Tony Moore has joined a growing field of Federal Way candidates to represent District 30 in the state House of Representatives.
Moore was appointed to the Federal Way School Board in 2008, and currently serves as board president. He enters a race that has already attracted a handful of candidates (read more below).
“My hope is to represent the 30th District on education issues. Having a business background won’t hurt,” said Moore, a wholesale tire broker for 22 years in Washington. “This is a critical time in the state for education. I’ve seen the Legislature move back from its responsibility.”
As school board president, Moore has supported the recently-enacted accelerated academics and standards based education policies. Both measures have transformed education in Federal Way while generating controversy among parents and students.
“People talk about closing the achievement gap. Federal Way is actually doing it,” Moore said. “We opened up opportunities that were once closed. I think the world is going to come in our direction on these policies.”
Moore, a Republican, narrowly lost to Tracey Eide (D) in the 2010 race for State Senate. In 2011, he ran unopposed in his re-election to the school board. Moore’s campaign kickoff is tentatively scheduled for March 29.
DISTRICT 30 CANDIDATES IN 2012
District 30 state representative position 1 is held by Democrat Mark Miloscia, who is forgoing re-election to the Legislature in order to run for state auditor in 2012. Miloscia was first elected to the state House in 1998.
Federal Way City Councilwoman Linda Kochmar and local businessman Roger Flygare have officially kicked off their campaigns for the vacated position.
Kochmar has served on the Federal Way City Council since 1997, including stints as mayor, deputy mayor and chairwoman of multiple committees. She has twice been elected as chairwoman of the Suburban Cities Public Issues Committee. Kochmar is a risk manager at Lakehaven Utility District, where she has worked 33 years.
Flygare owns a small business that deals with court reporting. He has worked with state lawmakers to pass bills related to the court reporting profession, such as license requirements and protection of job performance. In November, Flygare finished second to Susan Honda in a bid for Federal Way City Council.
Other candidates listed on the Public Disclosure Commission website (www.pdc.wa.gov) include Democrats Rick Hoffman and Thom Macfarlane, both political newcomers.
Hoffman, a Federal Way resident, serves on the board for the Martin Luther King County Labor Council and works as an electrical engineer at Boeing. Education is his top priority, along with housing and jobs. “We need to move in a more positive direction in Olympia,” Hoffman told The Mirror. Macfarlane has not yet been reached for comment.
Another candidate listed for position 1 is Jerry Galland, an independent. Galland ran for the other state representative position in 2010, but lost in the primary. He also ran for South King Fire and Rescue commissioner in 2011 against incumbent James Fossos. Galland will announce a formal campaign kickoff soon.
For position 2, Dominic Barrera is listed as a Democrat running against incumbent Katrina Asay, a Republican and former mayor of Milton. The Mirror is tracking down more information on Barrera.
Primary election
Any race contested by more than two candidates will go to the primary election ballot on Aug. 7, 2012. The top two finishers will move on to the general election in November. Click here to learn more.
