I first came to Washington State in June of 1969 as a member of the United States Navy where I met my beautiful wife to be JoAnn C. Garnett, a native of the State of Washington. After my honorable discharge from active duty in December of 1969 I married JoAnn and moved her to Dallas, Texas where were we began to raise two lovely children, Deborah and Joseph. I also have two wonderful grandchildren, Blake and Nicole.

During those years I became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. After four years I graduated in the top 10% of my class from that apprenticeship, and I have had a great thirty-seven year career in the electrical industry. In April of 1979 we moved to Snohomish County and bought a home in the “Wind and Tide Community” or the Shelby precinct. We raised our family in that house and we still live today.

So, the question is why do I want to be your legislator? I am sixty-two years old and I have spent the last forty-two of those years preparing for this moment. Since I was a young man I have known that the day would come, that I totally and completely would be prepared to serve the working class people of which I have proudly been a member of my whole life. I grew up in a family of Franklin Roosevelt Democrats. I know that a government of “We the People” is good for this State and this nation.

I am by no mean anti-business. In fact I and my union brothers and sisters could not make a living having great wages and benefits if it weren’t for honest caring business people, many of which are democrats, but I am adamantly am opposed to the corporatist mentality that permeates the State and nation today.

A long time ago the Supreme Court of this nation gave corporations the same rights and privileges as human beings. This can and needs to be changed here in Washington State. These corporatist are the very reason that big oil, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and many other corporations have done “We the People” so much harm when they could do so much good.

If I am selected I don’t know what committees I will be appointed to, but I hope that I am able to serve on those that I can use my expertise in the energy field, and transportation. Wherever I am placed I will work very hard to do a good job for the people of this great state.
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