6th Legislative District Benson Vs. Personett: Health Care A Top Issue

Mostly political newcomers are fighting for two state House seats in the 6th District.

Republican Rep. Duane Sommers, 63, is the only veteran, selected in November to finish Rep. Todd Mielke’s term in the Position 2 seat. He also served in the statehouse from 1987 to 1992, bowing out of the seat after redistricting.

The other three candidates are new to political races.

Democrat Jerry Hopkins, 58, squeaked by in a tight primary to face Sommers.

Republican Brad Benson, 37, is running against Democrat Judy Personett, 55, for the Position 1 seat.

That race will likely be tight. The 6th District is historically a Republican district, not sending a Democrat to the statehouse in a decade.

But Personett and her primary opponent together grabbed 53 percent of the vote.

Personett and Benson have raised about the same amount of money. Benson has raised more than $27,000, mostly from political action committees, companies and associations.

Personett has raised more than $24,000. Her biggest contributions have come from Democratic Party groups.

Benson is an Air Force veteran, a former bank officer and an ice-cream store owner. He describes himself as a typical conservative. His major issues are crime and education, and he advocates fewer regulations and taxes.

Personett worked as a Veterans Affairs nurse in California and Spokane for 22 years. She’s now a health-care management consultant. Personett wants to ensure that poor and elderly people aren’t forgotten by the government. Her major issue is health care.

“This could end up being a race about which is the big issue for the district,” Benson said.

Hopkins vs. Sommers

In the other race, Sommers has raised almost twice as much money as Hopkins, pulling in more than $34,000.

In the primary, the unopposed Sommers grabbed 53 percent of all voters. Hopkins beat his Democrat opponent by only 57 votes.

Hopkins is a retired teacher and the former president of the Spokane Education Association. He’s an advocate of public schools and youth programs.

Sommers would like to reform regulations and decrease some taxes.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Map: 6th Legislative District

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