Why are you running for Legislative District 30 – State Representative Position 1?

I am running for office to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I’ll work to create new opportunity and to protect opportunity. Crime has taken away opportunity in our community due to legislative policies that favored criminals over victims. Rampant victimization has been very costly to residents and businesses with some businesses choosing to relocate. The tax burden continues to increase while at the same time groceries, gasoline, utilities, auto insurance, and housing costs rise. I support all four of the initiatives that will be on the ballot this year because I know that these initiatives will reduce taxes, incentivize economic growth and allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money. Educational excellence is a major key to opportunity and unfortunately our public schools are not doing well when it comes to meeting academic standards. It is my goal to address these three issues and work with colleagues and constituents so that success and opportunity exists for everyone.

The 30th District constituency includes the 5th most diverse zip code in the nation (98003). What are some actions you take to stay connected to these many different cultural communities so that you can effectively represent everyone?

I first want to say that I love the diversity that represents our district. I live in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city of Federal Way, right in the heart of our downtown core. I’ve worked hard to establish neighborly connections by organizing community events such as National Night Out and Block Watch meetings that have included our mayor and city leaders. I also stay connected to those in our district by attending the Federal Way city council meetings on a regular basis and listening to public comment. There is always a wide range of discussion that occurs, and this helps me to know what issues are important to our many residents within the district. You can usually find me at community events including the Community Conversations hosted by the Federal Way Mirror as well as weekly service club meetings where there is a guest speaker representing a community organization presenting on their involvement and impact. I’ve learned that the best way to connect with your community is to be in your community. Just asking someone you meet for the first time to tell you their story can widen your perspective. I try to ask that question a lot. Listening and serving goes a long way in staying connected which is why I’m so passionate about community service. Our rich cultural diversity is what makes the 30th district strong.

What will you do in the Legislature to address homelessness and affordable housing in your district?

Housing affordability is directly tied to our current housing shortage. The law of supply and demand is driving up our housing costs. We need legislation that creates a favorable environment for the building industry to increase housing supply. Over-regulation and policies like the natural gas phase-out plan discourages building. I support Initiative 2066, which protects energy choice and helps stabilize housing prices. It’s frustrating for many voters that they pay legislators a salary to create laws on their behalf, only to have to raise millions for ballot initiatives to undo those same laws. Reducing the tax burden will allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money for housing costs.

Homelessness is a multi-faceted issue, sometimes caused by temporary situations, like job loss or domestic violence, where individuals are very receptive to resources and finding housing. Other times homelessness results from drug addiction or mental health conditions. Homelessness has grown 23% in King County despite spending almost a billion dollars. We need an audit to track where the money is going. If taxpayer funded programs are not delivering impactful results, then I support allocating those resources elsewhere. There is a difference between helping people and enabling people. Taxpayer money is currently being used to enable addictions by way of controversial Housing First and Harm Reduction policies. My approach would focus funding on addiction and mental health treatment.

What do you think are some root causes of crime in our area and how do you intend to address them in the Legislature?

People are feeling the effects of the rampant crime we’ve experienced these last few years. What we’ve seen is a sharp increase in vehicle thefts, smash and grab type burglaries, violent crime, carjackings, murders, and juvenile crime. We are now number one in the nation for retail theft, and we had historic highs these last two years for fatal traffic collisions. We’re also 51st in the nation for law enforcement officers per capita which is a real concern. Drug overdoses have skyrocketed, and homelessness continues to rise. We have to ask ourselves, why is this happening? Recent legislation is what got us here and we need to course correct. It’s an upside-down world where victims are blamed, and criminals are protected. People who are committing crimes must be held accountable for the harm they are inflicting on the community. We can start there. The decriminalization of hard drugs, by way of policy that was put in place after the Blake decision, was a failed experiment. It’s no secret that there is a direct link between substance abuse and crime. Getting people into mandatory treatment for drug abuse is another step we can take in the right direction. It’s not realistic to hope that people will seek treatment on their own, because that isn’t typically what happens. As a volunteer leader for a recovery program for many years, I’ve heard countless testimony from individuals with addictions who said that being held accountable was the turning point towards achieving sobriety.

What are your main qualifications and experience that will help you succeed in this position?

The role of a representative is to be a bridge between the people and their government. A person who is willing to serve and listen to the communities they are elected to represent. I’m ready to be that voice in Olympia for the people in this district. I have endorsements from local elected city leaders and stakeholders who know me and trust that I will work on behalf of what’s best for the people in this district. I currently serve on two city commissions, have career experience in public safety, a formal education in criminal justice, and am deeply involved in community service. I am well equipped to represent you and would be honored to serve and work on your behalf to ensure your interests are represented in Olympia.