State House

The Washington House of Representatives consists of 98 state lawmakers. They decide how much to tax, how much and where to spend the money, and they make – or repeal – state laws.

Term: Two years.

Annual pay: $36,311.

District 3

Covers: Downtown Spokane and lower South Hill.

Political newcomer and California transplant Laura D. Carder faces an uphill battle, challenging five-term incumbent Democrat Alex Wood. Unlike the rest of Eastern Washington, the 3rd Legislative District tends to favor Democratic candidates.

Democrat Alex Wood, 60, of Spokane: A former radio talk show host and WSU graduate, he promises to keep working on issues important to constituents, including construction of a north Spokane freeway and widening of Interstate 90.

Republican Laura D. Carder, 59, of Spokane: A semi-retired computer programmer, she moved this year from Orange County, Calif., which she compares to “living in Mexico” because of the illegal immigrants. Opposes abortion and the state’s mandatory school testing; favors tougher immigration laws, and letting people smoke cigarettes in well-ventilated bars.

District 4

Covers: Spokane Valley

For the second time in as many elections, eight-year incumbent state Rep. Lynn Schindler will face Ed Foote in her pursuit of a new term.

Foote, a Democrat, is campaigning on education, healthcare and the economy. He works as a substitute teacher in five area school districts.

Schindler manages property and investments with her husband and is campaigning on the need for limiting taxes and government regulation, while improving public schools. At the Capitol, she is the ranking minority member of the local government committee and also serves on committees on transportation and state government operations and accountability.

Democrat Ed Foote, 33, Spokane Valley: Promises to bring more “living-wage” jobs with healthcare benefits to the Spokane area.

Republican Lynn Schindler, 62, Spokane Valley: Promises to keep taxes low, limit government regulation and improve schools.

District 6

Covers: West Spokane.

Position 1

Seeking a rematch from two years ago, retired counselor Don Barlow is trying to oust one-term state Rep. John Serben, an insurance agent.

Democrat Don Barlow, 68, of Spokane: A longtime Spokane school board member and community college life-skills instructor, he promises to seek greater funding for education, revamp what he calls the state’s regressive tax system, make health care more affordable and attract business to the region.

Republican John Serben, 38, of Spokane: He promises “new answers and a new direction” for health care, such as allowing less-comprehensive, cheaper policies, and to scrutinize state spending and push for construction of the North Spokane Corridor.

Position 2

Perennial candidate Barbara Lampert is running against three-term Rep. John Ahern.

Democrat Barbara Lampert, 60, of Spokane: A retiree who’s held more than a dozen jobs, most recently as a nurse’s aide, Lampert has run unsuccessfully for a public office in every election since 1992. Her key issues: preventing crime, expanding health coverage and improving education. A self-described socialist who considers herself more liberal than most Democrats, she promises “equality of opportunity and equality of all people.”

Republican John Ahern, 71, of Spokane: A social conservative who last year publicly sought to have the state Capitol’s holiday tree officially declared a Christmas tree; he owns a small business-equipment company. His top priorities: doing away with the statute of limitations in child-rape cases, toughening drunken driving laws and increasing the senior-citizen property tax exemption.

District 7

Covers: A vast area encompassing much of rural northeastern Washington.

In another rematch, computer manager Jack Miller is trying to oust five-term Rep. Bob Sump, a retired mechanic.

Democrat Jack Miller, 58, who lives near Cheney: A onetime air-traffic controller, Miller is the information services director for Whitworth College.

He wants more affordable health care, economic development and better funding for education.

“I’m pretty much a moderate,” he said. “My primary focus is to try to find reasonable solutions to some of these problems.”

Republican Bob Sump, 65, of Republic: He still has the twang of his native Texas and three key issues: gun rights, property rights and reining in government spending. He tends to sponsor few bills and has repeatedly said that his role as a conservative is often to curtail new laws, rather than add to them.

District 9

Covers: Much of the Palouse and southwest Washington.

In a rare race for an open seat, two candidates are battling to replace longtime state Rep. Don Cox, R-Colfax, who’s retiring after seven years.

Democrat Caitlin Ross, 22, of Valleyford: A 2006 Gonzaga University graduate who works as a lease secretary for a property management firm, Ross says she’ll represent the interests of the district’s colleges, farmers, teachers and working families. She calls the area’s dams “a regional treasure brought to you by Democrats,” and says she’ll promote crop-based fuels and work to enhance education and expand health care coverage.

Ross gained political experience by working on the unsuccessful Democratic congressional campaign of Seattle talk-radio host Dave Ross, her father, two years ago.

Republican Steve Hailey, 61, of Mesa: A Vietnam veteran and third-generation farmer and rancher, Hailey won a four-way Republican primary in September.

A former president of the state cattlemen’s association, Hailey’s focused on improving the business climate, protecting property rights and water rights, and trying to make health care more affordable.

Like Ross, he says he’d be a good voice for the rural district. “I’m not bashful about telling them what it takes to survive over here,” he said.

This is his second try for a state House seat – two years ago, he lost in the GOP primary to Rep. David Buri, R-Colfax.