24th District House candidates debate
September 1st, 2010 - 6:44am
(Port Angeles) -- Two candidates for the 24th District House seat being vacated by Lynn Kessler debated before the Port Angeles
Business Association Tuesday morning.
Clallam County Commissioner Steve Tharinger and Port of Port Angeles Commissioner Jim McEntire presented their positions and answered questions from the PABA members.
The Republican McEntire said there are three main
things in his platform.
"First: Get the state's budget under control without raising taxes. Secondly, is making sure we have the right regulatory structure that doesn't inhibit business formation and growth. Thirdly, we need to make sure we strike the right balance between protecting our environment and not harming our economy," said McEntire.
The Democrat Tharinger is running on his 10-years as a Clallam County Commissioner, but he also says he's concerned about jobs.
"The economy is number one," said Tharinger. "If we get jobs back, we increase revenue in the private sector. But we also increase revenue in the public sector so our budget challenges can be addressed. I think the best way is to use public funds to invest in infrastructure and stir jobs and set a platform for future economic activity."
But one issue underlying this campaign: Would you keep your current elected position if elected to the state house.
Tharinger says yes.
"My intention is to serve out the remainder of my term on the county commission, I want to respect the voters who elected me to that position," said Tharinger. "I will take a three month, unpaid leave of absence when the legislature is in session. It's a citizen legislature and I would argue my job outside of Olympia doing work as a county commissioner is a good fit with being a good representative."
Clallam County commissioners currently earn about 62-thousand dollars a year. The state house job pays about 42-thousand dollars a year.
Mc Entire says he'd step down as a port commissioner if elected.
"There are many people that live in my port district that would make great commissioners," said McEntire. "My task is to make sure I am fully free to represent all the constituents of the 24th District which is why I would resign from the port commission if elected to the state house."
Both candidates say they see differences between each other. McEntire says he sees two distinctions.
"Taxes and the ability to focus exclusively on the 24th district," said McEntire. "My view is that we are not taxed insufficiently and we need to live within the revenues that are available to the state government."
Tharinger says he sees the biggest difference in background.
"I think my strength is having been a county commissioner, I've dealt with a lot of the issues that are affecting the state," said Tharinger. "And I think our record is a good one at Clallam County."
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