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Vote 2020: Candidate Statements

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We asked Auburn Legislative District candidates to provide a statement as to why Auburn voters, specifically, should vote for them.  Candidates were asked to provide their statements by July 26th.  Below are the responses we received. The Auburn Examiner has not fact-checked, edited, or altered candidates’ statements in any manner.

30th Legislative District Representative Candidates:

Cheryl Hurst, Position No. 1: Cheryl Hurst for State Representative 1st time Running for Political Office. I am running for office to support the needs of the entire 30th District.  We need to work together to help our Communities through these unprecedented times… #Wearebettertogether #CherylHurstavoteforkindness”

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Janis Clark, Position No. 1: No statement Provided

Martin A. Moore, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Jamila Taylor, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Jack Walsh, Position No. 2: No statement Provided

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Chris Dowler, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

Mark Greene, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

Jesse Johnson, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

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31st Legislative District Representative Candidates:

Zach Stover, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Katie Young, Position No. 1: ” I’m running for State Representative because I believe in investing in our communities.  COVID-19 has placed a magnifying glass on the challenges faced by localities across this country, Auburn included.  Our schools face balancing the health and safety of our students, teachers, and school staff with the challenges of remote learning for both students and families.   People have lost their jobs and our economy still groans under the weight of the virus which puts more jobs at risk – with these job losses comes the loss of health insurance.  Workers are facing varying degrees of safety while at work while corporations find ways to skirt regulations and policies, and our regressive tax system means that our working people are straining under a disproportionate tax burden.  These are problems that daily face our working people and families while rarely touching the wealthiest among us.  I’m running for State Representative to fix that.  I will fight to fund our schools to ensure that we have the programs that don’t just meet a minimum standard but actually set up students for success.  I will fight to bring single-payer healthcare to the people of Washington because healthcare is a human right, not a privilege for the well-employed.  I believe that workers create wealth and will fight to ensure that they are protected on the job and fairly compensated.  And I will fight to fix our regressive tax code and bring relief to our low and middle-income earners.  Together we can fight to bring back the middle-class and invest in the people of Auburn and the 31st District.

Drew Stokesbary, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Thomas Clark, Position No. 2: Introduction and background in the district/ professionally.

I would like people to see me as a person who genuinely cares about others, who wants to see others have opportunities to fulfill their potential, to enjoy the feeling of belonging, of contributing, of being valued and loved. I settled in Washington after joining the Navy, 2 days after my 19th birthday from my childhood home in Framingham, Massachusetts a suburb on the outskirts of Boston. I grew up in a middle class setting, with a fairly diverse population, race, gender, religious beliefs, and economic strata.

The area is rich in American history, being a few minutes from Lexington and Concord, the cradle of the American Revolution. Patriotic roots run deep in my family, my father and uncles were WWII veterans who served in the European theater. My mother, a war bride from England still lives independently in my childhood home and will turn 100 in August. She’s in great health, both body and spirit. I thoroughly enjoy sharing long, thoughtful conversations with her. Her perspective and experiences guide me as do the conversations with my 11-year-old granddaughter, whom my wife, her daughters, and I raise as our own after the sudden passing of my daughter 10 years ago.

I have lived in Lake Tapps since 2005, and prior to that Auburn and Kent. I am running for elected office for the first time because I want to do whatever I can, so that others can have the same opportunities this country provided me, to have the best lives possible.

What sets me apart from my opponents?

We face so many challenges today, but in truth every generation has challenges. The question, as I see it, “What are we going to do about it?”

When I first hired on with Boeing in 1985 as an analyst, the wages were adequate, but not enough where I could simply buy a home. I did not come from means but both my parents were very intelligent and hardworking. My father was a second-generation Dartmouth graduate but chose a career as an artist, and my mother a voracious reader.  I developed a strong work ethic at a very young age. As elementary school age children my friends and I would form teams to shovel the snow-filled driveways for whatever fee we could negotiate; in the Summer it was lawn and garden care. I have essentially worked my entire life. After over 33 years in various engineering functions, I earned my way into the Boeing Experimental Flight Test group and have had the privilege of collaborating with people of all types and cultures to accomplish common objectives, overcoming all the inherent unique differences, from race to language to culture. As a Test Engineer, specifically a “System Test Engineer”, by definition I have learned to understand exactly “how” systems actually work and when they don’t work the way they were intended, I learned the “why”. After learning “why”, you learn “where” and “when”. Which brings us back to the original question, “What are you going to do about it?” The answer always starts the same way, gather a team. I can do that anywhere I go, with anyone who needs to be on the team.”

Eric Robertson, Position No. 2: “I am a fourth-generation resident and raised my five children here.  My leadership experience has prepared me to help guide our state through these difficult times and be an effective advocate for you on day one, fighting for our values. I will be your champion in Olympia, working to lower taxes, budget responsibly, and defend your rights.

I’ve dedicated my life to making our community better; serving in law enforcement, at our fire department and in community non-profits. I have a history of working with others to find solutions to complex issues, which is why I’ve been endorsed by Republicans and Democrats. It would be an honor to be trusted with your vote.”

Jerimy Kirschner, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

47th Legislative District:

Debra Entnman, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Kyle Lyebyedyev, Position No. 1: No Statement Provided

Ted Cooke, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

Pat Sullivan, Position No. 2: “I am running for State Representative because I have a sincere commitment to making government more efficient, effective and accountable. As your State Representative, I have partnered with the City of Auburn on many economic development opportunities, road and infrastructure needs and important community projects. I am looking forward to continued partnership with the City of Auburn to drive economic opportunity and community prosperity for all Auburn residents. While we are going through tough times right now, we will come out of this even stronger by working together.”

Peter Thompson Jr., Position No. 2: No Statement Provided

Joseph Cimaomo, Jr, Position No. 2: No Statement Provided


vote 2019, your vote your voiceBack to Vote 2020 Home

The Auburn Examiner does not endorse any candidates, parties, or ballot initiatives.
We endorse voting, plain and simple.

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