Representative Larry Seaquist
Washington's 26th District
Rep. Larry Seaquist entered electoral politics in 2006 as he won election to Washington's House of Representatives. A former US naval officer, Captain Seaquist commanded a number of warships including the bat-tleship USS IOWA during his 32 year career. After leaving th Navy, Larry has been heavily involved in a variety of political endeavors which you can learn more about on his website. He signed our pledge in 2006 and participated in our forum on health care.
Here is Larry's answers to our questionaire:
1. Why are you seeking office? After a lifetime of public
service am deeply concerned about the path down which our country and our
communities are now being led. We are
leaving too many people and too many businesses behind. I wish to help get us
back on course – asap! We need to restore the American promise that, with hard
work and an education, everyone – everyone! – is due the opportunity to find
meaningful work and make a comfortable life.
2. What qualifies you to represent working families? I
began life in a very hard working family and have continued to live in one
every day. As a Navy ship captain I have
been responsible for helping thousands of hard-working young Americans begin
their careers, form strong families, and take leading roles in their
communities.
3. What are the main issues affecting the people you would represent? The
single most important issue is bad politics – the divisive, hot-button campaign
politics of extremists that has left most of our citizen-voters angry and our
major problems unaddressed. The specific
issues heading the “must fix now” list of most voters in the 26th LD
include: 1) improving government accountability, especially regarding property
taxes and fiscal discipline; 2) continuing education reform; 3) rapidly
attacking our health care emergency; 4) making sure there are good, living wage
jobs growing in the district so people can commute less and so their children
will be able to live here, too; 5) taking better care of our environment; 6)
and solving our energy dependency problems.
4. What is your position on the “Right to Work” issue? Opposed.
5. Do you feel government entities should change zoning laws to
accommodate big block retailers like Wal-Mart? No.
6. Do you support initiatives like the “Fair Share Health Care” Bill that
would force large companies to either provide health insurance for their
employees or pay into the state’s health care system? Yes.
7. What is your position on living wage ordinances? As a first-time candidate, I am not familiar with the specific legislative history behind this idea. But I certainly favor the principle that workers must be able to earn a living wage from meaningful work