The former mayor of Snohomish and a Seattle police officer are in a hotly contested race for the 44th Legislative District state House of Representatives seat.
Rep. Liz Loomis, a business owner and former Snohomish mayor, who was appointed to the vacant seat last year, is being challenged by Mike Hope, a Seattle police officer and gym owner, who has twice run for public office.
Hope, a Republican, who lost to Rep. Hans Dunshee in 2004 and 2006, said his experience in business and law enforcement give him valuable insight at a time when the state government is looking to save money and lop off programs.
“We’re going to need someone in there who not only knows business, but who also knows what (social) programs are working,” Hope said.
The state shouldn’t cut education, mental health care or drug court, Hope said.
If elected, Hope said his priorities include helping balance the budget without raising taxes; promoting safety and congestion relief projects on Highway 9 and U.S. 2, including a bypass in Monroe; and eliminating the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, something he says is too expensive to run and ineffective. He also wants to reduce K-12 classroom sizes.
Loomis, a Democrat, describes herself as a bipartisan lawmaker who teamed up with Republicans this year to increase penalties for sex offenders and to secure millions of dollars to improve safety on U.S. 2.
“My opponent talks about being bipartisan but I have a record of reaching across the aisle,” Loomis said.
Loomis said she would fight to hold the line on state expenses and work to prioritize spending on transportation, education and health care.
If elected, Loomis said her priorities include funding all-day kindergarten and expanding skilled trade and apprenticeship programs for high schools; completing transportation projects promised with the 5-cent increase in the gas tax; securing funding for highway safety projects; and working to reduce traffic congestion. Loomis said she supports expanding bus service in the county and is willing to consider commuter rail.
She said she would work to promote preventative medicine, particularly for children, which she said could lower health care costs.
Both candidates support efforts to build a new University of Washington branch campus in Snohomish County. Loomis said she prefers a site in Everett, Hope said he prefers the Marysville option.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com
Liz Loomis
Hometown: Snohomish
Education: George Washington University
Age: 38
Party: Democrat
Experience: Appointed to the state House of Representatives in January to fill a vacancy. Snohomish mayor and a city councilwoman from 1997 to 2005. Founder of a communications firm
Web site: www.lizloomis.com
Mike Hope
Hometown: Lake Stevens
Education: Bachelor of Arts in sociology and criminology, John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio; master’s degree in policy studies, University of Washington
Age: 33
Party: Republican
Experience: Seattle police officer, owner of a Monroe gym
Web site: www.mikehope2008.com
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