District 24 incumbents spar with challengers at forum

Republican challengers take aim at Democrat majority

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story misstated topics covered in questions. Candidates were not asked about housing and crime but the subjects were covered in responses.

Candidates for District 24 seats in the Washington House of Representatives sparred over the differences between Democrat and Republican policies as they answered questions before a crowd and on the radio at a Jefferson County League of Women Voters’ candidate forum July 13.

Incumbents Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger, both Democrats serving in the district’s Position one and two respectively, were joined by Republican challengers Brian Pruiett — who seeks to unseat Tharinger — and Matthew Rainwater, who’s vying for Chapman’s seat.

Another Republican, Sue Forde, is running for the Position one seat but was unable to attend the forum due to a prior commitment, and Democrat Darren Corcoran, a candidate for position two, also was absent.

Questions posed to the candidates by the moderator covered such familiar topics as inflation and health care, with candidates each given time to respond to each question.

The Democratic incumbents cited investments they’ve been able to make in the North Olympic Peninsula. Tharinger, an incumbent since 2011, said through his positions on various House committees he was able to secure funding for infrastructure projects and dental health clinics. Chapman, in office since 2017, said the state Legislature has taken on several critical issues.

“People are talking about a possible recession but I tell you tonight, I’m grateful to live in a state where a woman has a right to choose, unequivocally in state law,” Chapman said. “I’m grateful that I live in a state where climate change is not just debated and tossed under a rug somewhere.”

But their Republican challengers were deeply critical of the Democratic majority in the state Legislature and said that the policies coming out of Olympia are increasing costs and enabling criminals.

Pruiett said environmental regulations passed at the state and federal levels were adding cost burdens to businesses and families and called for the state to repeal its gas tax. Pruiett also said the state was spending too much on services and not seeing adequate results.

“So if you’re paying so much money for government services, and you’re not getting all those services, then I think we need to reduce those services that are producing the fees because you’re not getting the services anyway,” Pruiett said.

Pruiett said the state’s education system spends more than $18,000 per pupil but still had high failure rates in math and reading.

The challengers were critical of police reform bills that came out of the state Legislature in 2020 and 2021.

“The Democrat party got together and crafted the laws that handcuffed our law enforcement and kept them from being able to do their job,” Rainwater said.

Incumbents pointed to what the Legislature had done to boost alternative energy. Tharinger said the Legislature was looking at ways to electrify the state’s transportation system, including the state ferries, as a way of lessening the state’s dependence on oil products.

“You know we’re blessed here in Washington to have abundant hydropower and the ability to electrify our transportation system with that hydropower will be pretty exciting,” Tharinger said.

Chapman said companies like Alaska Airlines have started using residual materials that had been left over after timber harvest to make biofuels and said several investors were looking at taking some of the North Olympic Peninsula’s leftover timber products.

The forum lasted for over an hour and touched on several topics, including the state’s health care, housing, tax policy and sexual education in schools.

Though Forde was unable to attend, a representative read a prepared statement on her behalf.

“Sue (Forde) has lived worked and raised a family in North Olympic Peninsula for 33 years,” the statement said. “Sue will work to reduce taxes, restore safety to our communities and bring balance to our state government. It’s time for a change.”

The state’s primary election is Aug. 2, and ballots were mailed to voters beginning Wednesday. The top-two primary will narrow the field to two candidates in each race, regardless of party affiliation.

Video of the forum an be viewed at https://www.lwvwa.org/Jefferson or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBIDcHP1srhVawhk9X-javQ.

________

Reporter Peter Segall can be reached at psegall@peninsuladailynews.com

More in News

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port Angeles on Tuesday following annual dry dock and maintenance in Anacortes. During the maintenance period, extensive work was performed on the dock, including replacement of a wing wall used to steer and secure the vessel during loading and unloading of cars and passengers. The ferry is scheduled to resume daily service between Port Angeles and Victoria on Thursday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Coho returns

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port… Continue reading

Building association calls for city to cease utility charges

Association says charges unconstitutional

Jefferson Land Trust considering conservation burial ground

Funds from plot sales could fund habitat improvements

Port Angeles artist Bob Stokes sits in his studio and music venue on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Art community mourns Bob Stokes’ passing

Legacy includes statues, concerts, gatherings

Clallam PUD
Cindy Kimble, Clallam PUD’s customer and community outreach programs coordinator, can help residents navigate the utility district’s revamped low-income energy assistance program.
Clallam PUD hires staff to help low-income customers

Clallam County Public Utility District has overhauled its low-income energy… Continue reading

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve a sample of chili to Monica Dixon of Sequim during Saturday’s Community Chili Cookoff at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. The event, organized by the club and Boy Scout Troop 90, showcased the culinary skills of six community organizations with each group receiving a share of the proceeds and the winner taking a $500 prize. The food bank’s chili recipe took top honors in the competition. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Chili cookoff

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve… Continue reading

Port Townsend to test sewer system with smoke, dye

The city of Port Townsend will test its sewer… Continue reading

JUMP! Playground to close for renovations

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will close the JUMP! Playground… Continue reading

Barcy Fisher, left, and Patti Buckland have been selected as the 2024 Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year.
Fisher, Buckland honored as Marrowstone Island citizens of year

Barcy Fisher and Patty Buckland were named Marrowstone Island’s 2024… Continue reading

About 800 people from Jefferson and Clallam counties spill out from the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse onto Jefferson Street in Port Townsend on Monday to take part in a National Day of Protest organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds protest actions of Trump administration

Activists cite USAID, worry about Treasury, impacts of immigration

Peninsula to welcome Canadian visitors

Celebration of Coho passengers planned

Fish barrier removal to impact highway traffic

Portions of roadway to have long-term closures