I have a new vision for the future of Washington State. The vision is underpinned by three anchors. Jobs, Education and Government Reform.
My vision for Job Creation: We must get people back to work! Most of us know someone who is out of work, has had their hours reduced or who are barely making it. Unemployment in the state and in the 26th district has been too high for too long. While the recession officially ended in June, 2009, many in this district remain part of the unemployed. In Kitsap County the unemployment rate remains at 7.6%. Washington is one of the ten most expensive states in the entire country in which to run a company and have employees. I will work hard to:
· Reduce the unemployment Rate in the 26th District, Kitsap County and throughout Washington state.
· Make is easier for small business owners to continue to run their businesses and create an environment that will attract new employers and small business to Washington State.
· Provide relief to small businesses who are struggling to stay afloat through improving the regulatory environment. Barriers to hiring new employees include treacherous regulations and a confusing and difficult tax structure.
My vision for Education: Our children deserve an improved education system, and the economy and businesses of the future require that the graduates of our public schools be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future. I will:
· Ensure that every graduate has the necessary skills to successfully achieve in vocational training, in college or as part of the workforce. I want all students to have the tools for success!
· Cut the number of kids in this district and across the state who drop out of school before graduation
· Work to ensure that our young children of today are part of graduating classes in a decade that will have been part of the most significant reforms the Washington educational system has seen.
My Vision for a more Responsible Government: We have all heard the saying, “Stop doing what doesn’t work”. Olympia isn’t working. For decades, many of the same people have run state government and the state agencies. People switch positions within Olympia, but they are the same people. This creates an obvious lack of new ideas and new perspective. This system has helped create stagnation. As a fire fighter and small business owner, I will bring new perspective and different experience to Olympia —-at a time when it is desperately needed. I will:
· Advocate for Performance Standards in Government: We are all held to a standard in our professional and private lives. I will work to create an environment in Olympia focused on standards-based performance. An environment where goals are set within each agency and department, and state employees are expected to achieve those goals. This will increase efficiency with fewer state employees, thus helping to keep the state budget low.
· Advocate for competition in Government: Competition drives innovation. Innovation drives efficiency. By changing some of the ways business gets done in Olympia, improved efficiency and savings will be realized. We expect fair competition in the private sector, and benefit from it through lower prices and better service. The same is possible in government. I will work to ensure that state agencies are required to seek competitive bids from the private sector for some of the services agencies require. This will create an understanding by government employees that competition is good and improves pricing and service—-lowering the cost of government.