Washington Legislature, District 3, House Position 2
Stretching through much of central Spokane, District 3 tends to favor Democrats, but that hasn’t stopped Republicans from mounting active campaigns for the two House seats.
House Position 2: Republican Morgan Oyler has a tough challenge. The county GOP has declined to back him and Democratic incumbent state Rep. Timm Ormsby had a strong showing in the primary, winning 62 percent of the vote. Oyler says greater fiscal responsibility is needed in Olympia and that Ormsby is more aligned with Seattle than Spokane.
But Ormsby says that living in the district most of his life has given him “a keen sense of the struggles and the needs of the 3rd District” and an understanding of how important a strong education system and other government-funded services are to his constituents.
Almost all of the $12,000 Oyler has raised has come from California – where Oyler lived until he attended Gonzaga University. Ormbsy has raised $42,000, including $800 donations from Avista and the Washington Education Association.
• Timm Ormsby , 51
Incumbent Democrat
Bio: Married. Three children. North Central High School graduate. Business representative for the Northeastern Washington-Northern Idaho Building and Construction Trades Council. Served in state House since 2003. Website: www.timmormsby.com.
Issues: Voted for temporary taxes, including on candy and soda, to help balance budget. Says “anything and everything” should be considered for cuts but that tax increases should not be ruled out to prevent drastic cuts. Opposes liquor privatization, saying potential savings from privatization would be lost through higher costs to public safety. Supports state’s domestic partner law. Says state should have a role in curbing global warming.
• Morgan Oyler , 27
Republican
Bio: Single. No children. Graduate of Crossroads School in California. Bachelor’s degree, Gonzaga University. Currently unemployed. Supervised two homes for at-risk youths for Helping Hands. Website: www.voteoyler.com.
Issues: Favors repeal of temporary taxes. Says he opposes tax increases “at this time” to help balance budget. Says some state agencies should be consolidated, such as ones that deal with environmental issues. Says state staffs should be cut and salaries reduced. Supports liquor privatization and state’s domestic partner law. Says global warming is “cover for an agenda that wouldn’t have popular support.”