Political party: Republican

Birth date: July 6, 1960 (age: 56)

Length of time living in Federal Way: 27 years

Profession, or profession before state lawmaker: Executive Director, Advancing Leadership; Interim CEO Federal Way Chamber of Commerce

If elected, which committees would you like to work on? I currently serve on Transportation, Community Development/Housing/Tribal Affairs, and Rules.

Transportation is critical to our district and region, and I believe we have opportunities regarding community and workforce development to spur our economic vitality.

One of the reasons I decided to run for elected office is to be a strong voice for Federal Way and the South Puget Sound region regarding fixing our outdated education funding system. I would like to play a larger role in education, business and technology.

Are there areas of the budget that should see cuts? I believe it’s critically important for government to operate efficiently and with relevance for today. I would like to see incentives for state employees to incorporate the most optimal measures to save their department and overall state money. Too often, state employees operate under an “if we don’t spend it, we lose it” philosophy with very little accountability. I would like to see them become stewards of tax dollars and be rewarded for it.

My main objective is to review and make decisions in a fiscally responsible way based on state priorities.

Are there areas of the budget that should see increased funding? The reason I decided to run for office is to see the K-12 education system updated and fixed. We’ve increased education funding by $4.5 billion since the 2013 biennium, and once the Education Funding Task Force provides teacher compensation costs we’ll know the final numbers for operating an optimal school funding system.

My major concern for Federal Way and the South Puget Sound region is relying too much on the 28 percent local levy to pay for basic education, including teacher compensation. We don’t have the business base to share in these costs, resulting in too much burden on our local taxpayer. We also have to supplement teacher salaries to stay competitive, and that pulls resources out of the classroom for teachers and, ultimately, our kids.

We know the behavioral health system has been severely overlooked for a lot of years, impacting mental health services and substance abuse, and I believe it also impacts homelessness. I am impressed with examples like CHI and Multi-Care, who are jointly creating a multiple-bed facility to address these concerns and ease congestion in the emergency rooms. I appreciate examples of stakeholders who are professional and proficient in their fields and who have the best solutions. I support and will invest in these kinds of proven measures.

For what types of issues, programs, departments, or budget items do you support increased taxation? I come from operating a small business and being very careful about prioritizing goals and spending based on a budget. Raising taxes comes last when I look at how to efficiently operate a system, especially when our economic forecast is so strong. I believe we need to ensure that our agencies and expenses are relevant for today and that we provide incentives for employees to operate efficiently.

That being said, I do know that we must invest in a comprehensive education system, ensure the most vulnerable are taken care of, and make sure our communities are safe.

When it comes to easing local and statewide traffic burdens, what types of solutions would you support? I supported from the sidelines the 2015 transportation package for connecting Washington because it’s so critical for the South Puget Sound region (while I was the Interim Chamber CEO I was involved with the Coalition of Chambers in South King and North Pierce County, and we polled our members in multiple cities and found alleviating traffic congestion was at the top of their issues list). What I also liked about the 2015 package was how the transportation projects were prioritized by congestion relief – we have three that directly impact us in the 30th District.

We still have more work to do around tolling across the state, and of course we need to get ahead of the electric and driver-less vehicles that are likely the future of transportation in this state.

Generally speaking, would you rather see traffic issues dealt with via mass transit or via more (or expanded) freeways? Both are important and relevant for our commuter district. We have a lot of people who rely on public transportation every day and others who need to drive for flexibility. We need to make sure new infrastructure is safe and relieves congestion. I would like to see more jobs moved to the South Puget Sound region to alleviate so many commuters driving to Seattle. We have room to grow and that will be a good thing for our district.

What role would you like to see the state play in combating homelessness? That is becoming such a burgeoning problem. I believe we need to address the root of the problem and ensure we provide help before people become homeless. I’m a huge supporter of early learning and smaller classrooms to help kids with their education and identify and address any issues to help with their success. I’m a big fan of workforce development, both in high school and as an option for people to re-tool skills, especially veterans.

I also believe behavioral health needs support so those most vulnerable receive the help they need prior to becoming homeless. We have increased funding for mental health and substance abuse programs by over 40 percent in the last four years, but there is more work to be done. I prefer public/private options, such as the Multi-Care and CHI project that will jointly build a multiple-bed facility to address mental health and substance abuse issues with skilled practitioners. This facility will help alleviate the burden on the hospital emergency rooms, where staff do not have proper training. Our state needs to continue to invest in the infrastructure, programs and services to meet the needs of those with mental illness and help ensure they have a safe place to live.

What role would you like to see the state play in reducing community violence? Public safety is a big concern of mine and our district. We need to make sure the public safety laws are relevant and current for today to ensure that our police are able to keep the streets safe. Oftentimes, one or two criminals can wreak havoc on a community, and we need to make sure they are addressed quickly. Secondly, as mentioned above, we need to ensure early childhood education and smaller classroom sizes for K-3 have the support and educated staff they need to help young children pre-empt potential barriers for adult success. I worked with a former gang member who helped kids get out of that situation; he said, for example, that if kids have a grasp of mathematics by third grade they have a greater chance of breaking the cycle and avoiding gangs.

I like to support positive organizations like Communities in Schools. CIS provides mentorships for kids who otherwise don’t have a great support system or need extra help, leveraging community volunteers and alleviating additional work for the classroom teacher so the No. 1 priority for the teacher is to instruct.

What role would you like to see the state play in attracting quality jobs to District 30? I believe investing in a strong workforce development program in our district that addresses relevant skills for jobs that are plentiful, such as those in construction, electrical work, plumbing, and other careers that need a specific skill set. Partnering with our school district’s career and technical programs is another strong option, so kids are ready to work upon high school graduation.

I also want to make sure taxes and regulations are relevant and not too burdensome for employers who provide jobs. Many of our neighbors are currently commuting into Seattle, Bellevue and Tacoma for work. We need to create a business environment that will bring family-wage jobs here. That has an impact on every other issue we currently face, whether it’s congestion on our highways or funding for our schools.

What should the statewide minimum wage be? It will be interesting to see what the voters decide on the minimum wage. I supported a phased-in minimum wage increase to $12 per hour in the Legislature. My biggest concern is the effect a huge spike in the minimum wage may have on our local businesses and their ability to maintain jobs. My focus has been on creating family-wage jobs, and I believe an investment in workforce development will be a much better tool to lift folks out of poverty and into steady employment. Ultimately, the voters will decide what to do on the minimum wage issue in November, and I will respect their will.