By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Voters have been there before in this year's primary election race for state senator in the Second Legislative District. Randi Becker, the Republican incumbent, and Marilyn Rasmussen, a Democrat, are competing for the seat Rasmussen lost to Becker eight years ago. Rasmussen, who also was an Eatonville School Board member in a political career that spanned 28 years (22 of them in the Legislature, the last 16 as a senator), has tried to re-enter elected office twice previously since losing to Becker in the 2008 Senate contest. Both times, she lost to Republican Jim McCune GÇô first in the 2010 race for state representative, and then in 2012 for Pierce County Council. Now Rasmussen is in a rematch with Becker in the primary election. Voting is underway and will end Aug. 2, the last day voters can return their ballots by mail or official dropbox to the county elections department. There's also a third candidate for senator GÇô Tamborine Borrelli, a Democrat from Yelm. The Second District encompasses south Pierce County (including the Eatonville, Graham and Roy areas) and part of Thurston County. Becker is seeking her third four-year term. She was re-elected in 2012. The senator and Rasmussen both rank state funding of public schools at or near the top of their priorities. To discuss their campaigns and issues, Becker and Rasmussen participated in a Q-and-A with The Dispatch. Borrelli didn't respond to an invitation to answer the same questions as her opponents.
Describe your civic or community involvement and your full-time occupation.
Becker: I am on the board of the Washington Historical Society, a member of Eatonville Chamber of Commerce, Graham Business Association, Yelm Chamber of Commerce and Back Country Horsemen. I attend off-session Orting Chamber of Commerce and Lacey Chamber of Commerce meetings. I co-chair the Joint Select Committee on Healthcare and co-chair the newly formed task force on Western State Hospital. I serve on additional task force groups, as well. I live outside of Eatonville, 16 years. Born in Tacoma, grew up in Enumclaw on a dairy farm and lived in Spanaway for 21 years. I have lived in the state all my life. We are four generations of Washington-born residents. Rasmussen: I have lived in rural Eatonville for 56 years, raise cattle and local hay, and am a former tree farmer. All seven of my children have attended Eatonville schools, where I served on the School Board for seven years. I am a former 4-H leader and volunteer for the Future Farmers of America and current member of Ohop Grange for 24-plus years. I have been active in BEST (Bethel Educational Scholarship Team) for 20 years and currently serve on the Marymount Senior Housing Board (28 years). I've been and currently am still involved with Autism Outreach and work with adults and children with disabilities. I also served our community in the Legislature GÇô state representative for six years and state senator for 16 years. I am active in many civic organizations and am a lifelong member of my church, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Eatonville.
In your background and experience relevant to serving in the Legislature, what sets you apart from your opponents?
Becker: I am a retired medical practice administrator. I am the only Republican senator with any background in healthcare administration. I have a proven track record of working across the aisle and have been able to get things done for our district GÇô Ashford County Park, Pierce County Skills Center, community centers, funding for levees in Orting, and have obtained funding for a study to look at getting a college in Graham, to name a few. Rasmussen: My experience as a volunteer and mother, grandmother, farmer, retired legislator and voter for 56 years, and lifelong Washington resident sets me apart from the primary opponent. I know the issues, listen, am accessible and walk the talk for the residents of our district. My ability to work hard, compromise, negotiate, not party-polarized, is certainly an asset in solutions in legislation. Most important is budgets and getting done on time and getting the job done right. In my 22 years of serving in the Legislature, I never missed a vote or a day of session, and went home every night. I have lots of energy and passion for working with people, and truly love being involved and finding positive solutions. I will be that tough voice for our schools and families.
What are one to three issues you feel strongest about, and how will you address them as a legislator?
Becker: Fully funding the K-12 system. In the last three years, we have put $4.6 billion into the education system. Currently, 47 percent of the budget is dedicated to education. Of note: It hasn't been this high since the 1980s. New spending is 3 to 1 for education. Per-pupil spending is up over $1,250. This increases per-pupil spending to an all-time high of $9,000, a $2,300 jump since (Republicans) took control of the Senate in 2013. We implemented a capital budget that builds 500 new classrooms, targeting lower class size in K-3 grades as a first step. Forty-six percent of the capital budget is going to education. We will address, in the upcoming session, the issues surrounding levy equalization. Our levy dollars are critical to our schools. However, people in our district pay two to three times the amount in levy dollars as Seattle, yet our children do not have the same opportunities, thereby creating an unfair system. Funding for schools had been on the decrease for the last two decades. I, along with others in the Legislature, have made this the number one issue. Basic education. I also co-sponsored an historic college tuition cut in Washington, the first in the nation. I sponsored legislation that created a cancer research endowment program insuring research institutions in Washington will have a stable funding source to work toward a cure for cancers. Rasmussen: Education is my number one priority. Fully funding education is a moral and legal responsibility. We must solve the needs of our schools and not put it on the back burner or last on the state's budget priority list. Finding the revenue must be addressed, and certainly not from raising the levy lid. I fully support equal education for all our children across our state, and we also must raise our teachers' salaries. I am also committed to vocational education and skill centers. I will fight and vote to put our children first. Mental health and drug treatment is second on my list of priorities. Our families and communities are at risk due to lack of treatment. We struggle with the aftermath of crime and the homeless. Solutions and working the budget for law enforcement and mental health must be addressed. I also am a strong believer in working with the disability community and families. Third, and not least, is the budget. I served on Ways and Means (committee) for 22 years, as well as the Education Committee in the Legislature. Compromising and budgeting wisely must be priority for everyone in the Legislature. Transparency and working for solutions, notparty politics, is paramount to getting the work done efficiently and on time. Wisely budgeting, not raising taxes, taking tough votes, finding solutions, public safety, law enforcement, business, jobs, transportation needs, and putting our community and families first is my pledge to the voters of the Second district. I have a proven record of serving with integrity, honesty and accessibility.
Borelli
Tamborine Borelli is an animal rescuer and owner of an organic pet-treats company. Her campaign web site states she "was inspired to get involved in politicsGÇ¥ by the campaign of Democrat Bernie Sanders in this year's presidential primaries. She opened a volunteer campaign office in the Second District and helped with local organizing of the campaign. The web site also cites Borrelli's "passion for justice and ensuring that everyone has a chance to live their best lifeGÇ¥ grew from running after-school programs for underprivileged girls in Chicago and working as a personal coach in Los Angeles. According to her web site, she supports fully funding basic education, giving tax breaks to citizens instead of corporations, and reducing the influence of financial contributions in politics.
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