Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Brian Sonntag to retire after five terms of service
State Rep. Mark Miloscia, D Federal Way, made a swing through the Palouse in his campaign for the state auditor’s position.
He is tracking across the state to meet people and give his campaign message on efficiency. Miloscia is running for the office now held by Brian Sonntag, a Democrat who has announced retirement plans at the end of this year.
From 1985 to 1989, Miloscia worked as a contract manager for the Air Force for Boeing’s B-1 program.
“Remember the $700 toilet seat covers? I discovered a $500 light bulb and a $400 coffee pot. Just the pot,” he said. “These didn’t make the paper. In fact the joke was, how many Boeing engineers does it take to buy a light bulb? The answer was four.”
Miloscia explained that the original light bulb cost $8, but each level of required approval added $150.
“One of my issues I’ve been passionate about was performance – improving things,” he said. “That experience got me in the whole performance game, and quality game. There was no reason we couldn’t train and empower the worker to buy the light bulb.”
Miloscia said it is the core of what he has done as a representative and what he would like to do as state auditor.
“The voters won’t vote to help you unless you can show them you’re spending their money wisely,” he said. “That’s the heart and soul of what people in public service need to show.”
In the news this week was a report that Boeing’s CEO made $23 million last year. Miloscia wasn’t aware of this.
“They sold a bunch of airplanes last year. In my mind if the head guy’s getting a good raise then everybody should be getting a good raise,” he said. “I don’t know why the board would pay $23 million but I don’t begrudge people making money, just that everybody benefits.”
“My goal is to make Washington state the best-run in the country for the next six years. It will take about that long,” Miloscia said. “Anybody who says he’s gonna have the Mariners in the World Series next year, they’re feeding you a line.”
Born in Biloxi, Miss., where his father was in the Air Force, he returned with his family to Flushing, Queens, New York, in the shadow of brand-new Shea Stadium. As a kid, he rode bikes on the former grounds of the 1964 World’s Fair and spent weekends on Jones Beach, on the south shore of Long Island.
His great-grandparents came to Ellis Island in 1905.
In 1976, Miloscia graduated from Francis Lewis High School in Queens and went to the Air Force Academy. After graduation, he was assigned to pilot training at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota.
“Very cold, by the way,” he said.
He first ran for office in 1992, vying for state representative. He lost the race, then lost a second attempt in 1994. A year after that, he was elected one of five commissioners of the Lake Haven Utility District, formerly Federal Way Sewer and Water District.
In 1998, he won his seat in the state house as a Democrat from the 30th District.
“My goal is to get all of Washington’s agencies and local governments, to take them from average to great in six years,” he said. “The state auditor’s charter is to improve government efficiency and effectiveness. Everybody kind of runs on improving government but we have to actually accomplish it.” he added.
Miloscia, who had a campaign stop in Colville, said he doesn’t mind the campaign travel. His favorite drive is in Pacific County, south of Grays Harbor.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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