District 10 candidates diverge on solutions

Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, and challenger Nick Petrish, a Democrat from Anacortes, are looking the same direction, they just don’t see eye to eye.

The incumbent and newcomer have similar priorities, like funding education, improving transportation and infrastructure, and keeping people safe. Their specific concerns, though, are different, as are their plans for solving state issues.

Hayes and Petrish were the top two candidates in the August primary election, edging out Republican Brien Lillquist and Democrat David Sponheim. Hayes claimed nearly 49 percent of the vote, while Petrish landed about 27 percent.

The general election on Nov. 4 will determine who fills the second seat for District 10, which covers Island County and part of Skagit and Snohomish counties, including Stanwood, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor and Langley. Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, holds the district’s first House seat. She is running against Libertarian Michael Scott.

Hayes, 48, is finishing his first term as a representative. A sergeant with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and a U.S. Navy veteran, one of Hayes’ top priorities is public safety, he said. He’s also identified transportation as a key issue, especially in a district faced with dysfunctional ferries and limited transit options.

He wants to see the state overhaul its transportation department, including the ferry system, to get higher quality equipment and construction. Failing ferries, poor road access to terminals, and service cuts are a problem for the mainland and islands, he said.

While his ears are tuned for talk of a new transportation package, that’s not the most critical topic for the next couple years.

“The one thing that is absolutely going to overshadow everything in this election is coming into compliance with the McCleary ruling,” he said.

Legislators are tasked with figuring out how to comply with the state Supreme Court’s order to fully fund K-12 education by 2018, which is expected to cost more than $3 billion.

Hayes proposes a critical review of education requirements. Unfunded mandates — meaning the state requires something but does not provide enough money for it — are dragging on school budgets. One example, he said, is standardized testing before students can graduate. It costs money to prepare for and administer those tests.

Reviewing state requirements for schools could be a long-term solution, but something has to be done soon to abide by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“Obviously we’re going to have to look through the entire budget,” Hayes said. “What I’m looking for is for our legislature to properly set priorities. If education is our priority, then we need to put that first and everything else needs to take a back seat.”

Petrish, an electrician and U.S. Army veteran, plans to make education his main focus, as well. He has a list of other issues he’d like to address if he wins, including transportation, money management, infrastructure repair and public healthcare.

He suggests funding education and other public services by eliminating tax breaks for corporations and trust fund beneficiaries. He also supports implementing “clawbacks,” where businesses that receive tax breaks from the state would be required to pay back the money if jobs are outsourced or relocated. Petrish cited Boeing as an example of one such corporation.

“No other politician has come out with a concrete plan for funding education,” he said. “They’re all speaking very opaquely.”

Outside of education funding, he expects a political wrestling match to get money redirected from King County projects to other infrastructure needs around the state, particularly bridges in Skagit, Island and Snohomish counties.

“That has to be done,” he said. “If we want to have safe roads, we need to fix them now, not 10 years from now. Ten years is too late.”

Petrish also is pushing for a single-payer healthcare system and supports immunizations, women’s healthcare and access to birth control, he said.

“These are huge problems, huge cultural dilemmas for us,” Petrish said.

Hayes has raised $77,340 for his campaign and spent $48,443, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Petrish has raised $2,797 and spent $2,361.

The deadline for online or mail-in voter registrations is today, and the last day to register in person is Oct. 27. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed by Oct. 17.

Kari Bray: kbray@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3439.

Name: Nick Petrish

Age: 52

Vocation: Electrician

Preferred party: Democratic

Website: www.nickpetrish.org

Name: Dave Hayes

Age: 48

Vocation: Sergeant with Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

Preferred party: Republican

Website: www.electdavehayes.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.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

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 to halt 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 to welcome new CEO

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

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.