OLYMPIA – With the 2005 legislative session now in full gear, local representatives have been busy working on the issues they talked about during election season.

Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds, who holds Pos. 1 in the 21st District, said the session started off with some things she had anticipated, and some she hadn’t.

“I’m surprised that we’re going to be moving bills as quickly as we are,” Roberts said, adding that she also was surprised at the daily pace and schedule that is expected.

“There are a lot of meetings and hearings,” she said. “I’m really working very hard at getting up to speed.”

Roberts recently was asked to be a prime sponsor for several bills including one that addresses the needs of children whose parents have been incarcerated. She currently is forming a task force of agency people to look at services for these children. The other bill concerns the prevention of child neglect as a repercussion of post-partum depression.

An avid supporter of children and education, Roberts serves on multiple committees in that realm: higher education, children and family services, juvenile justice and family law.

Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo, who holds Pos. 2 in the 21st Distrcit, said that as the new chair of the Natural Resources, Ecology and Parks committee, the beginning of the legislative session has been devoted partly to “learn some of the nitty-gritty details of running a committee.”

“I had hoped to build consensus on some of the big issues around the natural environment, and I feel we’ve been pretty successful,” Sullivan said. “Specifically in my committee, we’re working on legislation to prevent and respond to oil spills, clean up toxic waste around schools and streamline the permit process for some water projects.” Those bills should be moving to the House floor in a few weeks, he said.

Sullivan added that his focus will be on a performance audits bill being passed very soon.

“It may seem like a dry subject, but performance audits of state agencies have the potential to save taxpayers a lot of money,” he said.

Another issue Sullivan will focus on this session is resolving the ballfields issue in Snohomish County.

“I’m working with the other area lawmakers to make sure our kids have a place to hit home runs and make goals. Land use problems are tricky, but I think we’re making good progress on a solution to preserve places for kids to play while maintaining agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands,” Sullivan said.

In addition to these issues, Sullivan also sits on the House Transportation Committee, where he says I-5 corridor projects are at the forefront.

“I haven’t seen the transportation budget yet, but I will keep on top of the funding of our roads and transportation system,” he said.

Sullivan remains hopeful for this year’s session, even though he points to the potential $1.8 billion budget shortfall as a “giant concern.”

“I’m optimistic that the Legislature can do some good for people on health care, support for job creation and small businesses, and improving our schools,” he said. “I know we’ll look at how to bridge that gap (in the budget), but it’s going to be tough work. People expect us to be financially responsible, and I plan to carefully review every budget proposal as it comes out.”

Enterprise writer Jennifer Aaby contributed to this story.