Mike Hope, a Seattle police detective who ran unsuccessfully for the state House of Representatives two years ago, is back for more.
Hope has decided to run again for the state House out of the 44th District. And just like in 2004, Hope is running as a Republican against incumbent Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish.
“I’ve watched the way he’s voting and everything I ran on the last time, he’s voting the opposite,” Hope said about Dunshee.
In 2004 Hope lost to Dunshee but received close to 46 percent of the vote in the 44th District, which includes Mill Creek, Silver Lake, Snohomish, Lake Stevens and Marysville.
Hope, however, believes that name recognition from his campaign, combined with what he says is a greater volunteer base will help him more in this year’s election. He says his support base among high school students is strong.
Hope wants to reform state sentencing laws so there are lengthier mandatory sentences for crimes like auto theft and sex offenses. He favors minimum sentencing of 25 years for sex offenses against children.
Now 30 and living near Lake Stevens, Hope still favors adjusting the state business and occupation tax so it affects net revenues and not gross income.
“The tax structure in Olympia is headed for failure,” he said, referring to several different revenue sources for the state, not just the business and occupation tax.
He also is concerned about bringing in adequate funds for the district, especially in the area of road construction.
“Highway 9 is going to get a very small chunk of the state gas tax,” he said. “I take (U.S.) Highway 2 every day into work and it is unbelievable how crowded that road is.”
Prior to running for office two years ago, Hope had been a precinct committee officer with the Republican Party and a former reservist with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is currently a board member of Snohomish’s Lions Club.
Supporting Hope is Mark Bond, a Mill Creek City Council and Snohomish County Charter Commission member, according to Hope’s campaign Web site.
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