The Olympian editorial board endorses 35th Legislative District candidates

The 35th Legislative District changed in the redistricting that followed the 2020 census. It now includes substantially more of South Thurston County, and even a part of Lacey.

35th District Senate: Drew MacEwen

Drew MacEwen, who has served in the state House of Representatives since 2013, hopes voters will promote him to the Senate seat being vacated by Tim Sheldon, who is retiring. MacEwen describes himself as a “reasonable Republican.” He laments the advent of bigger Democratic majorities, which has meant fewer openings for bipartisan collaboration. One result, he says, is the failure to set aside more money from last session’s federally augmented budget to prepare for a possible recession.

MacEwen is supported by the Squaxin Tribe, the Washington Federation of State Employees, and both the Building Trades Council and the Association of Building Contractors.

Julianne Gale, his opponent, is a climate activist from California who has settled in Lilliwaup, which she says “is where I want to confront the climate crisis.” She is energetic, smart, and charismatic. But when asked what her greatest disappointment has been since she moved here, she said it was the sight of clearcuts. That reaction likely makes her an unsuitable representative for a district that is heavily dependent on the forest products industry.

We endorse MacEwen, because of his extensive legislative experience and knowledge of his district, and in hopes that he can help reinvigorate the Republican party’s moderate base, which has a long, respected history in this state.

35th District House Position 1: Dan Griffey

Daniel Griffey, the four-term Republican incumbent, is a lifelong resident of Allyn and a retired firefighter. He is co-chair of a legislative wildfire caucus. He has successfully worked to end the statute of limitations for certain sex offenses, and to clear the backlog of DNA testing for rape kits.

He believes we need a “COVID scale response” to homelessness, including clearing a path for the construction of affordable very small houses, and reversal of building code changes that improve energy efficiency but drive up costs.

He calls for improvements in mental health care and addiction recovery services, and partnered with Beth Doglio to make Narcan, the overdose antidote, available to all. He says we needed police and criminal justice reform, but now need a deeper look with less blame and more respect for public service. He leans towards services that help rebuild lives rather than jailing low-level offenders, and when incarceration is called for, wants it to be more therapeutic and directed at helping people prepare for success.

He says he is tired of ultra-right rhetoric, and seeks a middle way.

Griffey’s challenger James DeHart, a Democrat, moved here from Montana in 2006 because that state barred gay marriage. He has worked for various state agencies and now works as a public records manager for Mason County. He also is an accomplished musician and composer. He wants to advocate for roads, schools, jobs and bridges for the district. He supports sustainable forestry with no clearcuts.

We were charmed by the likable and sincere DeHart, but we endorse Griffey for some of the same reasons we endorse MacEwen: Reasonable Republicans are a threatened species that deserves protection and support. Our democracy works better when every idea is tested by coherent, fact-based debate.

35th District House Position 2: Sandy Kaiser

Sandy Kaiser is a former Senior Foreign Service Officer, executive at the state Department of Natural Resources, and vice president of The Evergreen State College. She has a strong resume of volunteer service, and is a fourth-generation Washingtonian descended from loggers and farmers. She wants to narrow the divide between rural and urban areas in access to human services, health care, school funding, family-wage jobs, and broadband access.

She recognizes that the 35th District is changing as young people who can work remotely move in, along with those who just can’t afford cities any more. She intends to advocate for rural school funding, services that take some burdens off law enforcement, housing help, and broadband access.

Travis Couture is a veteran employed by Lockheed Martin at the Naval Submarine Base at Bangor. His priorities are public safety and education. He is pro-life, and has an A rating by the National Rifle Association. He says the Growth Management Act “decimated rural communities,” and that building a sewer system for the town of Belfair is ruinous to Mason County’s budget. He wants to cut gas taxes, but offers no solution for how cuts would impact the state transportation budget.

We endorse Kaiser, a stunningly well-qualified candidate whose presence in the legislature will raise its collective IQ. She also will bring a deep understanding of rural history, values and needs in these changing times.