CORRECTION: This story has been changed to correctly attribute a quote, “We’ve really kicked education down the road,” to an audience member.
CHIMACUM — The two candidates for the state 24th Legislative District Senate seat discussed education funding and tax breaks when they faced off during a candidate forum in Chimacum.
State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, a Sequim Democrat, and Danille Turissini, a Port Ludlow Republican, are vying for the seat held by Jim Hargrove, a Hoquiam Democrat, who announced in March that he would not seek reelection to the seat he has held since 1993.
The 24th Legislative District covers Jefferson and Clallam counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
About 60 people attended the forum at the Chimacum Grange on Wednesday night to hear Van De Wege, 41, Turissini, 53, discuss their differences.
It was the first time the two debated in the race that will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.
The race for the four-year term will not be on the primary election ballot on Aug. 2 because only two candidates filed for the seat. Since the primary election narrows the field of candidates to two for the November election, only those races with three or more candidates are on the primary ballot.
“We’ve really kicked education down the road,” an audience member said.
Said Van De Wege: “The [McCleary] decision has a six-year window [to restore funding]. We are coming to the last third and have made great progress.”
The state Legislature is under a court order from the state Supreme Court, known as the McCleary decision, to fully fund public K-12 schools.
It is being fined $100,000 after the court found the state in contempt.
Turissini suggested an “equalization” process in which levy money generated in affluent districts would be shared with rural districts.
“One size does not fit all,” she said.
“In Seattle they are real-estate rich and pay a low rate. In Jefferson County, it’s the opposite.”
In answer to a question about tax breaks, specifically an agreement that allowed Boeing a break of $307 million in 2015, Turissini said “tax breaks need to be thoroughly examined because they are so many hands in the pot.”
Van De Wege, who voted for the measure, said he was watching carefully.
“They promised to keep jobs in the state,” he said.
“If they move them to another state they will need to return the tax breaks.”
Occasionally, the two candidates agreed.
“It’s wonderful to be around here and see all of the projects that have been done,” Van De Wege said of Port Townsend. “I want to work on job creation and make it possible for people to take care of themselves.”
Turissini said that job creation is a high priority.
“There is a wealth of people in Port Townsend but they are facing a gridlock in Olympia,” Turissini said.
“There are a lot of people who need jobs and we need to take a load off of them.”
Turissini, who calls herself “an independent Republican,” said she opposed abortion and gay marriage.
However, she said: “Gay marriage is the law of the state and I need to respect that, even if I don’t agree.
“There are so many other things to fix in Olympia that we can discuss like education and budget issues, but if you are a single-issue voter, you aren’t going to support me anyway.”
Van De Wege, who has served five terms in the state Legislature, said it was “a hard decision” to run for Hargrove’s seat “but he took me by surprise and I think I can make a difference.
“I’ve been in the house for 10 years, the last six as majority whip,” he said.
“It is a position I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and it has given me a tremendous amount of power and something that’s allowed me to bring a lot to the district which is my main job.”
Going to the Senate will allow him to start afresh working for the district, but it as not an easy decision to switch from the house to the senate.
Said Turissani: “I ran for the Senate because I like the leadership style in the Senate.
“I like the fact that any Democrat in the Senate caucus can cross the lines and work to get things done.”
Turissini credited this to the Majority Coalition Caucus.
Van De Wege said one of his most significant accomplishments as a legislator was instituting a ban on fire retardants, which was not an easy process.
“Finally, this year we passed a bill and I’m so excited about it,” he said.
“But the flame retardant companies go and buy commitments from other legislators and say ‘if Kevin introduces a bill you need to vote against it.”
The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women and the Port Townsend/Jefferson County Leader and was moderated by Fred Obee.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
