Election 2022: Primary candidates for 23rd District House, Position 1
Two Republicans are challenging the incumbent in the 23rd District House, Position 1 seat.
Rep. Tarra Simmons, a Democrat, is in her first time representing the district, which includes northern Kitsap County and Bainbridge Island. She is being challenged for the seat by Republicans Ace Haynes and Janell Hulst.
The Kitsap Sun asked the legislative candidates to answer seven questions. Their answers follow:
Ace Haynes
Age: 36
Current occupation: Student
Previous elected experience: Elected as Water Commissioner for Country Meadows HOA, Kitsap
Campaign contributions: $0
Q: Inflation is a challenge for many. What should the Legislature do to help those struggling with the rising cost of gas and food?
A: While inflation is a national issue that cannot be controlled within the Economics of the state legislature, We do have a serious need for gas tax reform and small business incentives and subsidies to protect against food deserts and keep food service overhead low. As costs are rising the state gas tax is structured to weigh heaviest on the most sensitive consumers, and a RUC charge will only hurt the most vulnerable. The longest lasting effects of COVID population pattern shifts has been a decimation of traditional, cost effective, food outlets. We deserve support for local, low cost, farm to table efforts.
Q: Police reform legislation raised the barrier for law enforcement to engage in vehicle chases of those suspected of a crime. Do you support the legislation as is, or do you think it should be changed?
A: The reforms as written are serviceable. The problems created by them have been a gross overreaction of law enforcement. I have been assured by Kitsap Sherrif Candidate Rick Kuss that we can fix our policing issues within the existing laws. We have many reforms to make to increase community safety, including making public prosecutors civilly and criminally responsible and liable for their conduct in protecting our communities. Safety is my number one concern, and police chase reform is not a high priority. We need more accountability first.
Q: Should the Legislature make drug possession a felony, as it was before the state Supreme Court found Washington’s law on simple possession unconstitutional?
A: The law on SIMPLE drug possession was invalid because it ignored intent, a critical element of criminal law. I would never advocate for a law that is unconstitutional or unethical. The disorderly and dangerous acts associated with reckless drug use are already crimes in their own right, there is no reason to punish what would otherwise be law abiding citizens with charges against their personal morality, absent any ill effect on others. It is still a crime to buy drugs, distribute drugs and manufacture drugs, so I see no reason to potentially put innocent people in jeopardy because they were near some drugs.
Q: Should access to abortion be included in the Washington State Constitution?
A: Yes. The state constitution needs to be updated to grant all people basic human rights to healthcare access at all health service centers. We cannot afford to have a religious organization stand between us and our rights to freely choose what is right for our bodies. Religious based health cooperatives will need to drastically and dramatically revise how they operate to fulfill the basic definitions of a health care provider to remain operating in Washington State. They cannot both force employees to take a vaccine and then deny them access to a whole host of personal health options available in the 21st century.
Q: Washington state has struggled to provide beds for psychiatric patients, especially youth, and Western State has a waiting list of patients from the criminal court system. What can be done to ensure access to mental health care?
A: Honestly, at this point we are so far behind that literally just asking this question and keeping it in the discussion at every level is still a good start. We need every level of government to make a renewed push at rehabilitating our society, because it is a constant issue on most people's minds and often it is a higher priority than would be apparent from most of these issue surveys. One problem is that the issue doesn't link well to others, another problem is it doesn't respond well to partial funding improvements or decreases. We can fix this, but it should require a funding commitment akin to a new multi-sport Stadium.
Q: What can the Legislature do to address rising homelessness in Washington’s cities?
A: Everything. Jobs programs, housing options, harm reductions, and more. Some of our homeless just need a little transitional help and others need Western State and other resources to be revitalized. Many of our homeless fall between these groups, being both at some level incapable of unassisted living and also at some level being let down by the VA, 401(k), IRA, structured settlement, Social Security, etc. that was supposed to provide for them. A final segment of our homeless are actually better off this way, homeless by choice. When the rest of the homeless are taken care of, these remaining few are generally benign.
Q: What can the Legislature do to help ferry service to ferry-dependent communities become reliable again?
