Rasmussen race tightest in 2nd Dist.

By Brad Shannon | The Olympian • Published October 14, 2008

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State Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen is in her biggest fight for re-election in years against Randi Becker, a Republican medical administrator who wants to improve transportation and bring new energy to the rural 2nd Legislative District seat.

2nd district

Senate

Marilyn Rasmussen (incumbent)

• Party: Democratic

• Residence: Eatonville

• Web site: www.marilynrasmussen.com

• Occupation: Farmer, state senator

• Experience: 25-year 4-H leader; National FFA Organization; Eatonville School Board, 1980-87; state House, 1986-92; Senate, four terms since 1992; Ohop Grange, 30-year member; memberships and board service with other organizations

• Education: Studied political science, art and literature at the University of Washington

• Campaign finances: Raised $90,582 and spent $74,137 as of Oct. 11. Top contributions include: $2,200, Roosevelt Fund (caucus); $1,600 each from Justice PAC (trial lawyers), the Legacy Fund, Washington Education Association and Washington Dental PAC; $1,500 each from Nisqually tribe, Washington Restaurant Association, Holland America Line, Qwest Washington PAC and others.

Randi Becker

• Party: Republican

• Residence: Eatonville

• Web site: http://randibecker.com

• Occupation: Retired administrator, medical practice

• Experience: None listed

• Education: None listed

• Campaign finances: Raised $76,374 and spent $62,085.53 as of Oct. 11: Top contributions include: $1,600 each from CALM in Olympia, Bruce McCaw of Bellevue and SEIU 925 PAC; $1,000 each from Gary Akiyama of Vancouver, Howie Meadowcroft of Tacoma and Jack Philbrick of Puyallup; $800 each from Georgia Pacific and Premera Blue Cross.

House Position 1

Jim McCune (incumbent)

• Party: GOP Party

• Residence: Graham

• Web site: www.electjimmccune.com

• Occupation: state representative

• Experience: state representative, 2004 to present; small-business man for 40 years

• Education: High school graduate; took private courses in law and U.S. history

• Campaign finances: Raised $92,060 and spent $26,901 as of Oct. 11. Top contributions include: $1,600 each from Building Owners and Managers Association PAC, Seattle; Broadband Communications Association of Washington; Physicians Insurance; and Washington Affordable Housing Council. $1,500 each from Connie and J. Brent McKinley of Arlington, both developers with Vine Street; Nisqually tribe; and Washington Restaurant Association.

JeanMarie Christenson

• Party: Democratic

• Residence: Rainier

• Web site: www.jeanmarie4rep.com

• Occupation: Psychotherapist, counselor, author, teacher

• Experience: First vice-chairwoman of District 2 Democrats; precinct PCO and candidate for state representative in 2006; has cared for foster children over 20 years; donated services as counselor to youths at risk; created teen center for troubled youths; life coach volunteer at state reformatory; wrote book on state prison system

• Education: Wenatchee High School; Wenatchee Valley College; Central Washington State College; Washington World Healing Center, San Diego

• Campaign finances: Raised $17,309 and spent $15,311 as of Oct. 11. Top contributions include: $2,000 from the state Democratic Party; $1,000, Tacoma Longshoremen; $800 each from Citizens for Better Government in Roy, and Justice PAC; $500, Steve Klein, McKenna; $300, COPE Pierce County Centarl Labor Council.

House Position 2

Tom Campbell (incumbent)

• Party: Republican

• Residence: Spanaway

• Web site: www.tcampbell.com

• Occupation: Chiropractor

• Experience: House member, seven terms in 1993-97 and 1999 to present; chairs House Select Committee on Environmental Health; various roles as vice-chairman or ranking member on other committees

• Education: Associate degree in social sciences, University of Central Florida, 1974; bachelor's degree, political science and administration, Seattle University, 1977; doctor of chiropractic, Life Chiropractice College, 1983

•Campaign finances: Raised $124,475 and spent $97,720. Top contributions include: $1,600 each from Central Washington Lawyers for Working Families in Yakima, Juctice PAC in Tacoma, Mark Shelley of Edmonds, Washington Beverage Association, Washington Hospital PAC and Western Washington Trial Laywers; $1,500 each from Campaign for Tribal Self-Reliance in Olympia, Nisqually tribe, Naturopaths of Washington PAC, Washington Restaurant Association and others

Michael Powell

• Party: Democratic

• Residence: Puyallup

• Web site: www.michaelcpowell.net

• Occupation: Student

• Experience: Signals intelligence analyst, Army, June 2004-March 2006; human intelligence collector, April 2006-November 2007; conducted intelligence operations in cooperation with British military and other agencies; U.S. military liaison to U.S. and South Korean agencies

• Education: Professional-level Korean language qualification, Defense Language Institute, 2004; associate degree, intelligence operations, Cochise College, 2007; completing bachelor's degree, Asian studies, University of Washington

•Campaign finances: Raised $14,638 and spent $5,982 as of Oct. 11. Top contributions include: $2,000, state Democratic Party; $625, own funds; $200 each from Ralph Gorin of Redmond, Inga Holmquist of Orting and Roger Ratcliff of Colorado

Becker, 60, says she'll be more of an advocate than the four-term Democratic incumbent. She says she could do more to bring tax dollars to the conservative district, which is facing development pressures.

The 2nd District ranges from Rainier and Yelm in south Thurston County to include Fort Lewis and the Pierce County towns of Orting, Wilkeson and Carbonado.

"I think because I haven't been in the political arena before, I have no barriers and no boundaries. I'm going to kind of push for things and be a bulldog for the community to get things done," Becker told The Olympian's editorial board. "I think it takes going across the boundary, party lines."

Rasmussen, 69, is a farmer and veteran of the Legislature since she started in the House in 1992. And she defends her record, saying she has made a difference pushing the state toward an agriculture-based biofuels industry, as well to pass bills dealing with autism and the developmentally disabled.

She defended against Becker's contention that transportation projects are lagging in the district, including the highway across part of McChord Air Force Base.

"We've already started the first phase … as we speak," Rasmussen told the newspaper.

The Senate match-up is the closest of three races in the 2nd District — including challenges by Democrat JeanMarie Christenson of Rainier against GOP Party Rep. Jim McCune of Graham and newcomer Democrat Michael Powell of Puyallup against maverick Republican Rep. Tom Campbell of Roy.

Rasmussen collected barely half of the votes in the August primary against two GOP foes, led by Becker. Rasmussen's campaign war chest of $90,582 in early October was slightly larger than the $76,374 for Becker.

By contrast, Campbell had almost 62 percent of the vote against two Democrats, including Powell, a student. Campbell has raised more than $124,475, to $14,638 for Powell.

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