Why are you running for Legislative District 30 – State Representative Position 2?

Over many years, I have witnessed our community and state see immense change. Changes are coming faster at us than ever before. They are also coming at enormous impact to our lives and our livelihoods. In the last legislative session, over 375 legislative bills were signed in 60 days. Many of these bills ignore the harsh effects on us. People most affected have been pushed away from the table. The current party in power is out of touch with the people, i.e. the hardworking and now struggling working class. The scolds in the ruling party have assume a moral authority void of humility and compassion. As a sitting FWPS School Board member, bills that are so clearly partisan and dismissive of parents’ awareness steal local control. It is evident when our citizens initiative process must be applied to reverse dubious legislation. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we fight for fairness, safety, security, and economic freedom.

I am seeking the honor of bringing more of our community’s voices to Olympia as the next 30th LD Representative. Our district needs a leader who comprehends its history and potential. I am that person. My life, career and experience in engineering, international business, service commitment, relationship building, and education policy forged me for this role. I am prepared to stand up for you and tackle the critical issues we face. Your support is not just important, it’s essential to our success in making a positive change.

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?

The 30th LD has undergone major changes in demographics over the years. We are Washington state’s most diverse district in ethnicity, culture, religion and economic means. When this diversity is tapped for its positive contributions, we commit to celebrate and remain bound together in our shared humanity. We all aspire to a future of personal agency, liberty and economic freedom. Rather than amplify our differences, we should be united on the values we have in common.

Newcomers have come here from all around the world to escape oppression only to find their aspirations threatened. Of the many, one unifying feature we all share is our unwavering devotion to family. There is no greater evidence of love or testament to personal sacrifice than that of a parent for the child.

There are numerous venues, clubs and charitable/cultural/community events to attend and in which participate, including city council meetings and working with respective government officials and community-based organizations to coordinate and clarify explicit needs and priorities. I have the endorsement of the majority of Federal Way’s non-partisan councilmembers: Linda Kochmar, Paul McDaniel, Jack Dovey and Jack Walsh. I will build further in working with the councils of Algona, Pacific, Des Moines and Auburn. I already have many relationships secured by my current representation as a school board director. I will build further, expanding beyond this school district and work with the governments of Algona, Pacific, Des Moines, Auburn and King County on behalf of our unincorporated precincts.

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

It is key here to establish the difference between houseless and homeless.

While housing starts and availability is indeed a concern, discrete and addressable barriers these can and should be addressed by cutting the red-tape and multi-layer bureaucracies that disincentivize development. Building up rather than out is but one way to grow. Also, sensibly incentivizing the use of available greenspace on larger residential lots may be an option, ala casitas and relieving zoning restrictions. These can be complicated matters that require cooperation and coordination between multiple vested stakeholders. It is important that public policy does not increase the problem. One of the profound side effects of rent controls nets reduced availability as investors convert rentals into condominiums.

Homelessness is rarely a housing scarcity. The foundational issue of our time is the abject failure to intervene in the personal strife that is substance abuse and mental health. With Housing First, we have witnessed the use of tax revenues to purchase hotels and motels at higher than market rates to house indigents who have little or no interest in cleaning up. The cries over the Supreme Court ruling freeing municipalities to addressing the health and safety of community streets does NOT criminalize homelessness, but it does move the stress points on just how a community meets the root causes. These are not explicit housing issues; they are behavioral issues. We need robust crisis intervention, mental-health services, and compassionate housing programs for those who want and will accept help.

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

In the wake of the social upheaval in 2020, our district was ground-zero for progressive-sponsored statewide “Defund the Police” initiatives. While acknowledging the legitimate merits of justice reform, the measures taken in this state were extreme. Legislation was fast-tracked without responsible and knowledgeable hearings. Those who warned of the trouble to come have been shown to be prescient. Property crimes, car theft, and violent episodes have been grotesquely amplified since the adoption of these partisan measures.

The narrative is that we need fewer police and more mental health professionals. This is not working and will not work for the foreseeable future. The partisan bills made it harder for police to pursue, arrest, investigate and prosecute criminals leading to more unchecked criminal activity. Data clearly illustrates this. The Reasonable Police Pursuit Initiative (I-2113) is testament, once again, of the people’s intervention with the majority party’s anti-police agenda.

Additional spending that was intended to be applied to diversion programs cannot be accounted for and the performance of the community-based organizations is opaque and unverifiable. The interventions have little to no effect. Thus, offenders pass through a revolving door and courts are so overloaded that many cases are dismissed. Carjackings by youth have become epidemic. Organized criminals and cartels have apprentices as age limits provide a “get-out-jail free” card for too many. In King County, I fear that with juvenile detention centers being closed, offenders will be be moved into schools where limited resources can assure the health and safety of the students.

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

I am equipped and experienced to apply many skills to the role of state legislator. As a systems engineer, I was trained to apply critical thinking to problem solving. One important tool to developing complex systems is Failure Modes and Effects Analysis. Using this template forces the systems designer to anticipate the multiple ways a system can fail and the downstream effects. Reasoning and discernment could foresee the full effect of decommissioning thousands of household gas-fired appliances and furnaces resulting in pushing those power demands to the electrical grid. There is no near-term solution for this shift in power demands. There are many horrendous unintended environmental effects to list out here. This is illustrative. It is a technique that should be applied to all legislation.

As a business executive, I negotiated multimillion-dollar deals with both large and small domestic and international businesses. Aviation sales is what can be best and succinctly described as a “whole-brainer.” A working knowledge of applied micro and macro-economics, finance, politics, the regulatory process, organizational management, marketing, law, and multi-tiered negotiations. When dealing with such large numbers, emotional resilience is key. One must be able to deal with and process the pressure of overt criticism and interpersonal relationships. Maintaining healthy personal relationships is mandatory. Burned bridges are the scourge to good business and healthy policy.

My skills were forged in an environment that is well-suited to representing the people’s interests in Olympia as the next representative of the 30th LD, position 2.