A: First and foremost, the ferry subsidies need to be re-evaluated, and a large portion of commercial riders need to be charged their fair charge. Secondly, the ferry service needs to be expanded, particularly back to the hood canal, where we are forecasting massive delays in the near future. Finally, the ferry service needs to be miniaturized. The push for modern electric boats will further exacerbate the need for smaller ferry boats that are more flexible, and even a potential switch from scheduled sailings to on-demand/"leave when full" options.
Janell Hulst
Age: 41
Current occupation: General Contracting, Architectural Designer/Drafter
Previous elected experience: First time seeking office
Party: Republican
Campaign contributions: $9,830.54
Q: Inflation is a challenge for many. What should the Legislature do to help those struggling with the rising cost of gas and food?
A: Suspend taxes on necessity products, repeal all new tax increases imposed for (punishment) for gas usage etc (inclusive of new additional gasoline taxes recently commenced July 1st and new 15% tax increases imposed upon utility companies — all passed on to the consumer), repeal all new fee increases — on all industry — including those from localities, provide tax and fee breaks and lifting of unnecessary regulations to (new & exiting) supply chain and food supply industry, reign back property taxes, remove requirements to pay into L&I and UI by employers and employees, lower sales tax, and scale down our over bloated government size that has doubled in the last 10 years and seems to not have improved anything.
Q: Police reform legislation raised the barrier for law enforcement to engage in vehicle chases of those suspected of a crime. Do you support the legislation as is, or do you think it should be changed?
A: Absolutely it should be changed — because of this legislation drafted by my opponent, car thieves are permitted to just drive away with your car, with no recourse; amongst a slew of other crimes that do not fall within a narrow definition.
Q: Should the Legislature make drug possession a felony, as it was before the state Supreme Court found Washington’s law on simple possession unconstitutional?
A: It depends on the amount. Every drug possession should at least have increasing levels of requirement for intense drug treatment and accountability. Enablement of drug possession without consequence is perpetuating and enabling problems for those suffering from drug abuse, and the increasing consequences on the safety of our society.
Q: Should access to abortion be included in the Washington State Constitution?
A: I do not believe so — no other medical procedure is listed in the constitution. Though looking at when someone has the right to life is something that should be.
Q: Washington state has struggled to provide beds for psychiatric patients, especially youth, and Western State has a waiting list of patients from the criminal court system. What can be done to ensure access to mental health care?
A: Provide a well rounded solution to enable patients to grow, mature, and heal, beyond typical standard that is currently being conducted and has led to loss of certification — needs investigation and evaluation into the root problems. Typical Hospitals already are willingly understaffed by the hospitals, and causing nurses to leave the industry because they will not abide by safe patient to nurse ratios (varying upon severbility). Our Health Departments and Legislatures are doing nothing about this, turning a blind eye to this, and talking as if it’s a problem with nursing students, when that is not the case. It’s an issue of retention, because of unsafe ratios. Which is why nurses are striking — though the nurses unions still could not get the hospitals to increase nurse to patient ratios, aligning with the nurses associations. I would imagine something similar is occurring in our Psychiatric wards; especially being that one of them recently was shut down. I believe there needs to be a review and over-haul of the regulations concerning this issue across the board with hospitals in general and especially WA psychiatric institutions — and investigations into why our psychiatric ward lost certification. Unacceptable.
Q: What can the Legislature do to address rising homelessness in Washington’s cities?
A: Uphold property rights and trespassing laws. Reestablish accountability for public intoxication and requiring intensive treatment for those committing crimes of trespass, drug abuse/public intoxication, or other crimes relating to/or blamed upon their homelessness. If we don’t have a system of accountability, that will deal with the root problems causing the issue of homelessness, nothing will change, because there would be no reason for someone in that situation to change, not have a place to be Abel to receive the help that they are needing to get back on their feet or get out of a terrible cycle in their life. An intense treatment structured to provide help to find the root problems (whether it be undermined or enhanced by drug abuse, or not), providing mental health options, providing purpose, accountability, and life skills that may be lacking; as well as mentor programs, coupled with apprentice programs to allow for real feasible solutions, sustainable by the individuals receiving treatment, and the local community giving and receiving in return.
Q: What can the Legislature do to help ferry service to ferry-dependent communities become reliable again?
