Meet the candidates

Lisa Brown

Democrat

Personal: 47, single with one child.

Education: High school, 1974; bachelor’s degree, University of Illinois, 1978; master’s degree and doctoral degree in economics, University of Colorado, 1986.

Professional: Assistant and associate professor of economics at Eastern Washington University, 1981-2001. Associate professor in organizational leadership, Gonzaga University, 2001-present.

Political: Two terms in House from Third District, 1992-1996; two terms in Senate, 1996-present, Chair of Senate Energy, Technology and Telecommunications Committee, 1999-2000; Chair of Senate Ways and Means Committee, 2001-2002; Senate minority leader, 2003-present.

Key issues: One is clearly affordable health care, and supporting health care economy. A second key issue is education, in particular we need to invest more in higher education. A third issue is economic development for the region.

Mike Casey

Republican

Personal: 58, single, with five adult children, all adults.

Education: Seattle Prep (High School), 1964; bachelor’s degree, Gonzaga University, 1968; bachelor’s of education, Eastern Washington University, 1969; dentistry degree, Creighton University, 1973.

Professional: U.S. Navy, dentist, 1973-1975; private dental practice, Newport, 1975-1994; state Department of Corrections, Pine Lodge, part-time dentist, 1994 to present; Spokane County Jail, 1994-2002, part-time dentist. Also, volunteer dentistry in Bosnia and Guatemala, 1996-2004.

Political: Newport Public Hospital District board member from 1994 to 2002, including two years as board president.

Key issues: Liability tort reform is needed to limit malpractice awards and bring down health care costs. Small business is bearing brunt of taxation in this area. They are too heavily regulated, and cost of insurance is too high.