Dave Schmidt and Steve Hobbs might be from different political parties that, at the national level, are polarized. But their race for state Senate out of the 44th District has been civil, with both candidates putting forth their issues, stances and ideas for voters to decide.
Both candidates have a military background. Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, has served in the Washington National Guard for 23 years, while Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, served in the U.S. Army overseas in Kosovo and Iraq.
Politically, however, the two are opposites. Schmidt has served one four-year term in the Senate and served eight years in the House of Representatives. Hobbs has never held elected office before. He ran unsuccessfully for Snohomish County Council last year and in September defeated Lillian Kaufer in the 44th District Democratic primary.
Education
Both candidates have definite ideas about education. Schmidt is the ranking minority member on the Senate Education Committee, and wants another term to continue to work toward what he calls, “the biggest changes we’ve had in the last 40 to 50 years in Washington state.”
When asked to elaborate, Schmidt said, “We live in the 21st century. Education today is delivered the same way it was 60, 80 years ago. Technology gives us the opportunity to take an individual approach, not a one-size-fits-all approach. We have a lot of children falling through the cracks because of the old approach.”
Schmidt, however, is quick to stress that any proposed reforms that come out of the Legislature must be bipartisan so the public can “get behind” the reforms.
Schmidt also wants to change funding for special education so the state picks up the tab and not local districts out of levy money.
“I agree it’s our constitutional obligation,” he said. “It would free up levy dollars to be used at a district’s discretion.”
Another reform Schmidt wants is allowing credits earned at two-year technical colleges to transfer to four-year universities. Schmidt said Sen. Rosemary McAullife, D-Bothell, would likely be the lead sponsor of that proposal, and Schmidt would serve as secondary sponsor as his party is in the minority.
Hobbs, meanwhile, is stressing the need to help what he calls “the 75 percent” of high school graduates who will not go to college. He proposes creating partnerships with labor unions and businesses so students can enter vocational apprenticeships while still in high school.
“There’s nothing wrong with a kid who wants to be a carpenter,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs also wants to see more money earmarked for after-school programs and special education programs, along with smaller class sizes.
Health care
Hobbs is a supporter of a “fair-share” bill that would require some large corporations to provide health care to employees. Hobbs backs this in part because he says costs should be “spread wide” and not fall on any one individual or entity. He is also a supporter of creating “business pools” to allow small businesses to either buy into the state’s basic health plan or shop for affordable insurance through private companies.
Schmidt suggested that part of the problem are the costly state coverage “mandates,” which require insurance companies to offer a wide array of health care options. This, he said, leads to a “Cadillac-type health care system and limits access.”
Schmidt opposes a fair-share bill because it would “put businesses at a competitive disadvantage.”
Transportation
Schmidt and Hobbs agree that it’s time to unify all the transit systems in the Puget Sound region into one large, seamless agency.
Otherwise, the two differ in their approaches. Hobbs sees greater economic diversity as a key to reducing congestion on local roadways.
“Forty percent of (Snohomish County) residents commute to jobs in King County,” Hobbs said. “We need to provide more jobs in the county so there is less commuting.”
Schmidt offered a reminder of how he managed to bring money to the 44th District to widen Highway 9, money that is coming from the 9 1/2-cent gas tax.
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