The Mirror is offering District 30 state representative candidates an opportunity to speak to readers in their own words before the Aug. 17 primary election. Below, the candidates answer the question: What is your proudest accomplishment in public service?

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KATRINA ASAY

My proudest accomplishments in public service have come as a result of forming partnerships and facilitating working with different groups for a common goal. Two come immediately to mind. The first was working with council, staff and volunteers to right a budget that was drastically in the red when I became mayor. Together we made tough decisions that not only kept us operational, but also secured a sizable rainy day fund. The second proudest accomplishment was being able to spearhead the creation and completion of the Veteran’s Memorial in the City of Milton. This was a project where over $200,000 in financing and in-kind donations were needed. Working with our neighboring cities, tribes, businesses and individuals, the VFW Post 11401 and I overcame the roadblocks, found the resources and completed the project in record time. The memorial, which won national honors, not only serves as a place to hold remembrances on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, but also more importantly, is a place for individuals to come, remember and honor those who have served and the sacrificed for our liberty. It is a place that brings our community together on common ground. The common thread in both of these examples is bringing people together to work through very difficult and complicated issues to accomplish what needs to be done. This is what gives me pride in my public service.

Fast facts: Asay has served as mayor of Milton for the past six years.

Website: www.votekatrinaasay.com

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ED BARNEY

I am proud of the work that has been done during my tenure on the Federal Way School Board, working with Tom Murphy, the district staff and the current school board to create a sound working environment. As a result of that working relationship, we were able to create new learning opportunities for students, garner a five-year contract with the FWEA, our teachers union, but also attract and hire a new superintendent. It is impotant to build bridges and as a result, things can get done. In this case, things that will benefit students, families and the community for years to come.

Fast facts: Last fall, Barney was re-elected to his third term on the Federal Way School Board.

Website: www.fwps.org/info/board/members/memberbarney.html

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JERRY GALLAND

In 1974, my brother was involved in a near fatal automobile accident. In a coma for three weeks, his life hung in a precarious balance while his body struggled to survive. The injuries caused him to receive over 50 units of blood, mostly from strangers. Amazing, since the body only holds about 12 units of blood. Having donated a few pints in school, I vowed to thank those donors by replacing every single drop of blood. It was a pretty aggressive goal for me, one that took several years to complete. Once I reached my goal of 50 units, I was hooked on a good habit. I just kept on giving and joined the National Bone Marrow Registry. Besides whole blood, I found there to be a specific need for platelets. This process takes much longer, but cancer and leukemia patients require higher concentrations of the antigens to fight infections. The proverbial “bubble boy” patient can require several units of platelets each year. In 2009, I celebrated what I thought was my 200th donation. However, recently I was informed by the Puget Sound Blood Center that their calculations were conservative. Indeed, instead of a 230 lifetime total, they calculated well over 340 units of blood products donated. I have given 150 percent of my body weight in blood, equivalent to over 37 gallons. With over 300 units of blood product donated, I am proud to serve my community by “saving a life,” or many! Give a pint! Join me at www.psbc.org.

Fast facts: In 2007, Galland formed a committee to help defeat the annexation effort of unincorporated King County east of I-5.

Website: www.GallandStateRepresentative.com

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CAROL GREGORY

In 2000, I had the opportunity to be one of the co-founders of City Year Seattle/King County. City Year is a national program created in Boston and was the model used by Bill Clinton in the creation of AmeriCorps. City Year brings together 18-24-year-olds from all walks of life to spend a year in community service and personal growth. Corps members are very diverse ethnically, educationally and economically. In this environment, they have the opportunity to build citizenship skills that can be the basis of lifelong civic engagement. Understanding how to empower people to take charge of their lives to create positive change is important when developing public policy.

Fast facts: Gregory, the only Democrat in this race, ran for this position against Skip Priest in the 2008 general election.

Website: http://pt-br.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17387224829

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ANTHONY KALCHIK

My priority as your next state representative is fighting to protect our most vulnerable citizens — our children and our elderly. Safety is always on every parent’s mind and we cannot afford to cut corners when it comes to our children’s safety. In 2007, on the day of our nation’s independence, my family suffered a tragic loss in the brutal murder of my niece Zina Linnik. She was taken from her Tacoma Hilltop front yard in broad daylight, while enjoying holiday festivities, by a previously convicted child sex offender that our state not only released from prison, but also failed to account for and let slip through the cracks. Since her tragic death, I made a promise to the Linnik family that I would fight to ensure that no other family would have to experience what they went through, and would hold our government accountable in its duty to protect its citizens. Together with State Reps. Skip Priest and Mark Miloscia, and Sens. Tracey Eide and Debbie Regala, we went to Gov. Gregoire and demanded action. As a result of our efforts and their leadership in the House and Senate, the governor signed HB 2713 and HB 2786, creating stricter penalties against child sex offenders, as well as increasing the budget for tracking sex offenders. While this bipartisan effort was a step in the right direction, a lot more work needs to be done. As your next state representative, I vow to continue to lead the effort protecting our children and champion legislation protecting our families.

Fast facts: Kalchik, a real estate agent, ran for the state House in 2007 against Mark Miloscia.

Website: www.votekalchik.com