Incumbents in 5th Legislative District have challengers
May 7, 2008
By Jon Savelle
In the 2006 election, the 5th Legislative District’s three incumbents, all Republicans, had a free ride. There were no Democratic challengers.
This year, things are different. Two Democrats are gunning for Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley, and Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City. So far, no Democrat has stepped up to challenge Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend.
Both Democrats are newcomers to state politics. Phyllis Huster, of Snoqualmie, is aiming for Pflug’s Senate seat. A telecommunications executive, she has been active in the King County Democratic Party.
Carnation resident Jon Viebrock is going after Anderson. A union drywall foreman and ex-Marine, he stresses education funding and environmental protection, particularly for forests and fisheries.
At a Democratic meet-the-candidates gathering April 17, at the Sammamish Library, both shared their ideas about serving in the Legislature while also taking a barrage of advice from supporters.
“I want to put the citizen’s voice back in government,” Huster told the group of about 20 people. “I just don’t feel represented.”
Members of the audience suggested that education, transportation and health care should be the priorities, to which Huster replied that she wasn’t well informed on health care or education.
“Transportation is my No. 1,” she said.
Huster said she favors more roads, increased bus service and perhaps construction of a magnetic levitation (maglev) train system connecting Seattle to the Eastside.
These ideas fueled a lot of discussion, with some people advocating for buses on Issaquah-Hobart Road, others calling for a park & ride on state Route 18, and yet others pushing for alternative fuels.
Some of the political veterans sought to bring the conversation back down to earth. Issaquah activist Nancy San Carlos observed that things like biofuels are not issues that the 5th District’s legislators can do something about.
Similarly, former City Councilman Hank Thomas said running buses south of Issaquah depends entirely on King County Metro, the provider of all bus service in the county.
The gathering provided a forum for Viebrock’s first-ever political speech. A passionate steelhead fisherman, he said his No. 1 issue is environmental protection. Next comes education.
“The overall graduation rate in this state is 67 percent,” he said. “The model of the giant school, with all these kids, is a failure. The trend is downward.”
Both candidates wound up the evening with lots of ideas to ponder, and both said they feel that they have something to offer.
“My wife asked, ‘Why is it that you are really running?’” Viebrock said. He told her: “It’s because of all the years I sat there screaming at the television, watching all these people do these stupid things.”
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