Election 2024: Five candidates aim for 26th District position held by Caldier

Voters in Washington's 26th Legislative District, stretching from a section of Bremerton through South Kitsap and across the Pierce County city of Gig Harbor will see five candidates on the primary ballot for the two-year term as the state House of Representative's 26th District Position 2 lawmaker, a seat currently held by Rep. Michelle Caldier. Caldier, a Republican, was elected to the position in 2015, and is running for re-election to return to Olympia.

The others in the August 6 primary are Tiffiny Mitchell (Democratic), Lori McPherson (Democratic), Josh Smith (no party preference) and Rachel Harter (Republican). The top two receiving votes will advance the November's general election.

The Kitsap Sun asked each candidate to answer three questions that would help voters understand each candidate's vision for the district and opinions on other important issues. Each answer was restricted to 200 words or fewer. Below are their responses.

VOTER GUIDE: Washington primary election August 2024

Michelle Caldier

Current occupation: I have served as a State Representative in the 26th Legislative District since 2015.

Previous elected experience: Prior to joining the legislature, I was a nursing home dentist and taught as an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. In addition, I was a foster mother for hard-to-place teenagers.

Party: Republican

Campaign contributions: $99,287.16

What are your priorities for the district, and why are you the best person to achieve them?

My job is to listen to my constituents and represent their interests in the legislature. Regardless of where people stand on the political spectrum, I have held an open-door policy and personally responded to emails and letters I have received. I have voted the way my constituents as a whole have asked for me to vote and fought the backlash from political extremists and leadership so I can adequately represent my district. If re-elected, I will work across the aisle to repeal some of the damaging policies and taxes that have recently passed. We will have new leadership in the Governor's seat and an opportunity to fix some of the problems in our agencies and finally get new ferries in the water.

The cost of living in the state has been increasing. How can the state help sustain a healthy local economy in Kitsap and Gig Harbor and also preserve affordability for residents and newcomers?

When I was first elected, the Legislature was balanced with the Senate controlled by Republicans by one vote and the House controlled by Democrats by one vote. Fast forward to today, and Democrats are only one vote away in both the House and Senate from gaining supermajorities in both chambers, and we have seen the consequences of lopsided governance. Policies have been pushed that increase the cost of gas by nearly 50 cents per gallon, energy prices have increased 20-40% depending on where you live, and food prices have skyrocketed to absorb those additional costs. The pro-criminal policies have disproportionally hurt struggling families with increased insurance costs and no recourse when they are victimized. We need to reverse these damaging policies and bring balance back to our state.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, with a range of solutions needed. Give me one idea that the state can support to help residents avoid becoming homeless, and one that supports exit strategies for those who find themselves homeless.

The outcomes of the dollars spent to date to solve homelessness are embarrassing. We are currently spending around $1 million per chronically homeless person to successfully get them off the street. This is due to the bloated salaries of the organizations that have received the funding, the buildings purchased to house our homeless population in some of the most expensive zip codes in our state, and ignoring the etiology of the problem. Pierce County is looking into a successful model in Austin, Texas to provide a community for chronically homeless individuals that provides sustainability, accountability and dignity to that population that Kitsap County should emulate.

Rachel Harter

Current occupation: Currently, my passion is in the healthcare industry, where my analytical experience has allowed me to excel in ophthalmology and other medical fields.

Previous elected experience: This is my first campaign for public service. Throughout my career, I've applied my engineering background to healthcare, corporate strategy, business development, and educational arenas.

Party: Republican

Campaign contributions: $34,601.91

What are your priorities for the district, and why are you the best person to achieve them?As a mom, I am running to protect your families and am committed to fostering a vibrant community where your children and grandchildren are educated to succeed in real life, parents' values are respected in schools, and the achievements and rights of women are safeguarded. I am running to protect your future and champion policies where economic freedom and minimal government interference unlock the potential for every Washingtonian. By reducing burdens imposed by Olympia, I am running to ensure that entrepreneurs, workers, and small businesses thrive, directly lowering the cost of living and enhancing prosperity for all residents. Lastly, I am running to protect our state. I am dedicated to revitalizing Washington by tackling the root causes of crime, unaffordable living costs, and the erosion of core values. With a focus on tax reform, regulatory overhaul, and investing in education, my leadership promises a safer, more affordable, and prosperous future for ALL Washingtonians.

