And down the stretch they come: Race for legislature boils down to personality

Less than a week remains before ballots are due to winnow down the field of five candidates for the 9th District’s position one seat in the state House of Representatives to two.

The five in the race possess similar credentials – all having backgrounds in agriculture and business – and similar points of view on topics such as funding education, land use policy and the need to create a more vibrant business climate.

Candidates Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, Pat Hailey, R-Mesa, Glen Stockwell, D-Ritzville, Art Swannack, R-Lamont and Darin Watkins, R-Palouse, spoke to the Gazette this week about how their personalities are suited for the legislature. The two candidates that receive the most votes will advance to the November general election.

All told the Gazette in interviews this week that they expect the primary results to come down to what style of leadership voters want to represent them in Olympia

SUSAN FAGAN

“It does, a lot of the time, boil down to that,” said Fagan. “Who do I like the best? Who do I trust, and who can I trust to represent me?”

Fagan said her experience and passion set her apart from the other candidates.

For the past 10 years, she has worked to influence legislators on business and health care issues as part of her job as public affairs director for Schweitzer Engineering. Before that, she worked 15 years as a staffer for Idaho Senators Jim McClure, Larry Craig and Steve Symms.

“I have a passion for serving, and I have a passion for policy,” she said. “Extensively advocating on behalf of constituents was a big part of my job in the Senate. I think that experience is something that voters can take to the bank.”

She pointed to her work on a state business coalition to lower health care costs over the past four years as an indicator of her tenacity.

“For four years that consumed probably 50 percent of my time as a policy person,” she said. “I will strongly advocate for making the insurance industry work in Washington, and I will make sure we get this right.”

DARIN WATKINS

“What it all boils down to is what kind of lawmaker do you want,” said Watkins. “I think my experience matches up as well as anybody’s.”

Watkins, a former TV reporter, said his experience covering the legislature gives him insight into how to maneuver through the political scene at Olympia.

Throughout his life, Watkins said, he has tried to remain independent of partisan issues. That is key for a freshman legislator from a minority party who wants to build alliances across the aisle, he said.

“I think you need a candidate that can go to Olympia without any baggage – with a clean slate,” he said. “It’s about getting the job done, not about who gets the credit.”

PAT HAILEY

“The best legislators are the ones that come back and listen to their constituents and learn what’s on their minds,” said Hailey.

Hailey said she has put nearly 20,000 miles on her car listening to 9th District concerns. She said that is an itinerary she wants to keep up as a legislator.

“That’s the kind of traveling I intend to do if I’m elected,” she said. “Wherever there’s a group of people gathering, that’s where I’ll be. Because that’s how you really find out what’s important.”

Hailey stressed that an open ear and transparent leadership are vital to being a good representative. She pledged a literal open door policy if sent to Olympia.

“Openness is the only way to go. Don’t go to Olympia if you have anything to hide,” she said. “There’ll be some groups that won’t be happy with me, because they’ll want the door closed. But I’ll keep it open so anyone can come in and join the conversation.”

GLENN STOCKWELL

Stockwell, the self-dubbed “Dam Candidate” has pushed almost single-mindedly for completion of phase two of the federal government’s Columbia Basin Project.

It is his determination to get the project done that sets him apart from the other candidates, he said. And he added his honesty and sometimes blunt nature will ensure the project gets done and benefits the people of the 9th District.

“I’ve always been up front and honest with people,” said Stockwell. “I’ve pushed hard for this project for as long as I can remember, and I’m going to keep pushing for it even if I lose this election.”

ART SWANNACK

Swannack said his forthright nature makes it easier for people to trust that he means what he says.

“I’ve tried from the start of this campaign to tell people straight out what I believe,” said Swannack. “I put it right out there on paper, and if that’s what the majority of the people in the 9th District want, then I guess I should do pretty well.”

By doing that, he said, he can bring people from disparate points of view to consensus.

Swannack said he has played that balancing act on subjects ranging from health care to business to agriculture. Having knowledge of all those issues adds to his knowledge of the district’s needs, he said.

“That’s what I’ve been told this job takes,” he said. “You don’t have to be a genius on everything, but you need to have a broad base of experience to make your decisions.”