From left to right, Clyde Shavers, Carrie Kennedy, Dave Paul and Gary Wray

From left to right, Clyde Shavers, Carrie Kennedy, Dave Paul and Gary Wray

Money pours in for 10th Legislative District seats in the House

Parts of three counties will decide on what’s become an expensive race for the two seats.

OAK HARBOR — Democrats are trying to hold onto two state House seats in the 10th Legislative District this year.

The district covers Island County, as well as parts of Skagit and Snohomish counties. Stanwood, parts of Arlington and Mount Vernon, as well as wide swaths of rural land in between, all lie in the district’s boundaries.

Democrats Clyde Shavers and Dave Paul hold the seats. Their challengers, Carrie Kennedy and Gary Wray, are Republicans. The battle for Shavers’ seat, which he won by just over 200 votes two years ago, is a particularly bitter partisan battle.

It’s been expensive, as well: The four candidates have raised over $630,000, and have seen over $200,000 in outside spending.

Ballots are due Nov. 5.

Position 1

Carrie Kennedy

In the primary, Kennedy finished second behind Shavers, knocking out a well-funded campaign from Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, a fellow Republican.

Kennedy has espoused various conspiracy theories in social media posts, including the federal government controlling the weather and so-called “birtherism” conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama.

She’s also called for the execution of various political figures, including Rep. Eric Swalwell and former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley. Kennedy did not respond to an interview request for this story.

She addressed her history of inflammatory social media posts on conservative radio host Ari Hoffman’s show.

“I think, like anybody in this country that’s a patriot, there’s a lot to unpack, and a lot that’s upset me in particular, and I’ve made comments on social media,” Kennedy told Hoffman last month. “And was it the right thing? Maybe now, maybe not, but at the time, it had some some bearing.”

Kennedy feels an influx of people moving from the “lawlessness” of Seattle is a major issue for the district, she said in an interview this summer. She wondered if a full audit of state government is in order and why social issues are “at the forefront” of politics.

Education is a major topic of concern for her, too.

“Holding educational institutions, school districts, administrators and unions accountable for their teaching staff and curriculums is imperative to ensure fair and transparent learning for all, not progressive agendas,” her website states.

Kennedy has reported $14,000 in campaign contributions. Kennedy has not received any financial support from the state Republican Party, though the Snohomish County and Island County parties have given a total of $1,950 to her campaign.

Clyde Shavers

Shavers, a Democrat, is running on his legislative record since winning the seat in 2022.

He’s advocated for increased support for veterans and is hearing about cost of living increases from his constituents, he said. Affordable housing and health care, as well as property taxes, will all be focuses if elected to another term.

“In the past two years, I worked with colleagues to expand the property tax exemption program for low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities,” Shavers said in an interview. “I’ve also co-sponsored a bill that caps asthma and EpiPens and then voted yes on capping insulin. So really focusing on lowering health care costs.”

Shavers would also support tax waivers for affordable housing projects. He’s expressed interest in using 3D printing technology to build housing, as well. He feels it could lower costs, be more environmentally friendly and create housing faster.

“This 3D printing technology, these robots, they can work 24/7,” Shavers said. “So we have a supply problem? Well let’s use this innovative technology, this possible solution, to address the supply issue.”

Shavers serves as vice chair of the House Education Committee, as well as committees on innovation and veterans affairs.

Shavers has raised about $370,000. That includes about $16,000 in outside money supporting him.

On his opponent’s comments, he said, “I think the important thing about elections, about campaigns and about democracy, is that I think divisiveness, hyperpolarization, I think meanness is a threat to democracy. I think when folks are tearing others apart, tearing communities apart, even tearing our state apart, that is deeply concerning to me.”

Position 2

Dave Paul

Education is the backbone of the incumbent’s pitch to voters.

Paul, a Democrat, was first elected to the position in 2018 and is no stranger to tight races. He won by 685 votes in 2018, 738 in 2020, and by a more comfortable 3,200 in 2022.

Paul works at Skagit Valley College where he serves as the school’s director of community relations. He also said when he’s not in Olympia, he teaches. Paul has sat on House committees for transportation as well as college and workforce development in his three terms in office.

Education and fixing the ferry system are top priorities.

He’s been a loud voice for dual-credit high school and college classes. This also includes technical education and apprenticeship programs, he said. He’s also supportive of increasing continuing education for adults, saying older students in college classes can provide a huge benefit to those classes, simply by virtue of life experience.

“What we’re trying to do is to show students what those options are,” Paul said. “And in some cases, we’ve got great careers that are available to students right out of high school, but they don’t know what those are. That’s especially true in the skilled trades.”

Meanwhile, Washington has struggled with consistent ferry service in Puget Sound and has been beset by delays in acquiring new vessels. The state put out a request for bids to build five new hybrid-electric ferries wearlier this year.

“Our state has neglected ferries for far too long, I asked to serve on the transportation committee and then serve as vice chair of transportation so that I could help craft that budget,” Paul said. “We are doing good work in that area with recruiting new ferry personnel, and I am hopeful that this bid that’s going on right now for five new ferries will be finalized when we are in session this winter.”

Paul has raised over $240,000. About $150,000 in outside spending has benefited his campaign, mostly coming from the New Direction political action committee.

Gary Wray

Wray is running on protecting children, parental rights and women, according to his campaign page. He previously ran for Island County commissioner.

Insofar as protecting women goes, his messaging appears directed at transgender people.

“The legislature must safeguard spaces designed for women’s privacy and safety, ensuring these remain places of dignity and respect,” his website states. “This is common sense, and Gary refuses to accept the notion that men – however they identify – have a right to violate the privacy and safety of women.”

Wray did not return an emailed request for an interview. According to the voters’ pamphlet, he is a long-time Island County builder and owns Laser Construction and Development. He was the president of the Building Industry Association of Washington. He also noted he is a veteran who served on nuclear submarines.

On education, he is concerned about what children are being taught.

“Our children are our most precious resource, the bearers of our hopes and dreams for the future,” his campaign website states. “Yet, in our schools today, many parents are concerned that their children are being exposed to materials and ideologies that don’t align with their family’s values, or worse, their children aren’t being prepared for success in the real world.”

Going further, the page states, he is supportive of “honoring the physical realities and differences between males and females and preserving the spirit of Title IX.”

On his website, he also said he would be supportive of reducing the gas tax and reducing property taxes.

“The progressive Left and big-government’s addiction to tax-and-spend public policy has left the State government bloated and corrupt while leaving Washington taxpayers struggling to pay for basic necessities,” his campaign page states.

Wray has raised slightly more than $10,000 for his campaign.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; X: @jordyhansen.

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