MacEwen, Gale answer questions

Julianne Gale

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of state senator?

I’m looking forward to bringing all my professional qualifications, life experiences, and community connections to the job of state senator. I have served on the steering committee of the statewide Office of Recovery Partnerships and on the monitoring team of the Washington Climate Assembly. 

I was Valedictorian at the University of Southern California, where I earned a B.S. in Computer Science, an M.A. in Applied Theatre Arts, and an M.A. in Teaching. 

I have worked as a public school teacher, a union construction worker, and a nonprofit manager serving survivors of domestic violence and veterans. I have also worked in community mental health, computer technology, oysters, and wood products. I currently have the pleasure of managing the Skokomish Indian Tribe’s youth program, where I manage up to 40 workers at a time. I can track every dollar in a six-figure budget. I will bring that attention to detail and fiscal responsibility to being a state senator. 

When I’m not at my full-time job, I volunteer with the nonprofit Mason County Climate Justice (MCCJ). In 2018, I co-founded MCCJ to build local climate resilience, regenerate healthy ecosystems, and benefit everyone in our rural community. In the short four years that MCCJ has existed, we have become a fiscally sponsored nonprofit, led educational workshops throughout Mason County, volunteered in the Shelton prison, and supported local farms and food forests. We are delighted to have just received a $225,000 grant that we can use to support our local community in the future. 

2. Beyond your qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

I chose to make my forever home in rural Mason County. I’m running for state senator because I am committed to our shared home and the people who live here. 

I love bringing people together that initially believe they are worlds apart. As a mixed-heritage woman who has worked in many different careers, spent time all over Mason County, and talked with thousands of individuals in our district in the last few months, I am well-positioned to help our community bring our shared values to state government.

As your future state senator, I am committed to listening to everyone in the community to make sure our voices are heard. I will always prioritize our community’s well-being over political games.

I believe in protecting our community from both big government and big corporations. I value working together and community self-sufficiency. We can work together to produce the food and products we need locally, which will reduce our reliance on long-distance supply chains. 

Finally, I believe in planting seeds to leave a good legacy for future generations. We can create a future where everyone has the essentials they need: food; housing; healthcare; education; clean air and water; and an opportunity for meaningful, safe, and well-paid work. Getting to that future requires tenacity, patience, commitment, collaboration, and a willingness to work hard. I will bring all those personal strengths and more to the position of state senator. 

3. What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of the 35th District? 

The 35th District is almost entirely rural and small-town residents. Our voices have been ignored by those with political power for so long that we are starting to believe we don’t get to have a say in making the rules that govern our lives. But our voices should matter. 

The job of a state senator is to represent our community’s perspectives. While knocking on doors in the community, I have heard hundreds of people tell me their concerns, such as: inflation, community safety, homelessness, education needs, the climate crisis, basic rights being taken away, mental health challenges, drugs, and the rising costs of housing. 

There are many ways the state Legislature could address such concerns. For instance, one of the reasons we have a housing crisis in our district is that urban housing problems have spilled out into rural communities. To give just one example: out-of-date zoning laws in Seattle limit housing density in about three-quarters of Seattle residential areas. The state legislature can update zoning laws to allow more housing density in urban areas so that the rural areas can stay rural. The state legislature can also create a Home Occupancy Incentive Fund to reduce property taxes for those who live in their own homes or rent their homes out full-time to people who need housing. Such a fund would also support the development of permanently affordable housing and create supportive housing for those who need services to live independently.  

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

I support reproductive freedom, clean air and water, working people, a bright future for our youth, and a dignified retirement for our elders. 

I focus on collaboration to get things done. I prioritize listening to my neighbors and bringing us together above all else. I listen for what we have in common and start from there. 

I will always be on the side of our community before any political party. As someone with an independent heart, I am running as a Democrat because I want to make sure our rural and small-town voices will be represented in the majority caucus. 

I am not a career politician. I am a first-time candidate who wants to make sure that our community thrives and that our voices are heard. That is why I have been knocking on doors since February, asking residents what is important to them. Many people have told me, “I have lived in this house for decades, and you are the first political candidate to ever knock on my door to ask me what I think.” 

I value listening to differing viewpoints to get as big a perspective as possible. This allows me to fully understand our community’s challenges and collaborate on innovative solutions that will benefit all. I’m focused on improving quality of life for everyone who lives here. It’s important to me that as we move forward together, no one is left behind. 

