A newcomer to elected politics has challenged a two-term state representative seeking a House seat in the 10th Legislative District.
Voters in three counties will decide Tuesday who represents them for the next two years. The far-flung district includes both urban and rural areas in northwest Snohomish and southwest Skagit counties, and all of Island County.
Incumbent Republican Barbara Bailey said she’s demonstrated the ability to listen to residents and act in their best interests, and in the state’s as well.
“I really believe my accomplishment has been making sure our state is headed in the right direction,” Bailey said. “We will continue to look at the stability of our economy to make sure that we provide an environment where families can work, have good jobs, raise their families and have a good life,” she said.
It’s Bailey’s votes in the House that has teacher Timothy Knue concerned.
“I did not go after Barbara,” said Knue, a Democrat “It’s about Barbara’s votes. It’s about Barbara’s record.”
From Knue’s view, her votes favor business instead of the middle class, he said.
Bailey grew up on a farm in Missouri, is a business owner, is married to a retired naval officer and says she’s worked hard to protect the state’s military bases from the 2005 base-closing round.
Knue grew up in Oak Harbor and now teaches at Mount Vernon High School. Although he hasn’t held an elected office, he has served on education committees that have pushed for and gotten educational reforms, including improvements to vocational education.
The incumbent said she’s seeking a third term because “we have much more to accomplish. This is a critical time for our state. We have some very serious issues we will be forced to face.”
Among them are what she concludes is an “unsustainable” state budget, the underfunded state pension system and transportation.
“Any study you want to put out there will tell you we are facing only more congestion,” Bailey said. Limited dollars should go to roads to relieve traffic and add safety, she added.
Knue said the incumbent can be “fiscally responsible,” but that sometimes can be detrimental to the state and its people.
For example, his opponent is against employers being required to provide health-care insurance, he said. It’s less of a bottom line than a “triple bottom line,” Knue said.
Besides meeting an economic reality test, issues should be viewed from whether actions are a good management of resources and are socially responsible, he said.
“My philosophy is to take a look at teach of these things in concert with each other,” Knue said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
Age: 62
Party: Republican
Residence: Oak Harbor
Occupation: management consulting and training business
Age: 52
Party: Democrat
Residence: Conway
Occupation: Teacher of agriculture education
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