Just 4 primary races will knock out any candidates

Two Republicans and two Democrats are vying in Legislative District 10, Position 2, for your votes in the Primary Election, with the top two going to the November general election, no matter which party they represent.

That is the only race in the primary that Marysville and Arlington voters have four candidates from which to choose.

District 10, Pos. 2

Dave Hayes-R is the incumbent, elected first in 2012. His statement in the Voters’ Pamphlet in part says: “Dave Hayes is making a difference – for education, public safety, transportation improvements and job creation. He shepherded a bipartisan effort creating thousands of jobs. He stopped bipartisan gridlock to pass vital public safety legislation.”

The other GOP hopeful, Brien Lillquest, is the only other candidate to have been elected – to the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation. His statement says: “We need to identify people in government and be able to hold them accountable for areas under their responsibility… Taxpayers deserve to get fair values for their taxes, rather than pay for those who have lost their concept of public service and are just around to collect a paycheck.”

Nick Petrish-D did run for Skagit County commissioner and was an Obama national delegate. His statement says: “Nick will champion putting Washingtonians back to work by facilitating the creation of well-paying and necessary jobs repairing infrastructure, expanding public transportation to rural areas, building high speed/light rail, installing fiber optic/smart grid.”

The other Democrat, David Sponheim, says he has no experience in politics but he wants honesty in government and for it to be fiscally responsible. He is a radio news director who cares about the homeless; he wants to solve social issues with creative solutions, not more taxes. His statement says: “I am a strong supporter of legalization and will help integrate the Recreational Use Law into practice in Washington. Our state budget crisis will be greatly helped by the projected marijuana tax revenue of $400 million a year.”

Three other races have three candidates each: Congressional District 2; county executive and PUD 1. The rest have two or less so they automatically advance to the general election.

Congress District 2

Rick Larsen, a Democrat, is the incumbent. He says, “Growing up in Arlington I learned the values of community, service and commitment. These same values guide my work today. That’s why I’m fighting to raise the national minimum wage, combat income inequality, create jobs in our community, and fix our broken immigration system.”

B.J. Guillot, the Republican, says, “Too many of our jobs from Snohomish County have been lost or moved out of state… I will fight hard to bring jobs and businesses into our communities, starting by working together to reduce the burden of government regulations to make our district more desireable.”

Mike Lapointe, an Independent, says, “Government policy should benefit the majority, not just a few. Our taxes should pay the country’s bills while promoting a healty middle class and discouraging obscene wealth.”

County Executive

John Lovick-D, is the incumbent. He says, “As your executive I have focused my efforts on building a bright future for this country; investing in safe schools for our children, a reliable transportation infrastructure that will support growth and creating the best economic environment to help produce jobs.”

Longtime Sultan councilwoman and mayor Carolyn Eslick-R, says she will work with the “Prosecutor’s office to improve public safety by holding criminals accountable for the crimes they commit; council and sheriff’s office to bring our budget under control and to promote responsible spending; and business leaders to promote economic development and attract businesses.”

James Robert Deal-D, says, “My goals are to: Enact a minimum-wage law modeled after Seattle’s, build a fiber optic internet as Mount Vernon has done, fight coal trains, rebrand Snohomish County as “The Organic County,” stop PUD purchases of electricity from Hanford, end the spraying of Roundup on roads, and lower the voting age in county elections to 16.”

PUD 1

A non-partisan race, Dave Aldrich has been on the board since 2003, Matt Hartman, a Granite Falls council member, wants to push for more renewable energy sources; and Bruce King says that since 98 percent of the PUD’s power is sustainable it needs to quit spending hundreds of millions of dollars on speculative projects.

For more information on all of the candidates, see your Voters’ Pamphlet.

Primary election

Top two advance to general election in November, no matter what the party.

Races in Marysville, Arlington areas.

Congressional District 2: Rick Larsen-D; B.J. Buillot-R; and Mike Lapointe-I.

Legislative District 10, Position 1: Norma Smith-R; Michael Scott -L.

Position 2:Dave Hayes-R; Brien Lillquist-R; Nick Petrish-D, David Sponheim-D.

District 38 senator: John McCoy -D, Craig French-R.

State rep. position 1: June Robinson-D, Jesse Anderson-R

Position 2: Elijah Olson-L, Mike Sells-D

District 39: Dan Kristiansen-R

State rep. position 2: Charles Jensen-D, Elizabeth Scott-R.