Washington’s race for lieutenant governor is getting extra attention this year because it’s the only statewide race with no incumbent. It’s also the only race with two candidates from the same party.
Democrats Denny Heck and Marko Liias faced off Thursday evening in a debate shown statewide on TVW. Both made arguments that they will work effectively with Republicans. Liias mentioned specific cases.
“I was proud to partner with Senator Curtis King of Yakima to pass the largest transportation investment in our state history. I’ve worked with Senator Jeff Holy from Spokane on expanding higher education access to more Washingtonians," he said. "And, as our next lieutenant governor, I’m going to bring those experiences, my relationships in the state Senate and a proven bipartisan record, to work for the people of Washington.”
Liias is a state senator from Lynnwood. Heck is retiring from Congress after five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also served five terms in the state House and served as House Majority Leader.
Heck said he believes in what he calls “principled compromise.”
“Why are bipartisan solutions to be desired? The answer is because they’re sturdier," Heck said. "We’ve all lived long enough and seen enough elections where the tide comes in and the tide goes out. If all we’re going to do is adopt one side, just to be repealed when the other side comes into power, then we haven’t provided stability or sturdiness to our solutions.”
You can hear this debate next Thursday at noon on KPBX and Thursday at 6 pm on KSFC. Or you can go to the TVW website and stream it.
