18th candidates tout differing strengths

Brandon Vick

Age: 29.

Residence: Vancouver.

Party: Republican.

Past elected positions: First-term state representative.

Occupation: Sales and marketing manager for Vick Landscaping; state representative.

Education: Associate degree in communication from Clark College, 2004; attended Washington State University Vancouver.

Top endorsements: Clark County Association of Realtors; Association of Washington Business; Building Industry Association of Clark County; National Federation of Independent Business; Rep. Dan Kristiansen – House Republican leader.

Campaign money raised: $37,581.

John Ley

Age: 59.

Residence: Camas.

Party: Republican.

Past elected positions: None.

Occupation: Pilot for Delta Air Lines.

Education: Portland State University, bachelor’s degree.

Top endorsements: None.

Campaign money raised: $17,652 ($6,000 in loans).

Mike Briggs

Age: 62.

City of residence: Washougal.

Party: Democrat.

Past elected positions: None; served on the Washougal Planning Commission.

Occupation: Retired from the wood products industry.

Education: Currently attending Portland State University, studying political science and creative nonfiction.

Top endorsements: AFT Washington, Association of Professionals, AFL-CIO; Washington State Labor Council, AFL CIO; Southwest Washington Labor Council; Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council PAC; Laborers Local 335.

Campaign money raised: $17,160 ($5,450 loans).

When there’s an impasse in Olympia, Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Vancouver, said he’s often the guy called upon to act as a peacemaker.

“Ask Democrats and Republicans, or bureaucrats, about what I’ve done over the last two years and you’ll find I’m able to bring multiple sides of the argument to the table … It’s something I’ve been very intentional about,” he said.

If there is a battle brewing, Vick’s Republican challenger, John Ley, said he’s the one who can be found on the front lines.

“I’m not afraid to fight for what I believe is right for the people,” he said, noting he was a vocal opponent of the Columbia River Crossing. “Sadly, my opponent wasn’t there and not engaged in the fight.”

And when it comes to shooting straight, the Democrat vying for the 18th House, Position 1 seat, Mike Briggs, says he’s the one who will tell the truth.

For example, to satisfy the state Supreme Court’s mandate to fully fund education, lawmakers might have to raise taxes, Briggs said.

“I realize people don’t want to hear that, but as a legislator, you’re better off being straightforward,” Briggs said.

Each of the three candidates said the state will be forced to tackle the court’s mandate that it fully fund basic education.

Vick believes the state should sell some of the land it owns and not purchase anymore. Officials should also cast a critical eye at the health insurance exchange to see if there are savings there, the incumbent said.

“We do a lot of things as a state that are unnecessary,” Vick said.

Ley, a commercial airline pilot, believes reducing the number of unfunded mandates would help the state’s public schools. He’s a fan of giving parents the ability to “shop around different school districts.”

“That would be a wonderful incentive for teachers and schools to improve,” he said.

Briggs said it’s time to move past the conversation about whether the court has the right to tell the Legislature to fund schools and figure out a way to pump money into the system.

“It’s an order,” Briggs said. “There is no ‘no.’ You don’t have a decision. You have to get the money.”

“And if we have to, we raise taxes. I’m a big fan of user taxes, the toll or payment where you actually use the service,” Briggs said.

Ley said he would work to roll back regulatory restrictions and work on transportation issues, but not without pushing for better accountability from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Briggs said his top two priorities are improving the economy and helping improve the region’s infrastructure.

“One of my campaign points is to get a transportation budget, but the transportation budget must include appropriate money for Southwest Washington,” Briggs said.

Vick said if re-elected, he will continue to push a measure to allow grocery stores to have growler stations where patrons can fill jugs with their favorite craft beer. He also sits on two budget committees and envisions he’ll be heavily involved with the state budgeting process. He will also lobby on behalf of more transparency and possible reforms in state agencies, from the Department of Ecology to WSDOT.

Vick said “as a legislator, it’s our job to make hard decisions.”

“And that could get a few feathers ruffled.”