Primary Election ballots are in hand in Washington, and among the races in Spokane is state representative district three. Incumbent Marcus Riccelli is finishing his first term and running for re-election, this year against one opponent he faced last time, and a first time candidate.
Marcus Riccelli is a dedicated Democrat who is vice-chair of the state’s Health Care and Wellness Committee, and sits on the capital budget and transportation committees. Running against him for state representative are Tim Benn, an Independent-R, and Randy McGlenn, a Libertarian.
Riccelli has a good first term resume, having been the prime sponsor of three health related bills that passed with bi-partisan support, including one that requires stricter standards for newborn screenings.
His opponent last time, Tim Benn, is running for the seat again on the platform of advocating for small businesses, and less government regulation. Benn prides himself on not taking any campaign donations from special interest groups, which nearly all candidates do.
Benn: “And we’re allowing special interests to write the legislation, push it through whichever political party they find friends in, and that’s not representative government.”
Benn has experience with legislation, since he helped champion a bill in the legislature last year that removed day-care policies that he says were burdensome. He previously identified as a Republican, but is running as an Independent R this time because he says he wants to vote for what’s best for Spokane, not what his party tells him.
His other opponent, Randy McGlenn, also has something to say about the two primary parties. McGlenn is a Libertarian and says he holds true to his parties principles of minimum government and maximum freedom.
McGlenn: “We have to take a seriously hard look at how our government is taxing businesses, especially small businesses, and try to find new ways that are going to help set our local businesses up for success.”
McGlenn has a background serving in the Army, and 20 years of work in the information technologies industry. He says his IT experience has taught him how to do more with less, and he says that’s a message that needs to be sent to Olympia: do more with less.
All three candidates are on the primary ballot in Washington, and two will advance to the general election.
Fundraising has been lopsided so far. Riccelli’s campaign chest is full with 83-thousand dollars raised, with the biggest donations from one individual and the Washington State Indian Gaming Association. Benn has picked up almost four-thousand, all in individual contributions, and McGlenn has not reported any money raised so far to the Public Disclosure Commission.
Copyright 2014 Spokane Public Radio
