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SOUTH BEND - Incumbent Republican State Representative Jim Walsh of Aberdeen is running for reelection for position 1 in Legislative District 19 versus Democrat Marianna Everson of Montesano.
The Herald asked both candidates one question: The following question is completely open-ended on your part. You can provide any information (voting record, your political philosophy, health care, the economy, education, coronavirus pandemic impact, the budget, taxes, the environment, your opponent's record, any topic you choose, etc.). Please tell our readers why they should cast their vote for you instead of your opponent? Walsh did not respond until mid-afternoon Monday, which was not in time for Wednesday's newspaper. The Herald also asked the candidates for some background information, both personal and professional.
Walsh: "I live in Aberdeen, in an old Victorian house that my wife and I have been restoring gradually since we bought it 20 years ago. We've raised five children - three girls and two boys. The three oldest are launched, the two youngest still live at home. All five have graduated or will graduate from Aberdeen High School. My wife is a licensed architect.
"My 'day job' aside from being a representative in Olympia, is that I own and operate Silver Lake Publishing (www.silverlakepub.com), a company that publishes technical manuals for the insurance, risk management, cyber-risk management, and premises security industries. We also publish some consumer-focused books on the same or related topics. We have also published some books that look at public policy issues from a 'small-l' libertarian perspective, including a great book called, The Seven Principles of Good Government by former New Mexico Gov (and one-time presidential candidate) Gary Johnson.
"I first got directly involved in politics in around 2005, when a group of businesspeople in Grays Harbor tried to get an EB-5/ 'immigrant investor' development zone set up in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. It would have been a great economic development tool for the people of this area, but it never received approval because it 'lacked local political support.' Outrageous!
"So, I joined the Grays Harbor County Republican Party, first as a volunteer, then as the state committeeman to the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP), then as Chair. Along the way, I was recruited by the Washington Republican Liberty Caucus, which represents 'small-l' libertarians within the Republican Party, to run for Chair of the WSRP. I lost a close race to Susan Hutchison, but was elected Vice-Chair of the WSRP and served in that capacity for several years.
"In 2015, it became apparent that a seat in the state legislature representing LD19 was coming open. After trying to recruit someone else to run, and being told by most of the potential recruits that I should do it, I did it. I won a five-way primary in the summer of 2016 and a closely-fought general election that November. I was the first Republican elected to the legislature from Legislative District 19 in decades. I was re-elected in 2018, although that year was considered a 'wave' election cycle for the other side of the aisle. And I won this summer's primary with a strong majority of the vote.
"My philosophy of government is based on a thorough reading of, and belief in, the US and Washington State Constitutions. I am especially proud of the Washington State Constitution, which is even stronger and more clearly-written in some sections than its federal counterpart. From these readings, I believe that the most effective government is limited in its powers and scope of activity. And that, as the Washington State Constitution states in Article 1, Section 1, that governments are designed to protect individual rights. If we do a good job of protecting those rights, strong communities grow - built upon strong individuals and strong families.
"Even though the Washington State Legislature is, technically, a part-time job, defending a constitutional approach to government and public policy in Olympia is a full-time job. The long-established political powers in this state take a different approach. And they don't like to be challenged. But I believe firmly that the people of Legislative District 19 have sent me to Olympia to do just that - to challenge the Establishment. I believe this because that's what my constituents tell me, every day.
"I could spend thousands of words drilling into the details of how the Olympia Establishment has worked against the people of this part of Washington:
"How the Washington Department of Ecology has been waging a cold war against oyster farmers, while the Washington Department of Agriculture has stood by idly.
"How the Washington Department of Natural Resources has lied to Pacific County about restarting an alder mill in Raymond, and then abandoned the project.
"How the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has rigged K-12 school budgeting models against our smaller, rural school districts.
"How the governor and Washington Attorney General have singled out individuals and start-up industrial projects for abuse.
"All of this has happened because a steady stream of would-be political radicals have poisoned this state's public policy against the cultural and economic traditions of Southwest Washington. In Olympia, I fight against these misuses of our state's governmental agencies. And for the people and families of Legislative District 19.
"I will continue to wage this fight, as long as the people of this area send me back to Olympia."
