Education

As a mother of two grown daughters, I am committed to making our state’s public education system one of the best in the United States.  It is the State’s paramount duty to educate our children.  Their future and our economic future depend upon investing in our public schools.  I support reducing class sizes, investing in state-of-the art vocational programs, early assessments for whether our elementary students have basic reading, writing and math skills, and improving the access our children have to higher education.

In 2009 the Legislature passed HB 2261 that establishes a pathway for improving our K-12 education system.  In 2010 we clarified that early learning for our children, before they reach kindergarten, is a part of basic education in this state.  Even with the financial difficulties our state has faced during this great recession, I have fought to fund early education, K-12 and higher education.

Transportation

We must invest in transit and roads now.  Every community in the 34^th District is impacted by traffic congestion and the lack of sufficient transit alternatives.  We now have commenced work that will allow the viaduct to be replaced.  The Spokane Street viaduct “flyover” is under construction and, when completed,  will provide significant relief to 34^th District residents wishing to access the SODO area and downtown.

Waterborne transit, dedicated bus lanes, and more transit should be part of our regional transportation discussion and it is what our communities want. Let’s work together as Democrats to move this State forward!

The Environment

Ten years ago I organized my neighbors and founded an organization to protect Puget Sound from a multinational mining operation.  I am passionate about protecting our water, air, and forests.  With global warming, the listing of our beloved orcas as an endangered species, and with the information we have today about the condition of Puget Sound, we must take a stronger stand for the environment.

In 2010 Cascade Land Conservancy commenced discussions with Glacier Northwest regarding the sale of the proposed mine on Maury Island.  The negotiations were successful and this  this incredible shoreline and madrone forest have been preserved for generations to come.  I am very pleased that I was able to secure $15 million from the ASARCO settlement for this effort.

Annexation

The Growth Management Act placed White Center in a situation where the community must decide whether they will annex to Burien, Seattle or attempt to stay as part of King County.  This has been a difficult situation not just for White Center, but for Burien and the City of Seattle.

In 2009 we were able to pass legislation to help cities that wish to participate in the annexation discussion.  As a result, part of North Highline has been annexed into Burien.  Hopefully, the citizens in the rest of North Highline will have an option in the near future to decide which city they wish to annex to as well.  This past year we protected the tax credits to enhance this effort.