Two Republican candidates for 40th District state House of Representatives will visit Friday Harbor May 14 and May 21.
Dusty Gulleson is running for position 1 held by retiring legislator Dave Quall, and was endorsed May 4 by state Attorney General Rob McKenna. Tom Pasma of Bow is the 40th District Democrats’ nominee.
You can meet Gulleson May 14, 11:30 a.m., upstairs at the China Pearl Restaurant. Bring your questions and concerns about state government issues. His issues include:
— Growing the jobs base, not state government
— Crafting a sustainable state budget.
— Excellence in education – keep it local.
“Above all, I am a husband and father. I have a vested interest in seeing the future full of opportunities for my family, friends, neighbors and the great people of Washington state,” he said on his campaign Web site, www.votedusty.com. “I am grateful to call Washington state my home together, with my beautiful wife Rachel and our children, Elsa (almost 4) and Jacob (15 months).
“I founded a technology company 11 years ago and have put in many long nights and weathered the storms of two recessions. I know what it is like to stay awake at night wrestling with burdensome taxes, payroll, rising health insurance premiums, and concerned about the wealth fare of clients and employees alike. I understand what government can do to help businesses succeed and grow the jobs base while keeping faith to our obligations.
“I did not anticipate feeling called to run for this position. I have found it easier to donate and volunteer. However, I welcome the opportunity to serve and use my talents in the cause of representing my district and the men and women who pour their lives into their family and businesses every day.
“I am ready to take my work ethic, dogged determination and hope for tomorrow to Olympia toreform a state government that is broken. I know we can prosper together, not in divisiveness and conflict, but in mutual respect and support. Tomorrow is a brighter day.”
John Swapp is running for position 2 held by Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon. Morris, the speaker pro tem of the House, is running for reelection.
You can meet Swapp May 21, 11:30 a.m., upstairs at the China Pearl Restaurant.
“I’ve been seeing indications of very troubled times. I’m seeing more and more camp trailers and motor homes parked next to someone’s house with power cables leading to them. These are lit up at night and it’s clear that someone has lost their home and is now living in the yard of family or friends. My wife counted 20 within a 10 minute drive near Sedro-Woolley,” Swapp wrote on his campaign Web site, www.johnswapp2010.com.
“More people I talk to now are gardening and even raising chickens in their back yards. I saw, in March, a realty sign in Mount Vernon advertising ‘rooms for rent.’ Not houses or apartments, but rooms. These things show me that people are suffering from economic problems that we haven’t seen in this country for generations and that they aren’t trusting government to solve the problems.
“In fact, our unresponsive, Democrat-controlled government has failed us through years of over-taxation, over-spending and over-promising while the economic crisis has deepened and many core businesses in our local economy have faded, failed or moved away. The burden of taxes and regulations in the State of Washington has been gradually stifling the business community that would normally be employing those people living in camp trailers.
“In the world of small business when difficult times come along, we cut costs, sometimes making drastic cuts. Many small businesses have had to reduce staff, curtail new equipment purchases, and most owners have reduced their own salaries.
“While these are very difficult times, we don’t have any problems we can’t solve if we put people into office that have experience solving problems in the world outside of politics … I have hands-on experience in creating jobs in a startup high-tech manufacturing business and maintaining a payroll through 13 years of operation.”
Primary election Aug. 17, general election Nov. 2
The primary election is Aug. 17, the general election is Nov. 2. The top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election.
San Juan County residents will vote on 14 legislative and local positions this year: County assessor, auditor, clerk, prosecutor, sheriff, treasurer; County Council District 2, District 5, and District 6; District Court judge, Superior Court judge; U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District, 40th District state House Position 1, and 40th District state House Position 2.
