Candidate Q&A: Wa State Representative – Position 1

The All Point Bulletin asked candidates running for 42nd Legislative District position 1 and 2 seats about their top priorities, if elected to the state House of Representatives, and what makes them fit to represent north Whatcom County residents in the state Legislature. The November 8 general election candidates provided written responses to the questions.

Position 1

Alicia Rule

What are your top three priorities for Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts if elected? How will you work to ensure those priorities are met?

1: Fight for economic opportunity for everyone and support working families by increasing the number of family wage jobs, ensuring strong wages and protecting jobs at our local refineries. I will work to reopen Intalco and support our local businesses. Everyone deserves a shot at a good paying job, whether you go to college or not.

2: Support law enforcement and improve public safety while building a robust mental health and addiction recovery system that saves lives and keeps people off the streets. Continue to improve the child welfare system and keep children and families safe.

3: Continue to bring our tax dollars home and put them to work in our communities, supporting infrastructure projects like making train crossings work better, fixing roads and bridges, and working with our military department to create a statewide disaster program so our state can respond with relief that is fast and effective for our local communities, including the unique needs of Point Roberts.

What makes you the best candidate for the position?

I am the current state representative for our district. I have previously served on the Blaine City Council and as the president of the Blaine Downtown Alliance. I live in Blaine as your neighbor. I own a mental health practice and have worked as a social worker as my career. I earned my bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and my masters in social work from San Diego State University. I have earned the endorsement of organized labor, business, law enforcement, teachers and nurses, including the sole endorsement of the Washington Fraternal Order of Police, Washington State Labor Council, Association of Washington Business, and Planned Parenthood.

What else do you want people to know about your campaign?

I genuinely and passionately care about the community that has been home to my family for five generations and I am invested in ensuring this can continue to be a home for our children and grandchildren.

Tawsha (Dykstra) Thompson

What are your top three priorities for Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts if elected? How will you work to ensure those priorities are met?

1: Public safety: Blaine, as a municipality, has its own police department but Custer, Birch Bay, and Point Roberts all receive public safety services through the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Staffing shortages impact those hard to reach areas, such as Point Roberts. We need to ensure that laws negatively impacting law enforcement are repealed and legislature empowering our officers is enacted to assist with recruiting good people to become law enforcement officers in Washington.

2: Internet and broadband services: There has been progress made in these areas but we need to continue working toward good internet and broadband service to unincorporated areas of Whatcom County.

3: Infrastructure: Both Birch Bay and Point Roberts have experienced flooding issues. Better planning and development is needed to protect those communities.

What makes you the best candidate for the position?

As a 25-year veteran of law enforcement I have the training, skills and expertise to tackle the public safety legislation that needs to be repealed and amended to bring the skyrocketing crime problem back down to earth. I am endorsed by sheriff Bill Elfo, Whatcom County prosecutor Dave McEachran (retired) and many more.

What else do you want people to know about your campaign?

My entire professional career has been as a public servant and professional problem solver. I commit to working collaboratively with everyone from both sides of the aisle to complete our common goals. As your state representative I will continue to serve all the people of the 42nd district to the best of my ability.