The cost of living in the state has been increasing. How can the state help sustain a healthy local economy in Kitsap and Gig Harbor and also preserve affordability for residents and newcomers?

To address the rising cost of living and maintain affordability, the state can consider implementing a combination of strategies focused on sustaining a healthy local economy. First, support for small businesses plays a crucial role in a healthy economy. From tax incentives to low-interest rates, policy can help small businesses thrive. This support of local entrepreneurship can create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Additionally, by investing in education and workforce development programs, the state can ensure that residents have the skills needed to secure well-paying jobs. This can help boost incomes and improve residents' financial stability. Lastly, streamlining regulations and reducing barriers to economic growth can attract businesses and make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and expand their operations. By creating a more business-friendly environment, the state can stimulate economic activity and create more opportunities for residents. The combination of these strategies and more will jointly help sustain a healthy local economy.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, with a range of solutions needed. Give me one idea that the state can support to help residents avoid becoming homeless, and one that supports exit strategies for those who find themselves homeless.

Addressing homelessness begins with compassion, encompasses the need for collaboration between government agencies, non-profit organizations, and local communities, and finishes with accountability. Housing stability is a key component to fixing homelessness, along with programs that provide job training, mental health, and substance abuse services to help individuals transition out of homelessness. Additionally, the promotion of self-reliance and personal responsibility is essential in combating homelessness. We must also expect more and demand accountability from the agencies we fund to deliver these services. It is unacceptable to receive millions of taxpayer dollars without delivering measurable results.

Tiffiny Mitchell

Current occupation: Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave Specialist (My thoughts and opinions are my own and not representative of the agency).

Previous elected experience: Oregon State Representative (House District 32) – 2019-2021

Party: Democratic

Campaign contributions: $48,070.62

What are your priorities for the district, and why are you the best person to achieve them?

Reproductive Rights: With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we cannot be complacent about access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control. I am the only person in this race endorsed by Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and would support an amendment to enshrine that right into our state constitution.

Education: Currently, our state funds schools inequitably, forcing our communities to bridge funding shortfalls through bonds/levies. As state representative, I will explore alternate, sustainable revenue to ensure our students get the education they deserve regardless of where they live.

Housing: We need more housing that can accommodate all income levels, but we also need to ensure that housing is built responsibly, with appropriate infrastructure and resources to support its surrounding communities.

Climate Change & Environment: Climate change is the major issue of our lifetime that impacts everyone. We must work to protect our environment, resources, and communities. I support market-based solutions like the Climate Commitment Act, because it will help us reach our goals and offers the needed predictability to businesses.

As a former state representative in Oregon, I worked on critical legislation on housing and climate and feel I have the experience to immediately make an impact.

The cost of living in the state has been increasing. How can the state help sustain a healthy local economy in Kitsap and Gig Harbor and also preserve affordability for residents and newcomers?

As state representative, I will focus on areas where we can have an impact on people’s bottom lines—for example, housing and healthcare. Home and rent prices are increasing while wages remain stagnant. We need to encourage the development of different housing types that encompass all income levels and needs throughout individual life stages. We need to stabilize rents for those who rent, so that saving for a down payment or a rainy day can become an actuality. And with healthcare, the state needs to do more to more sternly regulate every part of that system, especially insurance, with the eventual goal of moving towards single-payer. Finally, fixing our regressive tax system to generate more progressive revenue and reduce reliance on working Washingtonians to fund our state, is key.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, with a range of solutions needed. Give me one idea that the state can support to help residents avoid becoming homeless, and one that supports exit strategies for those who find themselves homeless.

This depends on which segment of the homeless population we’re discussing, because becoming homeless impacts individuals for different reasons. For example, cost is one, and others experiencing homelessness find themselves in such a state due to mental health or substance use issues.

