third term representing the 39th Legislative District isn’t at all like the one traveled in previous elections.

Redistricting redrew the boundaries in a significant way with a few of the former Sultan mayor’s neighbors getting moved to other districts: Monroe, Gold Bar, Index and much of Arlington are gone. The city of Lake Stevens got shifted out of the 44th District into the 39th. It’s still viewed as a safe Republican seat.

But there are thousands of voters pondering Eslick’s legislative resume for the first time as she faces three opponents in the Aug. 2 primary — Democrat Jessica Wadhams of Lake Stevens, Republican Tyller Boomgaarden of Darrington and Independent Kathryn Lewandowsky of Arlington.

The challengers have all run for an elected office before, though none have won. Each views the incumbent as a nice person with wrong ideas for residents of the newly designed district.

The top two finishers will meet in November with the winner securing a two-year term in a job paying $57,876 a year.

Eslick, 72, served six years on the Sultan City Council. She was in her third term as mayor when she was tapped to fill a vacant House seat in 2017. She got re-elected in 2020 with 63% of the vote.

She serves on three committees — transportation, capital budget and children, youth and families. Through those she’s had a voice in deciding how state dollars are divided up for roads, construction projects, nonprofits, and the mental health and well being of children.

Among her unfinished work is adequately funding and deploying a state program helping parents find needed mental health resources and services for their kids. Eslick said increasing availability of treatment beds for teenagers in crisis are needed too.

More broadly, she wants to see penalties reinstated for drug possession — the state Supreme Court erased them in its Blake decision — and unwinding of policing reforms dealing with vehicle pursuits by law enforcement. She says those changes are contributing to a surge in crime across the state.

“We’ve got to bring common sense back,” she said.

Boomgaarden, 29, who lost his bid for Darrington Town Council in 2021, shares many of the same concerns as Eslick.

He too wants to address the rules for when police can chase suspects. He also wants to streamline the hiring process for law enforcement.

Both Republican candidates describe themselves as pro-life but neither suggested they would author legislation to roll back existing protections for access to abortion.

In this campaign, Boomgaarden garnered early support from the district’s Republican precinct committee officers, frustrated with Eslick because they consider her too moderate.

“Personally, I have no problem with her,” he said. “She is Republican but she is not in sync with them … and been okay with some forms of gun control.” This session Eslick voted against bills to ban high capacity ammunition magazines and regulate homemade firearms known as ghost guns.

Boomgaarden, who works in security contracting, said one reason he decided to run was the incumbent’s age.

“There aren’t enough people representing the younger generation,” he said.

Wadhams, 36, a community activist, ran unsuccessfully for the Lake Stevens City Council last fall. The stay-at-home mom is a co-founder of Lake Stevens Black, Indigenous, People of Color and Allies, a social justice organization.

Redistricting provided this opportunity.

“What’s motivating me is that we have the new lines, the demographics have changed. We need to have a representative that is more reflective of this demographic and more representative of the people she’s sworn to represent,” she said.

Protecting reproductive freedom has emerged as an important and immediate issue following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe, she said.

“If we don’t hold the Democratic majority in the state, we run the risk of losing (access to abortion) in our state,” she said.

On some issues, Wadhams veers to the political center. She said she wants to eliminate the business and occupation tax and is only mildly supportive — “more for than against” — of the capital gains tax now facing a legal challenge. She’s concerned about passage of quick fixes to combat climate change by the Legislature could harm workers.

“I want to make sure what we do is strategic and sustainable,” she said. “We can’t solve our climate crisis overnight.”

Lewandowsky, 63, of Arlington, lost a bid for state Senate in 2020. She ran as a progressive. She’s running as an independent this time. A registered nurse, she is a former 4-H leader and received a Snohomish County Human Rights Award in 2021.

She said the focus of her campaign is establishing some form of universal health care program in Washington. She’s a leader of Whole Washington, which is pushing Initiative 1471 to get lawmakers to launch it or put the idea in front of voters in 2023.

“We need to keep our planet healthy as much as we need to keep our people healthy,” she said.

She wants to strengthen and preserve existing state protections for accessing abortion services.

On public safety concerns, Lewandowsky isn’t interested in overhauling the pursuit law and instead said police should work on regaining the trust of those in communities they serve.

Thus far, this race has not attracted a lot of money or spending.

Entering the weekend, Eslick had reported $41,916 in contributions, and after campaign spending thus far, had $26,800 on hand. Wadhams, meanwhile, reported $10,381 in donations with $3,848 in available cash after expenditures. Lewandowsky and Boomgaarden have not reported spending any money in their campaigns.

Ballots are due Aug. 2. They can be deposited in a designated drop box or returned by mail postage-free.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Marysville firefighters respond to a 12-year-old boy who fell down a well Tuesday May 30, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Photo provided by Marysville Fire District)
Marysville firefighters save boy who fell 20 feet into well

The 12-year-old child held himself up by grabbing on to a plastic pipe while firefighters worked to save him.

Highway 9 is set to be closed in both directions for a week as construction crews build a roundabout at the intersection with Vernon Road. (Washington State Department of Transportation)
Weeklong closure coming to Highway 9 section in Lake Stevens

Travelers should expect delays or find another way from Friday to Thursday between Highway 204 and Lundeen Parkway.

Students arriving off the bus get in line to score some waffles during a free pancake and waffle breakfast at Lowell Elementary School on Friday, May 26, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
800 free pancakes at Everett’s Lowell Elementary feed the masses

The annual breakfast was started to connect the community and the school, as well as to get people to interact.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring speaks at the groundbreaking event for the I-5/SR 529 Interchange project on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
$123M project starting on Highway 529 interchange, I-5 HOV lane

A reader wondered why the highway had a lane closure despite not seeing work done. Crews were waiting on the weather.

Justin Bell was convicted earlier this month of first-degree assault for a December 2017 shooting outside a Value Village in Everett. (Caleb Hutton / Herald file)
Court: Snohomish County jurors’ opaque masks didn’t taint verdict

During the pandemic, Justin Bell, 32, went on trial for a shooting. Bell claims his right to an impartial jury was violated.

Gary Fontes uprights a tree that fell over in front of The Fontes Manor — a miniature handmade bed and breakfast — on Friday, May 12, 2023, at his home near Silver Lake in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s mini-Frank Lloyd Wright builds neighborhood of extra tiny homes

A tiny lighthouse, a spooky mansion and more: Gary Fontes’ miniature world of architectural wonders is one-twelfth the size of real life.

Will Steffener
Inslee appoints Steffener as Superior Court judge

Attorney Will Steffener will replace Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Janice Ellis, who is retiring in June.

Mountlake Terrace Library, part of the Sno-Isle Libraries, in Mountlake Terrace, Washington on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Sno-Isle workers cite safety, unfilled positions in union push

Workers also pointed to inconsistent policies and a lack of a say in decision-making. Leadership says they’ve been listening.

A view over the Port of Everett Marina looking toward the southern Whidbey Island fault zone in March 2021. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County agencies to simulate major disaster

The scenario will practice the response to an earthquake or tsunami. Dozens of agencies will work with pilots.

Most Read