Sen. Rosa Franklin’s retirement after 20 years representing Pierce County in the Legislature has created openings in a district that has long had none.
But when the dust settles after Nov. 2, the faces might still look familiar.
Rep. Steve Conway is giving up his seat in the House to run for Franklin’s position, prompting a four-way race for the 29th Legislative District’s House position 1. (Position 2, currently held by Steve Kirby, faces a runoff in the general election.)
Among the candidates for Conway’s seat is former Tacoma City Councilwoman Connie Ladenburg, long a political fixture of the 29th district. She’s the most qualified candidate in her field.
Conway, a fellow Democrat, is also tops in his race. He replaced Franklin in the House in 1993, a tenure that would have made him the most senior member had he stayed. He was for years the main backer of “fair share” legislation to ensure that Pierce County didn’t remain a dumping ground for ex-cons. Conway finally won his fight in 2008.
He is currently chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and concentrates on workforce issues. Conway works as the secretary-treasurer of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 81 and was one of the few House members to retain the backing of the Washington Federation of State Employees following a legislative session that union leaders labeled labor-unfriendly.
Terry Harder, the Republican candidate, has worked as a account manager for an office supply company and as a small business specialist for a bank. Co-founder of Operation Support Our Troops, he ran for Legislature two years ago. Harder is a credible candidate and offers a choice for those voters who can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democrat.
The third candidate in the race, Ken Paulson, is running as an independent. The father of Jennifer Ann Paulson, the Tacoma teacher who was gunned down by her stalker this year, Paulson is pressing to pass stiffer monitoring for violators of protective orders. It’s a good cause, but one he could also pursue outside of elected office.
In the House race, the field is equally split between Democrats and Republicans. Ladenburg, the former city councilwoman, youth program coordinator for Safe Streets and co-founder of Alliance for Youth of Pierce County, has a solid record of civic involvement and a firm grasp of the issues. She is the candidate who would have the greatest head start in Olympia.
Her Democratic opponent, Jonathan Johnson, provides computer support at Pacific Lutheran University. He is a thoughtful candidate but cannot match Ladenburg’s experience and drive.
On the Republican side, loan officer and former city councilman Steven Cook is running against Bruce Parks, a Pierce County corrections officer.
Cook, who was on the George, Wash., City Council for 11 years and also works as a pastor, ran for Legislature two years ago. That may be why Cook has better defined positions than Parks, who is an engaging candidate campaigning on a public safety and common sense platform. Cook makes the stronger case for election.
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