State House of Representatives (Pos. 2) – Nate Lowry

Candidate Questionnaire

1. Your name

Nate Lowry

2. Candidate for:

House of Representatives Pos. 2
Party Affiliation: Democrat

3. Campaign information

4. If elected, what positive changes will you champion that will benefit the 31st LD?

  • Our regressive tax code in this State needs reforming, I plan to educate voters on the
    campaign trail and support/draft laws that support these efforts where feasible.

    • A very viable way to do this is to enact a capital gains tax, we are surrounded by
      states that have one the least being Idaho at 7%…time for a change.
  • I strongly support ECAP/Head Start education efforts as well as STEM educational efforts. McClearly (assuming resolved) should help in both of these areas and I would plan to fight for both of these worthwhile causes in our educational system.
  • My stance on protecting our waters, air and overall environment is less of a positive change and more protecting our State’s current laws & regulations against federal deregulation. Federal Government has taken a less than ideal EPA stance and it will be important to protect our State against those who intend to leverage that. As a licensed landscape architect in our legislature I would be vocal in thwarting those efforts.

5. What are the three most critical issues you expect to encounter in the office you are seeking?

  • Revenues & Levels of Service: How to provide the level of service Washington residents require while balancing other requirements.
  • ST3: Funding and taxes regarding this massive long-term transportation package for 31st constituents.
  • Education: The McCleary decision, if resolved how the agreed upon resolution(s) is enacted, how local Levy’s are handled in that process, how/where revenues go, what the impact if any to property tax rates state wide will be.

6. Please give us an example of when you had to a make a critical decision that, due to its impact on others, was difficult. Tell us why you made your decision and what, if any, actions you took to mitigate any negative results.

Local Edgewood residents enjoy a tax holiday as the only city in Pierce County that does not have a utility tax. This puts strain on local revenue and most specifically hampers our largest general fund expenditure law enforcement in the city.

As a member of City Council, I made a motion to enact a $20 car tab fee to help fund an already low level of law enforcement service (per capita numbers) regardless of its potential political toll on me (motion ultimately did not pass). The utility tax is very political and an uphill battle in the City of Edgewood, have mentioned this to the mayor and other council members on more than one occasion making the case for the $20 car tab fee. Was worth the risk to keep my City at safer law enforcement levels and would be the first to repeal the tab tax should a utility tax pass. City use to have a $20 tab fee, my motion was to re-instate it.

7. What methods will you employ to communicate with your constituency on a regular basis?

  • If voted into office I plan to hold town halls during legislative breaks in multiple
    geographical areas in the 31 district.
  • Plan to have regular Facebook and Twitter updates as well as an email list while in office
    to keep in contact with subscribers as well as constituents who stop in.
  • Do plan to with strong help of my aide responding to all or most legitimate constituents
    email/phone/mail inquiries where feasible.

8. What other information would you like us to consider?

My fifteen-year professional landscape architecture career and going on six-year political career (planning commission and city council) has prepared me well to be a good candidate and good state legislator. I look forward to potentially serving the people of the 31st as a member of the house.

I declare under penalty of perjury the foregoing is true and correct.

Signed at: Edgewood, WA

Signature:

 

 

Additional Information

 

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