The general election Nov. 4 will decide the race for state representative (Position 2) in the 47th District between incumbent Pat Sullivan, who has held the office since 2004, and Republican challenger Tim Miller.
The district includes Covington, Black Diamond and parts of Auburn, Kent and Renton.
In the primary election in August, Sullivan received 55 percent (12,323) of the votes to Miller’s 44.8 percent (10,028). The has approximately 68,000 registered voters.
To help inform voters about the candidates, Miller and Simpson responded to a questionnaire from the Reporter about their campaigns and issues.
Reporter: In terms of your background and what you would do in office, what are the major differences between you and your opponent?
Miller: I am a conservative Republican that believes in less government, less taxes and personal responsibility. My opponent is a Democrat whose party has approved of the current administration’s outspending even our steadily increasing state revenues to the point we are now facing a $3.2 billion deficit. That’s a new $500 burden for every man, woman and child in Washington. I’m a small-businessman who knows what it is like to sign the front side of a paycheck. I see the taxes and hurdles government puts in the way of the economic engine of our state – small businesses. My opponent has been a politician or employee of politicians for his entire career. He gets paid by the government – and has no other stated job other than legislator – and approved new taxes and spending of your money. I believe in less taxes and regulations, which will increase revenues to the state. My opponent approves more taxes, which strangle our economic engine and will reduce state revenues. I believe people should take personal responsibility to solve problems together, while my opponent has voted for the government to spend public money to benefit specific, small areas.
Sullivan: I have extensive experience working on a wide variety of issues at the local government level as well as the state level.
My efforts to work on solving problems in a bi-partisan fashion helped me earn a rating of “outstanding” from the non-partisan Municipal League, the highest rating of any candidate in our district. In my four years of service in the House of Representatives, I have worked hard to gain the trust and respect of my colleagues. More importantly, I have listened to your concerns and the issues you care most about and fought to address those issues in the Legislature. It has been a great experience to go door to door throughout the district, talking with district residents, and it has helped me to be a better legislator. I have also been very active in our community. I served as the first mayor of Covington. I have been a PTA president. I coached soccer and t-ball. And I have volunteered for a number of community service and non-profit organizations.
Reporter: During this campaign, what is the single biggest issue voters have wanted to discuss with you?
Miller: Transportation. My background as a traffic engineering consultant gives me a unique perspective on how to deal with our overloaded transportation system. I will work to make congestion relief one of the primary goals of our state Department of Transportation, right alongside safety and maintenance. I will champion spending of state funds on choke points and see that funding is in proportion to the problem area, not diverted to projects that won’t solve the problem areas. I will encourage transit modes that reach into neighborhoods so that our district can benefit from the mass-transit infrastructure investment that has already been made. I will not propose that people must be forced out of their cars, as the current plan is, but that people will have choices and freedom to travel as they wish. I will work to restrict tolls to projects only where capacity has been added or a bridge replaced, and then limit tolls to start when the project is opened – no pre-tolls – and then ended when the project is paid off – no permanent tolls. I oppose areawide tolling where big government would track your vehicle and charge you for every mile traveled. Remember, less government, less taxes and personal responsibility.
Sullivan: The issue that I hear the most about is our weakening economy. People are concerned about their jobs. They are concerned about the stock market and their investments. They are worried about the cost of gasoline, healthcare, food, and other necessities. Our federal government must step up to the challenge and address the issues that have led to our current situation at the national level. At the state level, we need to make every effort to make our government more efficient and effective and rebuild the public’s confidence.
Reporter: What can be done at the state and district levels to improve people’s confidence in their economic futures?
Miller: Cut government waste and prioritize spending at the state level. Reduce taxes and impediments to business so that revenues to the state increase. Fund basic education first. Education is our paramount duty according to the state constitution. I will work to make sure it isn’t relegated to secondary status when funding is concerned.
Explore public-private partnerships for delivery of public services. There are many things that private enterprise can do better, cheaper and faster than government. Hold elected officials accountable for overspending of public funds. If they don’t control their spending, just like people must balance their personal finances, then turn them out. Demand transparency and openness so that the public isn’t in the dark when it comes to negotiated labor agreements, tribal gaming agreements, etc. There must not be even any appearance of impropriety when it comes to items that involve the public trust.
Sullivan: At all levels of government, we need to ensure that services are provided efficiently and effectively. We need to make the tough decisions that voters expect and eliminate programs that aren’t working well. And we need to improve our business climate.
At the state level, we need to make wise investments in programs that will attract new businesses and industries to our state and encourage existing companies to expand. We need to offer tax incentives that will lead to the creation of new family-wage jobs in our state. In addition, we need to address the coming budget shortfall by setting priorities, funding those things most critical to our society, making the tough decisions to cut programs that don’t fit within those priorities, and not raise taxes.
At the district level, we need to partner with the state to help build the infrastructure necessary for a vital economy. We need better road systems, better surface-water management systems, and we need to support the regional economic development organizations like our Enterprise Seattle which provides direct assistance to small businesses in our community.
Reporter: On a similar note, but more specific to businesses, how do you plan to help cultivate economic development in your district?
Miller: I will work to lessen government taxation and regulation of small businesses so that as they prosper and provide jobs and benefits to employees, they actually will produce more revenue to the state. This will help balance the budget and help us meet our financial obligations. I will not, as my opponent has done, take $100 million of your money to benefit a few specific communities to subsidize businesses which will hopefully create family-wage jobs. By the way, my opponent managed to get his hometown’s portion of that program to be in the part of the program that did not have to show it would provide family-wage jobs creation. This is simply pork barrel spending and is a good example of what must be stopped. I am all for businesses succeeding, because they are truly the economic engine of our state. But I’m for businesses paying their own way, not relying on your taxes. Public funds must be used for things that benefit a large segment of our population, not an exclusive few. If communities want to encourage businesses to develop in their area, they can offer incentives such as tax increment financing or other methods that don’t depend on dipping into your pocket.
Sullivan: I have a strong record of working with the business community to help expand existing businesses and attract new ones to our community, region and state. I currently serve as a member of the House Community, Trade and Economic Development Committee, and I also chaired our local economic development council. I believe the state needs to partner with local governments and the business community to meet local economic development needs. I worked on a number of successful projects that have led to economic development opportunities for our cities and the residents they serve. The opening of Costco in Covington this month is just one example of that successful cooperative effort. The state must also continue to work on improving our business climate, by addressing critical infrastructure needs, and creating a positive atmosphere for business to thrive.
Reporter: If you aren’t elected, will you continue to play a role in public issues in some other way?
Miller: My entire career has been spent working on projects and issues that affect and help people. I’ve had the privilege of working with the public to search out solutions to problems that affect them, whether it is solving traffic speeding problems in their neighborhood, testifying before hearing examiners, courts, city councils or the Legislature. I will continue helping people, but I can be much more effective for them as their representative that will exercise fiscal restraint with transparency and openness. I look forward to representing my neighbors in the 47th District.
Sullivan: I’ve been involved in public service in south King County for many years. I’ve served in elected office, in service organizations, on non-profit boards, and I’ve volunteered in our schools, in my church and as a youth sports coach. One of the things that I enjoy the most about our area is the opportunity to work with so many great people. Whether I’m elected or not, I will continue to remain active in our community.
