Three candidates vie for 39th House seat

For some candidates, August's primary election will serve as a gauge to find out how they're doing in comparison to their opponents. For others, it will determine whether they move on to November's general election.

In the 39th Legislative District, three candidates are seeking Washington State House Rep. Elizabeth Scott's open Position 2 seat. Scott was planning to forgo the Legislature next year and had started campaigning against Congresswoman Suzan DelBene for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, but had to withdraw from the race due to health reasons.

Eager to fill her seat are John Koster, a Republican from the Arlington area, Ronda Metcalf, a Democrat from Darrington and Shane Driscoll, a Libertarian from Marysville.

Koster

John Koster has an extensive political history in both the 39th Legislative District and in Snohomish County. He served on the Snohomish County Council from 2002-2014, and prior to that was the representative for Washington's 39th District from 1995-2001. His experience includes robust committee involvement, both while at the county and in the state house.-á

Born and raised in the Arlington area, Koster and his wife, Vicki, operated a third-generation dairy farm while raising their four children. Koster is semi-retired, and works part-time at Circle B Ranch near Oso. Koster has experience in both the public and private sectors, which he feels contributes positively to his ability to problem-solve on behalf of his constituents.

He hopes to be able to make decisions to help small business owners, and wants to rein in agency regulations.

"If there's one thing that needs to be revisited, it's regulatory reform,GÇ¥ Koster said during a campaign event in May. "Getting our arms around these state agencies.GÇ¥

After a couple years of not holding an elected position, Koster said he is ready to dive back in.

"Although I have been involved in politics and elected positions for nearly 20 years, I have avoided the tendency to become cynical that so many fall victim to. I still believe. I still believe the Constitution is the law of the land, I still believe that we are a nation of laws,GÇ¥ Koster said. "I still believe one person can make a difference.GÇ¥

His key issues include funding schools without new taxes, fixing a broken transportation system, holding Olympia to a higher standard and curbing agency regulations.-á

"My focus will be on issues that will center around making Washington state a place where our children and grandchildren want to live, work and be free to use their God-given gifts and talents and prosper,GÇ¥ Koster said. "This includes holding government agencies accountable and gaining control over excessive rule-making and mounting regulation that affects our citizens and is stifling to business, job creation and our economy.GÇ¥

For more information about John Koster, visit electjohnkoster.com.

Metcalf

Ronda Metcalf, 54, is the general manager for the Sauk Suiattle Tribe near Darrington. While she's new to state politics, she doesn't lack political experience. She was an elected senator in college and served for eight years on the Sauk Suiattle Council, an elected council comprised of seven members serving three-year terms.

"I am running because we need experienced decision-makers capable of building consensus and finding common ground in the Washington state house,GÇ¥ Metcalf said. "I am already a leader in the Darrington area in my current job, and I want to serve all of the 39th Legislative District.GÇ¥

Metcalf served in the Army from 1979-1988. She was one of the first women trained as a combat medic, and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and in West Germany. She has a master's degree in education with a specialty in community counseling, served as a corrections officer with the Multonomah County Sheriff's Office in Oregon, and was a volunteer delegate to the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board.-á -á

She helped during the Oso recovery efforts, working to cut through red tape and streamline processes.

She wants to use her background to help make decisions in Olympia that benefit all 39th District residents, regardless of economic status.

"I am a candidate because I have always helped people, in all my jobs and roles,GÇ¥ Metcalf said. "I want to help people in the 39th who are left out of the region's economic recovery, and who lack access to services from transit to job training to investment in businesses that create local jobs. As an independent-minded moderate Democrat, I am experienced in making a difference for my communities.GÇ¥-á -á

Metcalf has a background in chemical dependency counseling, and hopes to use careful decision making to find a way to curb the influx of heroin and meth into Snohomish County, she said.

"I really believe in making informed decisions,GÇ¥ Metcalf said. "Looking at all the information, looking at all the possibilities, positive and negative, and going from there.GÇ¥

For more information about Ronda Metcalf, visit rondametcalf.org.

Driscoll

Shane Driscoll is a married father of three with a career in information technology. He states on his website that he is interested in running for office because he is concerned about the future his children and grandchildren are being burdened with.

"A future with limited opportunity, over-reaching government interference, and a tax and debt obligation that is already crushing hope and optimism within my generation, is not something they deserve to inherit,GÇ¥ his website states.

His website offers a pledge that he will not support any new legislation or new spending that doesn't include a repeal of the old law or provide specific information on what program will have an equal dollar amount taken from it. According to his site, "If the people of Washington state demand a new limitation on freedom, I'm happy to vote for it if we're returning a freedom of equal importance.GÇ¥

"As a Libertarian I would love to see as little government as possible. As a pragmatist, I know that if you're going to do a 180, it is probably best not to be going 180,GÇ¥ states the site. "I intend to be your voice in Olympia pumping the brakes on this reckless government careening out of control on the highway to destitution.GÇ¥

Driscoll did not respond to a request for more information about his campaign. To view his website, visit www.electshanedriscoll.com.