Two Democrats set sights on Rep. Barbara Bailey’s House seat

OAK HARBOR — Demo­cratic candidates Patricia Terry and Ann McDonald are determined to push state Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, out of office.

It’s likely, though, that only one will get the chance.

Under the rules of the state’s new primary, the two candidates with the most votes in the Aug. 19 election, regardless of political affiliation, advance to the ballot in November.

While there’s no guarantee Bailey will move on to the general election, her two challengers concede it will be difficult for them both to get more votes than the incumbent.

Bailey said she isn’t as concerned about her challengers as she is about focusing on her own campaign.

“I take every election seriously and I never take my constituents for granted,” Bailey said. “Election time is a good time to refresh voters’ memories about what I stand for and to listen to their concerns. It’s a great opportunity to connect.”

Bailey, 63, is seeking a fourth term in the state Legislature. Along with Whidbey Island and parts of Skagit County, the state’s 10th Legislative District includes Camano Island and the Stanwood area.

During nearly six years in Olympia, Bailey said, she has focused on opening the doors to government.

“We also have worked to raise the visibility of accountability and transparency in government,” Bailey said.

If re-elected, the representative said she plans to focus on the ferry system, especially as it affects her district.

“We need to build the right (ferry) boat, fully fund it, and do it as quickly as possible,” Bailey said.

However, now isn’t the time to raise taxes to meet state needs, Bailey said.

“We don’t have a revenue problem in Olympia, but we do have a spending problem and need to get our priorities straight,” Bailey said.

McDonald, 60, said the upcoming primary election really is a contest between herself and fellow Democrat Terry.

McDonald said her 20 years in the district and her longtime community involvement, from PTA to her current position as a Coupeville port commissioner, give her the edge in the race.

With her youngest child now graduated from high school, McDonald said she is free to campaign for the job she has wanted for nearly a decade.

“Being a port commissioner has been a perfect interim step for me,” she said. “I have learned that I can help people and make a positive difference.”

If elected, McDonald said, her top three concerns would be transportation, education and military affairs. McDonald wants to create more biking and walking access in the district, she has concerns about standardized testing in the state, and she wants to make sure veterans are taken care of, she said.

McDonald said she was not concerned about getting the 10th District Democratic Party nomination, which went to Terry.

“I did not participate in that process,” McDonald said. “It’s important to me that I represent everybody in the 10th District, regardless of their political affiliation.”

Patricia Terry, 54, said she is proud of the endorsement by Democrats in the district, but she, too, hopes to appeal to all voters.

A native Northwesterner, a health systems evaluator and longtime nurse, Terry said she doesn’t believe the fact that she has lived less than three years in the district is an issue.

“Some people are still considered to be newcomers even if they have lived in a place for 20 years. I tend to be involved in my community where I have lived,” Terry said. “I am making the rounds in the district and have put 45,000 miles on my year-old car.”

Her service on the Island County Community Health Advisory Board has given her insight into the 10th Legislative District, Terry said.

“If you find out about the health of a community, you tend to learn about everything else in that area, from the economy to the criminal justice system,” Terry said.

If elected, Terry’s interests would be in health care, environmental stewardship and protection of farmland, along with the responsible management of public money, she said.

“I want this job for the good I can do in Olympia. We need to use tax dollars to take care of our elderly and educate our young,” Terry said. “I have a mix of professional experience, academic training and aptitude to be a great asset to the people of the 10th District.”