Question from Drew MacEwen

MacEWEN: My opponent has been outspoken about her desire to end DNR timber sales which are vital to funding public schools.  Why have you opposed these sales that directly benefit our youth?

GALE: As a former public-school teacher and current youth program manager, I am 100% in support of fully funding schools. But not at the expense of our children’s future. In their current form, such sales provide a small short-term benefit while also directly harming our youth. We can do better. 

DNR’s unsustainable forestry practices mean unsustainable school funding long-term. Degraded forest health has already decreased school funding from timber sales. Last year, timber revenue provided less than 5% of Mason, Kitsap, and Thurston’s school funding. DNR’s outdated practices unnecessarily put our community at risk economically and ecologically. 

Public land belongs to all of us. We have a shared responsibility for sensibly transitioning to climate-smart and economically smart forestry. Updating our forestry practices will result in more sustainable school funding, higher quality wood products, higher quality jobs, healthier ecosystems, cleaner air and water, and a more stable climate. 

There are a growing number of people outspoken about their desire for DNR to update its practices, including: two former WA State Commissioners of Public Lands (elected officials who oversee DNR), current and former WA State Superintendents of Public Instruction, Jefferson and Thurston County Commissioners, forestland owners, Tribal members, property owners, parents, and youth, including the 18-year-old Mason County youth who first asked me to help change DNR’s forestry practices. 

By working together, we can ensure that our forests have a chance to grow into the fiscally responsible climate solutions that our children’s future depends on.

Drew MacEwen

1. What qualifications would you bring to the job of state senator?

I have a proven bipartisan track record of accomplishment from my time as a State Representative. I have led on issues with bills signed into law addressing agency reform, victims’ rights, education reform, and tax reform. Additionally, as a local small business owner I see firsthand the consequences of legislation-both good and bad- and its impact on employers and employees.

2. Beyond your qualifications, what are your personal strengths that would contribute to this position?

Over the 10 years I have served in the state house I have built relationships with both sides of the aisle and in both chambers. This has given me the ability to work on issues that affect our residents. I am also proud of the capital and transportation dollars that I have helped bring to this district. Nearly $1 billion in improvements over the past 10 years.

3. What are the biggest challenges facing the residents of the 35th District?

Without question the biggest challenge is the economy. With record revenues the Democrat majority in Olympia refused to provide any meaningful tax relief to citizens. I strongly believe we should cut the gas tax, give property tax relief, and lower the sales tax. Residents are also very concerned about public safety and education.

4. How do you differ from your opponent?

I have results that have positively impacted this district. I have also built my business in this community and am acutely aware of the impacts on our community from legislative actions in Olympia.

Question from Julianne Gale

GALE: We are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in our district, from increasing floods and wildfires to heat domes devastating our aquaculture industry. Young people are asking older generations to take action to protect their future. A stable economy requires a stable climate. What is your plan to address the climate crisis and ensure a long-term livable future for our community?

MacEWEN: First, we cannot remove the hydro dams in our state. These are some of the highest producing hydroelectric dams that provide abundant and cheap energy.  Secondly, we have to utilize methods that are cleaner while technology in other energy sectors catches up.  For example, natural gas is 20% cleaner than other carbon fuels.  But this state is moving towards a full ban without having any qualified replacement source ready. I will take a 20% reduction today while technology continues to evolve and provide other cleaner sources. During the height of the pandemic when many telecommuted, we saw significant emission reductions.  I support tax incentives for companies that provide for telecommuting for a large portion of their workforce. We also need to encourage more forestry. Proper forest management (which is practiced by our district’s timber companies) are great tools for carbon sequestration.  Younger trees will sequester more carbon on an annual basis than older ones. By utilizing proven forest management with scheduled harvesting and replanting we can sequester far more carbon than many other methods.  When I was first elected to the legislature, I bought an electric car because it made economic sense for the commute distance. In doing so it prompted the then chief clerk to pursue adding additional chargers at the capitol.  Today there are many available at the capitol campus and are all used. I am glad to have been a part of spearheading that effort. Which brings me to my next point-our electric grid is sorely out of date and cannot support a mass move to EVs. We need to greatly improve our electrical infrastructure. I do not want to become California where they have mandated a full progression to EVs over the next decade but cannot even support what is currently being used. Shortly after they passed the EV mandate law the governor asked people to not charge their EV during the day because of grid capacity issues. Washington can and must do better. I look forward to continuing to lead from a practical standpoint on this issue.