The Olympian’s endorsements in the 22nd Legislative District

State Rep. Beth Doglio is leaving the state House of Representatives to run for the U. S. House of Representatives. That leaves an open seat, and a contest for it between Democrat Jessica Bateman, an Olympia City Council member and Mayor pro-tem, and Republican Dusty Pierpoint, the retired police chief of Lacey.

Bateman worked for over three years as a legislative assistant and served on the Olympia Planning Commission before being elected to the City Council. She also has worked for United Way of Thurston County, and is currently a policy analyst for Community Health Centers of Washington.

Pierpoint was a longtime police officer and a well-respected police chief in Lacey from 2005 to 2018. Since his retirement, he has become interested in the regulatory burdens borne by his wife’s small business, and his adult daughter’s alarm over a new state law requiring sex education at all levels of the state’s K-12 public schools. (That measure appears on this fall’s ballots as Referendum 90. A yes vote upholds the new law; a no vote repeals it.)

Pierpoint opposes any new taxes in spite of a projected $4 billion hole in the state budget caused by the pandemic. He has not researched the state budget to determine which programs he believes should be cut, but cites education and transportation as his priorities for preserving funding.

Bateman would like to see statewide tax reform to make the state’s tax structure less regressive.

Pierpoint is reluctant to talk about climate change, and agreed only after repeated clarifying questions that it is caused by humans.

Bateman’s agenda to reduce climate change includes a clean fuel standard, incentives and subsidies for energy efficiency improvements for houses and other buildings, and changes in land use that support more walkable communities.

She is an effective advocate for affordable housing. She notes the state has fallen nearly 250,000 housing units short of what’s needed to keep up with population growth. The shortage has driven up prices and rents, she says, leaving more people burdened by unaffordable housing costs and others without homes entirely.

Pierpoint is concerned about the growth in the homeless population, and is interested in pursuing a program similar to one in Marysville, where homeless lawbreakers are given an ultimatum: Accept help, or go to jail. He believes that is a way to help those with substance abuse problems get off the streets and better their lives.

Bateman opposes budget cuts that would affect services the state provides to elders, people with disabilities and those with low incomes, which she says would disproportionately harm people of color and deepen systemic racism.

The Olympian endorses Bateman. Her policy priorities reflect the values of the majority of residents in this progressive legislative district. And her public service and her career history make her well-prepared to be an effective legislator.

In the 22nd district’s other two races, popular Democratic incumbents Sen. Sam Hunt and Rep. Laurie Dolan face Republican opponents with no political experience. Neither has taken the time to bone up on the state budget, so they are unprepared for the difficult legislative session that begins in January.

Their conservative views are a stark contrast to those of the majority of district voters.

J. D. Ingram, who is running against Dolan, does not think the state should do anything to address climate change. He believes that current health insurance programs are sufficient, and that there is no problem with access to health care because people can always get treated in hospital emergency rooms. He wants liberty, a smaller government that protects personal rights, and fewer laws and regulations.

Garry Holland, who is running against Hunt, opposes same-sex marriage and anti-discrimination laws. He believes the state has “plenty of revenue.” He thinks state and federal funding should be withheld from sanctuary cities. He wants teachers to be allowed to carry guns in school. He opposes legal marijuana, legal abortion and sex education.

Sen. Sam Hunt served as a state representative for 16 years and has been a Senator for four years. He serves on the Ways and Means and Education committees, and chairs the State Government, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee. He has a deep understanding of the budget, the problems with our state’s regressive tax system, and the budget-writing agony that lies ahead.

Rep. Laurie Dolan had a 30-year career in public education, served as Gov. Chris Gregoire’s policy director, and has been in the House for the past four years. She, too, understands the challenges our state faces, and is prepared to meet them head on.

We support Bateman, Dolan and Hunt, and we thank them for their willingness to serve in what will certainly be a tough new term.

The Olympian’s editorial board of two — editor Dusti Demarest and editorial writer Jill Severn — expanded to include Lacey City Council member Malcolm Miller for the 2020 election endorsement process.

This story was originally published October 16, 2020 at 5:45 AM.