Republican Vicki Kraft and independent Democrat Sam Kim have spent a lot of time knocking on doors in the 17th Legislative District lately, hoping to convince voters to elect them to fill Rep. Lynda Wilson’s seat in the statehouse.
“I’m seeing all my old friends, I’m making new friends. So many of the voters are saying, ‘Candidates don’t come around, except you,’ ” Kim said. “So, I’m glad I’m participating in making democracy work for so many people.”
Clearly, the two candidates aren’t knocking on the same doors, because Kraft says she is hearing the same.
“I’ve been out doorbelling … and a lot of people have rallied to support me locally,” Kraft said. “Whether it’s community leaders, people at the door have been very supportive overall.”
Kraft had raised $217,115 in campaign contributions as of Friday. Kim had brought in $183,302.
After Kim announced he was running, the self-described lifelong Republican switched parties, to independent Democrat.
“I feel like I’m home,” Kim said. “I feel like this is where I belong on the issues and particularly here with Clark County. … We’ve gotten so extreme, it was difficult for moderates like me and independents to really identify themselves as Republicans.”
Kim said that though his party affiliation switched, his priorities have not.
“We have to make Clark County attractive for people to not only work here, but live here. So, we’re not only a bedroom community and then, infrastructure. We have to get that bridge,” Kim said of replacing the Interstate 5 Bridge.
Kim points to his 16 years’ service on the Battle Ground School Board as a reason he should be elected. This session, the Legislature is expected to tackle fully funding education. Kim points to improved graduation rates and developing a more united vision between the teachers union and administration as achievements accomplished in his tenure.
For two decades, Kim worked at Hewlett-Packard. He is currently Clark County’s chief information officer.
If elected, Kim said, he would ensure he is not paid by the county and the state Legislature at the same time.
“I won’t double dip,” he said.
His sister, Rep. Cindy Ryu, a Democrat from Shoreline, is also currently a member of the Washington State Legislature.
Kraft, who previously said she sees herself as philosophically aligned with Rep. Wilson, points to her experience in the private sector as distinguishing herself from Kim.
Wilson is running to replace longtime Republican Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, who is not seeking re-election.
Kraft works for the Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit think tank that promotes individual liberty, free enterprise and limited government. Her resume also includes jobs at Dell, Pillsbury and Frigidaire. She spent time working with school districts addressing issues of technology while working for Dell. She said the experience helped her identify where people could work together and find cost-efficient solutions. Kraft is vehemently opposed to raising taxes and believes a crucial role for lawmakers is to rein in spending and limit the number of regulations. Kraft said she would not have supported the transportation package approved by the Legislature since it included a gas tax.
When it comes to easing congestion on the Interstate 5 corridor, she is an advocate of first building a west-side bridge before focusing on the Interstate 5 Bridge.
Beyond education and transportation, she said she believes the state needs to focus on improving mental health services and securing the state’s borders.
“We do share a border with Canada; we need to protect our citizens,” Kraft said.
