5 vie for state House seat in 21st District

One of the year’s most competitive primary election races is in south Snohomish County, where five candidates are vying to succeed retiring Democratic state Rep. Mary Helen Roberts.

Democrats Justin McMahon, Strom Peterson, Scott Whelpley and Dick McManus and Republican Allen McPheeters are seeking the 21st Legislative District seat Roberts has held for a decade.

The top two finishers in the Aug. 5 primary, regardless of party, will face off in the November general election.

Recent elections show the district is strongly Democratic, making it possible for an intra-party duel this fall.

Peterson, Whelpley and McMahon are each raising money and securing endorsements from prominent Democratic lawmakers, labor unions and other forces of the party base. Roberts endorsed Peterson for the job.

McManus, an admitted long shot, said he is running to press his call for Democrats to demand a new congressional investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

McPheeters, who is chairman of the GOP operation in the district, entered the race at the last minute and said he did so to ensure voters had a Republican choice.

“I wanted to present voters with issues and points of views not represented by Democrats,” he said.

One area is education and how the state will comply with a state Supreme Court order to fully fund public schools by 2018. This will cost an estimated $3.5 billion to $4 billion a year.

McPheeters, 46, who lives north of Lynnwood, said money from the state budget must go first to pay for schools and then lawmakers can answer the question of “how do we fund everything else state government is doing.”

By contrast, the Democratic candidates said new revenue is needed, and each expressed a desire to look at closing some tax breaks, establishing an income tax and boosting the state’s portion of the sales tax.

“We have to talk about an income tax,” Peterson said. “That idea might not go anywhere but we have to have that conversation.”

Peterson, 46, an Edmonds City Council member and owner of a downtown restaurant, said he backs spending cuts but only if they don’t snip the safety net of health care and social services.

Whelpley, 47, a Navy veteran making his first run for office, said he would look to close tax loopholes that don’t hurt business and cause unemployment to surge before contemplating taxes.

An income tax, Internet tax, sales tax hike and business-and-occupation tax rate increase must be “on the table” when that discussion begins, the Mukilteo resident said.

McMahon, 32, of Edmonds, is a political activist who directed field operations for a 2010 congressional campaign and the 2011 marijuana legalization measure.

He said “clawback” provisions are needed in laws providing tax breaks. That way, if a company doesn’t deliver on promises to create jobs, it could lose the break, and that would bring in dollars. He also wants to impose a tax on carbon emissions.

There are some areas where the Democratic hopefuls don’t all see eye-to-eye.

For example, Peterson, McMahon and McManus endorse Initiative 1351, the November ballot measure aimed at reducing class sizes. Whelpley and McPheeters oppose it, saying it’s a well-intentioned idea that the state can’t afford right now.

McPheeters’ position on transportation funding is in contrast with the quartet of Democrats.

He said he sees a need for “some kind of package” but wants to do it without raising the gas tax. Democratic candidates backed the 10.5-cent increase passed by the House of Representatives in 2013.

“I do support a transportation package as soon as possible,” McMahon said. “I think it’s a shame that the Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate held up a vote.”

Peterson said any plan must cover all modes of travel and provide flexibility for communities to receive money for local projects. He also said there must be money included to cover cleanup of stormwater pollution.

Whelpley said reform must be part of the solution and expressed a willingness to look at the cost of paying prevailing wages on all projects. One of his endorsers is Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee.

McManus, 66, a former Community Transit bus driver, said he’ll look to make sure there is adequate funding for bus service.

Peterson leads all candidates in fundraising with $37,910 as of Friday, according to reports filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

McMahon has raised $30,433, Whelpley $26,689, McPheeters $1,573 and McManus $546.

On the endorsement front, Peterson’s list of backers includes U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, state Sen. Marko Liias, D-Everett, and Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, a prominent Republican.

McMahon’s endorsements include Democratic state Reps. Mike Sells of Everett and Luis Moscoso of Mountlake Terrace.

Whelpley’s supporters include Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, state Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, and state Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

21st Legislative District

About the job: At stake is a two-year term as a state representative serving District 21, Position 1. The annual salary is $42,106. The district includes Mukilteo, most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and part of south Everett, including Paine Field.

Scott Whelpley

Party: Democrat

Age: 47

Experience: Everett Community College aerospace business board, U.S. Navy veteran

Website: www.vote4ScottW.org

Dick McManus

Party: Democrat

Age: 66

Experience: Author, retired counter intelligence agent and former Community Transit bus driver.

Website: www.facebook.com/people/Dick-McManus

Strom Peterson

Party: Democrat

Age: 46

Experience: Edmonds City Council, elected in 2009, re-elected in 2013; Downtown Edmonds Merchant Association, past president; Owner of The Cheesemonger’s Table in Edmonds.

Website: www.votestrom.com

Justin McMahon

Party: Democrat

Age: 32

Experience: Political field director; worked on 2010 campaign of U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and 2011 signature-gathering drive for Initiative 502, marijuana legalization measure; co-founder Americans for Sustainable Growth.

Website: www.electjustin.org

Allen McPheeters

Party: Republican

Age: 46

Experience: Chairman, 21st Legislative District Republicans; board member of homeowners association

Website: www.mcpheet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order halting work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett will welcome new CEO in June

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.