Newcomers Join Legislative Races Parks, Lesofski On Gop Ticket; Peck Takes Run At Mccaslin

The owner of a north Spokane espresso shop and a substitute teacher from Liberty Lake are late entries in the fall legislative campaigns.

Republican Michael L. Parks, owner of Shot of Heaven espresso stand and a former auto mechanic, said he was new to politics but concerned about such issues as crime and road repair.

Rather than complain about government but do nothing, Parks said he decided to take his political involvement to the next level. He has been a Republican precinct committee officer for two years.

He said he’s concerned about the “wholesale whacking” of government budgets after Initiative 695 passed last fall.

“Tax cuts need to be planned and implemented carefully,” he said.

The house and the espresso stand he and his wife own are both in Central Spokane’s 3rd District. He will be challenging Democrat Jeff Gombosky, a two-term member of the state House of Representative.

Parks, 39, has lived in Spokane for about 12 years. Although a political novice, he doesn’t consider that a problem.

“That in itself can be an asset when you’re trying to change the status quo,” he said.

The county Republican Party nominated Parks on Friday for the seat because Gombosky had no opponent. The GOP also nominated Andrew Lesofski, 4008 N. Magnolia, to run against Democratic Rep. Alex Wood, who was also unopposed. Lesofski could not be reached for comment Friday.

In the Valley, Jim Peck stepped into the 4th District race against five-term Republican Sen. Bob McCaslin.

Peck, 56, said he was asked to file for the seat after other Democrats decided at the last minute not to run.

This is Peck’s first run for public office. He has been active in the party in Spokane since retiring from the U.S. Army and moving here more than three years ago.

Before entering his own political race, Peck was working on the congressional campaign of Tommy Flynn.

“I think I have a real desire for service, and I think that is exemplified by my 28 years in the military,” he said.

Peck and his wife, Joy, live in Liberty Lake. He is a substitute teacher for District 81 and the three Valley school districts.

If elected, Peck said he will draw on his experience as a teacher to work for increased funding for public schools.

“My primary issues also are working for a livable wage here in Spokane,” he said. “And I’m very interested in health care both for children and for elder people - some form of health care for all.”

He joins Libertarian Robert Chase in the race against McCaslin.