Prevent: I would support the allocation of state funds and incentives to support the development of affordable housing units, as well as support rent stabilization measures. By increasing the availability of affordable housing and stabilizing rents, we can prevent people from losing their homes due to economic pressures.

Exit Strategy: Cost and rent stabilization having been discussed--on the other topics, we also need to invest more heavily as a state into programs focused on providing help and rehabilitation to individuals struggling with substance use or mental health issues. I think developing reintegration programs that focus on providing job training, education, and other critical workplace skills development for individuals seeking higher incomes helps everyone too, regardless of how they initially became houseless.

If we don’t focus on the root causes of the different reasons of homelessness—whether that’s cost, substance use, or mental health—we’ll never see an end. I want to address these root causes.

Josh Smith

Current occupation: A former meteorologist, I am now a data consultant for Washington State Elections (currently on leave during the campaign).

Previous elected experience: I am a first-time candidate for office, but have prior experience working with our state’s legislature.

Party: No party preference

Campaign contributions: $11,106.00

What are your priorities for the district, and why are you the best person to achieve them?

My first priority is removing partisan special interest and corporate money from the political process so that our representatives will prioritize voters over donors and special interests when making decisions. As an independent, I am best placed to make this happen because I am outside the entrenched two-party system. Unlike every other challenger in my race who entered on the last possible day, I have been preparing for years to run for office, and am the only candidate with a realistic chance of winning in the general election against the current officeholder.

My second priority is to address affordability. As renters, my wife and I know how difficult it can be when living expenses drastically increase while wages and incomes stay the same. I believe our state tax system should distribute our tax burden more fairly by not only avoiding tax breaks for large corporations and the ultra-wealthy but also reducing taxes for lower-income and middle-class families.

My third priority is to ensure opportunity for all. To achieve this, we need to ensure access to quality education and childcare, reduce the cost of medical care, provide accessibility for seniors and those with disabilities, and support our local small businesses.

The cost of living in the state has been increasing. How can the state help sustain a healthy local economy in Kitsap and Gig Harbor and also preserve affordability for residents and newcomers?

I am the sole candidate endorsed by the Bremerton Metal Trades Council, which represents our skilled shipyard workers. This endorsement is especially important because the federal government plans to spend billions of dollars over the coming years on shipyard upgrades and changes in Bremerton through the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). As your representative, I would work with the federal government on SIOP to keep good-paying jobs in our region and to promote the interests of our local economy.

I also believe in making housing more affordable. I am committed to working with our local governments to encourage the creation of more “missing middle” and affordable housing such as townhouses, condos, duplexes, triplexes, and apartments in areas that are served by public transit and near employment centers.

Furthermore, I believe that we need to make more investments in Washington State Ferries, including for boats and workforce training, to ensure more reliable schedules for all of us. Decades of mismanagement are resulting in difficulties for us today, and it’s time to ‘right the ship’. Furthermore, we need to make sure that the Narrows Bridge is not taking an unfair toll on the wallets of those who drive across it regularly.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, with a range of solutions needed. Give me one idea that the state can support to help residents avoid becoming homeless, and one that supports exit strategies for those who find themselves homeless.

Unlike my opponents, I have spent much of my campaign door knocking and listening to those who are struggling the most in our district. This is because I believe in order to properly understand issues, we need to hear directly from those who are affected. When I knock on doors of those living in affordable housing, I consistently hear from seniors, single mothers, and working families that if they had not been able to secure a spot, they would probably be living on the streets. I cannot emphasize enough: we need to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing to make sure that our local residents avoid becoming homeless. We need more options for affordable housing in Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor, and across the area as housing prices and rents are rising faster than incomes. We also need protections from unreasonable increases in rent.

Homelessness can exacerbate people’s mental health issues, which our broken healthcare system often fails to treat, and it can also turn people to substance abuse. Exit strategies for those who find themselves homeless need to not only include assistance with finding housing and employment, but also access to mental health and addiction services.

Lori McPherson

Party: Democratic

Campaign contributions: $0

McPherson did not respond to the Kitsap Sun's questionnaire.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Voter Guide: 5 candidates challenge Caldier for 26th District seat