The job
A two-year term as a state representative. The seat is for Position 2 in the 44th Legislative District, which includes the cities of Lake Stevens, Snohomish and Mill Creek, plus parts of Marysville and Everett. The annual salary is $42,106.
Election Day: Nov. 2. Ballots were mailed by Oct. 15 and should have arrived in the mail.
Mike Hope
Age: 35
Occupation: Incumbent state representative who has also worked as a Seattle police officer for the past 12 years
Residence: Lake Stevens
Party: Republican
Website: www.electmikehope.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from John Carroll University and a master’s degree in policy studies from the University of Washington
In his words: “There are still a lot of things I saw unaccomplished in the last legislative session. My biggest priority is restructuring government. I think what we need to do is look at a long-term solution and how we’re actually doing business in Washington state. We need to focus more on zero-based budgeting, looking at revamping DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services) and getting the government out of the monopoly of businesses allowing us to get rid of the overhead costs. Hopefully these things will free up funding for education and core essential services.”
Priorities: Restructuring state government, education, transportation.
Notable: Hope is running for his second term. He is a member of the Washington State House capital budget, education and education appropriations committees. He sponsored the Lakewood Police Officers’ Memorial Act, which if approved by voters in November, will give judges more discretion to deny bail to suspects who are facing a life sentence and considered to be dangerous.
Hope’s original Democratic challenger, Lake Stevens School Board member John Boerger, dropped out of the race in June. His name remains on the ballot because he left the race after the deadline to withdraw.
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