Candidate Surveys — 8th District Senator

Strong schools, local control. Parents and communities know best. I believe in strong schools, safer classrooms, and better student outcomes—while keeping education decisions local, not dictated by one-size-fits-all mandates from Olympia.Public safety comes first. Safe communities come before politics. I support holding criminals accountable, backing law enforcement, and putting victims first—while expanding effective treatment and recovery options to break cycles of addiction and crime.Lowering the Cost of Living. The government shouldn’t make life more expensive. I’m fighting to reduce taxes, fees, and regulations that drive up the cost of housing, fuel, child care, and everyday necessities—so working families can get ahead, not fall behind.

Public SafetyHousing AffordabilityWater Rights and Agriculture

I was born in 1983 at Kadlec Hospital in Richland and raised in Kennewick as the oldest of three siblings. My dad worked construction and long night shifts at IBP and lived with bipolar disorder. Watching how mental illness affected our family gave me a lasting sense of empathy and the importance of accountability and support. My mom worked more than 20 years at Albertsons in Richland, raising us through hard work and determination. I attended Kennewick School District schools and graduated from Kamiakin High School in 2001, where I met my wife, Stephanie. We married in 2002 and are raising three children. Stephanie is a fourth-grade teacher in Kennewick and previously coached swim and dive at Kamiakin for ten years. Her dedication to students and community inspires me daily. At 19, I learned I was going to be a father, which clarified my priorities. In 2003, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served until 2007. Afterward, I worked in retail management, Amazon, healthcare administration, and Hanford-related roles. I’ve also supported disabled veterans and helped run a small family business. While working and raising a family, I earned degrees in accounting, business, and education. My life experiences have shaped my belief in service, stewardship, honest work, and leaving our community better than I found it. I currently serve as President of the Kennewick School Board, first elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025.

I have resided in Pasco for more than 40 years. I am first generation Latina and first in my family to earn a college degree. As a child, I worked alongside my parents in agriculture which taught me the hard work ethic I have today. I attended pasco Schools and received an MBA from University of Phoenix. I have two daughters and three grandchildren. Currently, I am a Strategic Partnerships Manager for Western Governors University. Past President of Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Past Board member of: Visit Tri-Cities, Kennewick Police Foundation, and Tri-Cities Community Health. Served on WA Childcare Taskforce and AWB Grassroots Alliance. Volunteer history: Junior Achievement, Latino Heritage Mural, and Dia De Los Muertos Fun Run.

Education, Public Safety, Taxes, Jobs & Economy.

Public safety, Housing Affordability, and Agriculture and Water Rights.

Loren Anderson — Councilman / Kennewick City Council Brad Beauchump — Councilman / Kennewick City Council Joe Cotta — Councilman / Pasco City Council Leo Perales — Councilman / Pasco City Council David Cole — Councilman / W. Richland City Council Brittany Gledhill — School Board Director / Kennewick School Board Micah Valentine — School Board Director / Kennewick School Board Dr. Josh Miller — School Board Director / Kennewick School Board Will McKay — County Commissioner / Benton County

Black In Blue by Carmen Best. I admire her work ethic and perseverance as Seattle’s Former Police Chief.

As a Latina woman, it’s been challenging to have a seat at the table. I want to encourage women to serve on boards and to run for office.

It can be beneficial but not necessary to get the job done because that is what matters to the voters.

I do believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators. We may have our differences but the only way to get things done in legislation is through a collaborative effort.

Ways and Means, Law & Justice, and Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources.

Senator Jim Honeyford has been a great role model for almost three decades serving in the legislature. I admire his dedication to Washington and want to continue his legacy.

Not at this time.

I got tired of sitting on the sidelines and complaining about decisions that affected my family and my community. At some point, I realized if I thought things could be done better, I needed to be willing to step up and do the work myself. That’s what led me to the school board, and honestly, it’s a big part of why I’m running for the State Senate. This is home. My wife and I raised our family here. I care about what this community looks like five, ten, twenty years from now, and I want to have a hand in making it better.

I chose to run for office because I believe public service should be grounded in listening, showing up and solving real problems for people. Too often, residents feel that decisions are made in the dark or that government only becomes visible when something has gone wrong. I wanted to bring a practical, community centered voice to the table. I want to represent my community as someone who understands the needs of working families, small businesses, schools, seniors, Veterans, IDD community, and the people who keep our communities running. I ran because I care deeply about this community where I have lived my entire life and where I have raised my daughters and am watching my grandchildren grow and thrive. I believe we need elected officials who are willing to do the work of finding solutions. For me, holding office is not about a title. It is about earning trust, being present in the community, and making sure the concerns of the people I represent are heard and acted upon.

First, make life more affordable. I talk to people all the time who are doing everything right and still feel like they’re falling behind. Groceries, housing, utilities, gas, taxes — it all adds up. Olympia needs to remember that every time the government adds another cost, a real person has to pay it. Second, focus on strong schools and safe communities. Kids need a great education that prepares them for whatever comes next, whether that’s college, the trades, the military, or going straight to work. And families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Third, accountability. Government is spending other people’s money, and I think sometimes elected officials forget that. People deserve to know where their money is going, why decisions are being made and who is responsible when something goes wrong.

1. Protect affordability and economic opportunity. People should be able to afford to live, work, raise a family, and retire in the communities they call home. I want to focus on practical policies that support family wage jobs, local employers, workforce training, reliable infrastructure, and responsible growth, while keeping taxes and the cost of living in mind. 2. Strengthen public safety and community well-being. Families deserve to feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods, schools and businesses. That means supporting law enforcement and first responders. That means  addressing behavioral health issues and substance use issues. I also think it’s important to focus on prevention so problems are addressed before they become crises. 3. Deliver accountable, responsive government. Residents deserve to know that their elected officials are listening and using public resources responsibly.  I will prioritize transparency and constituent service, I will support policies that are measurable and effective, not simply ideas that sound good in a press release. Government works best when it stays connected to the people it serves.

There’d probably be a lot less politics. I don’t think doing the right thing means everybody agrees with you. Sometimes you make a decision and half the room isn’t happy about it. That comes with the job. But imagine if elected officials could just say, “I was wrong,” when they were wrong. Or give someone from the other party credit for a good idea. Or make a tough decision without first wondering how it will play in the next election. I’ve learned that public office really isn’t supposed to be about the person sitting in the chair. The chair belongs to the people. I think government would look a lot different if everyone remembered that.

In that world, people would have more trust in government because they would know every decision was made with the public’s best interest, not political pressure, personal ambition, or short-term headlines in mind. Elected officials would spend less time attacking one another and more time listening, learning and working through difficult issues honestly.  They would admit when they were wrong, explain their decisions clearly, and put long term community needs ahead of partisan advantage. My view of public service is shaped by that ideal, even though real life is more complicated. The ‘right thing’ is not always obvious, and reasonable people can disagree. But officials can still act with integrity, listen carefully, rely on facts, treat people with respect, be transparent, and remain accountable for the results. That is the standard I will hold myself to, doing the work openly, putting people before politics, and making decisions I can explain.