Incumbent Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, is running unopposed in the Nov. 2 race for the 32nd District House Pos. 1 seat.
Chase, 63, who has served two terms, was briefly opposed by Scott Schille, whose candidacy was invalidated by election officials in the Secretary of State’s office for filing late paperwork.
Chase said not having an opponent has led her to work harder than ever to organize the district.
“Because I don’t have anybody running against me, I take it as a testament that people think I am representing their interest,” Chase said. “That is what I am trying to do.”
Chase calls her platform “pretty basic,” saying she is passionate about making sure people have food, clothing and shelter.
“This is a society of unequals and the decks are sort of stacked against the people who are not rich and powerful,” Chase said. “If we can make sure they have the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability, the state is an equalizer.”
Chase is opposed to Initiative 884 because she said 1-percent sales tax increase for schools is a result of the legislators deciding it was not their responsibility to completely fund education. She said the initiative would tax poor people more than rich people.
“I am opposed to I-884, as a passionate supporter of education,” Chase said.
Chase is also opposed to the charter schools measure, Referendum 55. She says charter schools do not provide equal opportunity for students. She said public education is a great contribution to the “great American experiment to democracy.”
“It is the greatest contribution to civilization,” Chase said. “If you study hard and educate yourself, then you have an opportunity.”
Another of her priorities is supporting small business. Chase also points out that there are many educated people, such as Boeing engineers, who are now unemployed due to the outsourcing of jobs.
“This is the kind of thing that drives me,” Chase said. “It has to do with justice and fairness for all.”
She said small business owners are not likely to outsource jobs to other countries. Chase said small businesses could be the foundation of economic revival, saying home-based businesses such as child care employ about 9,000 people.
“In Olympia we spend a lot of time on industries of the future,” Chase said. “But they don’t employ that many people.”
Supporting the Fircrest School is also on her agenda. She favors building low-income housing on the section of Fircrest property where old buildings, which are slated for demolition, are now located. Chase also favors building a multicultural center at the facility, as well as a neighborhood health center.
“People think Fircrest is represented by those broken down buildings,” Chase said. “But it is a fabulous center; they see the eyesore, the old buildings, but we will soon see cleared land.”
Chase also said a food bank is necessary to have in Shoreline, saying that a truck in a church parking lot is currently the only make-shift type of food bank in the city.
“People say we don’t have poor people in Shoreline,” Chase said. “There are people who are hungry.”
Chase grew up in Yakima, and has worked in many fields, including public relations, teaching, working with the disabled and operating a home-based painting business.
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