A: Require restructuring of their hiring policies and requirements. Aiding in the promoting of apprenticeship programs for training. This was already a problem pre-covid, but then with the imposing of vaccine requirements, a huge portion of the ferry force left. With the $15 billion surplus our state had this past year, the legislature could have used that to solve these problems. It really is a requirement of analysis and bringing proper priority and commonsense solutions.
Tarra Simmons
Age: 44
Occupation: Nonprofit Director/Attorney
Previous elected experience: Current State Representative for the 23rd Legislative District, Vice Chair of Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee; serving on Healthcare, Public Safety & Rules Committees.
Party: Democratic
Campaign contributions: $106,366.92
Q: Inflation is a challenge for many. What should the Legislature do to help those struggling with the rising cost of gas and food?
A: People in our community need help now - too many of us were struggling to make ends meet before inflation and it’s only getting worse. We should prioritize getting people back to work, to address the labor shortage and work to repair our broken supply chain. We also need to stand up to greedy corporations who are price gouging as we recover from the pandemic, just so they can turn a profit.
Q: Police reform legislation raised the barrier for law enforcement to engage in vehicle chases of those suspected of a crime. Do you support the legislation as is, or do you think it should be changed?
A: While I support the current legislation as is, I’m open to adjustments that might allow police officers to be more effective. High-speed police chases are a danger to public safety - since 2015, nearly 60% of the people killed in an accident caused by a police chase were innocent bystanders or passengers. The restrictions on police chases that we passed allow police officers to pursue vehicles only when they have probable cause for a serious crime, or when the driver is a danger to others on the road. I don’t believe innocent lives are worth being risked if the crime is not serious and I will always put the safety of our community first. I am in frequent communication with our Sheriff and Police Chiefs - in addition to our concerned community members - to collaborate on any future tweaks to the police reform package. I have also been going on ride-alongs and visiting the Criminal Justice Training Center to see first-hand the implementation of the reforms.
Q: Should the Legislature make drug possession a felony, as it was before the state Supreme Court found Washington’s law on simple possession unconstitutional?
A: No - the “war on drugs” has done nothing to curb drug epidemics and has only served to push more people and families into a cycle of incarceration that is very difficult to get out of. Instead of making drug possession a felony, we should invest more in substance use and mental health treatment. There is not an actual victim with mere possession. Other crimes that sometimes go along with substance use disorder such as delivery of drugs or theft are still illegal.
Q: Should access to abortion be included in the Washington State Constitution?
A: Yes. The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has shown us that our rights are not secure and that we have to fight to protect and defend our civil liberties. In Washington, while we are safe at the moment, we should absolutely enshrine abortion access in our State Constitution to protect this right, regardless of which party is in charge.
Q: Washington state has struggled to provide beds for psychiatric patients, especially youth, and Western State has a waiting list of patients from the criminal court system. What can be done to ensure access to mental health care?
A: Washington consistently ranks near the bottom of the list nationwide for access to mental healthcare. It’s putting a strain on our public safety - from the criminal court system, to police and first responders who are ill-equipped to deal with people in mental health crisis. The bottom line is that we need to better fund mental health care and expand access. I have consistently been a champion for this in the legislature and will continue to do so.
Q: What can the Legislature do to address rising homelessness in Washington’s cities?
A: The homelessness crisis is a serious humanitarian problem - it is also multi-faceted. People facing homelessness are folks who have lost a safety net, job or priced out of their home. There are also people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to addressing this crisis. I believe we need to continue investing in low income housing - particularly as we see housing and costs rise across the state and hardworking people get priced out of our community - we need to increase the supply of housing, and ensure families who qualify can access rental assistance. In addition to investments in housing, we should increase funding for mental health care and substance abuse treatment.
Q: What can the Legislature do to help ferry service to ferry-dependent communities become reliable again?
A: The labor shortage and funding shortfalls have led to service cancellations that impact our community. The legislature should push for increased wages and a more stable workforce throughout the year, while working to invest more in aging infrastructure, maintenance and repairs. We made a huge investment in this during the last session, and the Washington State Ferries are now working to implement the plan.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Election 2022: Primary candidates for 23rd District House, Position 1
