Candidate q-and-a

Jeff Holy and Ziggy Siegfried were asked five questions and allowed up to 50 words for each response. Their answers are listed below and appear in the same order as the candidates will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

What is your top priority and how specifically would you achieve that?

Holy: Economic Development. Attracting new business, but also helping existing businesses to grow. For the Spokane region, economic development is the fountain from which so many other benefits will flow. And when state revenues increase due to increased business activity more essential government services become available.

We are achieving this.

Siegfried: Family wage jobs. I would achieve this by continuing to fund projects like the North-South freeway that will provide short-term and long-term benefits for our economy. We need to fund a transportation package that provides for mobility in trade and benefits families by providing family wages.

The state Supreme Court recently held the Legislature in contempt for failing to make enough progress in fully funding public education. How should the Legislature react to this unanimous ruling?

Holy: How interesting being a legislator during that moment in state history when a supreme court potentially precipitates a constitutional crisis. We’d have avoided all the drama if we’d followed the Republican budget proposal to “Fund Education First” last time.

We tried to do the right thing before.

We’ll try again.

Siegfried: The top priority of our state should be to fully fund education by bringing in new revenue. We need to stop giving tax breaks to big business and start prioritizing the future of our state.

The Legislature failed once again to pass a long-negotiated, multibillion dollar transportation package. How would you ensure the Spokane-area gets the funding it wants for important projects.

Holy: The Legislature did pass a transportation budget. It didn’t pass a gas tax. The real trick here is finding some level of certainty that transportation projects long overdue in our region will be funded – without having those projects again held over our head as leverage to force a tax increase.

Siegfried: I would prioritize the completion of North-South freeway. I would support a transportation package that funds the North-South freeway, unlike my opponent who voted against a complete transportation package.

Spokane voters overwhelmingly called for independent police oversight but city leaders and others say full implementation would be blocked by state labor laws. What, if any, changes or clarifications should the Legislature consider to these laws?

Holy: First needed is establishment of a SPD ombudsman by city charter, where the ombudsman has autonomous investigative authority over all including city administration, only allowing ombudsman removal for just cause and having investigative results available to the public. Only by providing truly independent oversight can we provide true government accountability.

Siegfried: As a legislator, my top priority would be to represent the people’s needs and I would work tirelessly to ensure police oversight is fully realized. If the only way we could realize this goal is through legislation, I would strongly consider prime sponsoring a bill to accomplish this.

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Holy: Focus. I’ve focused on accomplishing the one thing that I believe will resolve so many Spokane issues – how we can attract and establish a base of employers providing solid middle class wages. My goal is to have Spokane known as that place where people come, because they know opportunity exists.

Siegfried: I work 40 hours a week in maintenance at WSU Spokane and 20 hours a week landscaping. I am not a career politician and will work for the people, not corporate interests.