By Evan Smith
Libertarian 21st District candidate Alex Hels, who is running on the Aug. 2 primary ballot against incumbent Democratic State Rep. Strom Peterson, says that over-taxation and education are the most important issues in the current election.
With no Republican on the ballot, the two are certain to advance from the top-two primary to the November general election.
Hels sent a statement Saturday about what he believes are the most important issues in this year’s election.
Peterson’s statement was posted last week, but it is re-posted here.
Incumbent Peterson said that providing support for public schools isn’t the only issue he has been working on in the legislature. When Peterson recently sent a statement about what he thought were the most important issues in this year’s election, he said that he was working on issues in addition to those that get a lot of attention.
The 21st Legislative District includes most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and northeast of Lynnwood, all of Mukilteo and part of south Everett.
Hels’ statement is here, followed by Peterson’s:
Alex Hels (Prefers Libertarian Party) —
This area is faced with some troubling issues.
For one, people are being taxed to their breaking point. The government looks at its citizens not as people, but ATM’s.
The education system is both underfunded and completely backwards as far as curriculum. Students will go through the entire system and graduate with no “real world” or marketable skills. We have a curriculum that teaches these kids WHAT to think but not HOW to think.
But the greatest threat is the attack on freedom. Overburdened with an abundance of regulations, we can no longer live our lives as we see fit.
Strom Peterson (Prefers Democratic Party) —
We have some big discussions to cover here such as fully funding education, rebuilding our social safety net, and protecting our environment. Big discussions to cover; instead, I would like to mention the work around the opioid and heroin crisis tearing families and communities apart. I am working on a number of pieces of legislation to try and keep people from becoming addicted, treat those that are, and provide life-saving medication for the all-too-often overdose situation. Working with law enforcement, public health officials, and the medical community, I hope Washington can be a leader in addressing this epidemic.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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