The focus should not be on partisan politics,but on the proper role of government so that we can increase liberty, opportunity, and prosperity while still caring for our most vulnerable.

I've already knocked on thousands of doors all over our district, and with six candidates on the ballot, people want to know: what kind of Republican are you? Our district includes many Independents and a growing number of frustrated fiscally-conservative Democrats. If elected, I will represent the entire district. You know my platform, so let's talk about my record of holding to my values while working reasonably and effectively with people who may hold different views.

I am known as a defender of the core values listed on our County and State Republican websites, and have been very active with the Snohomish County Republicans since 2004 when I began volunteering on campaigns. Snohomish County Republicans list Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability; Smaller, Localized Government; Individual Liberty; Free Enterprise; and God and Country as their core values. Skagit County Republicans list on their website individual liberty, free enterprise, private property rights, and freedom from oppressive taxation and excessive regulation. In addition to volunteering on many Republican campaigns at the city, county, state and national level, I have also been an active Precinct Captain, an Legislative District Chair, a Caucus Chair, and an officer in Evergreen Republican Women's Club, which is one of the two Snohomish County Republican Women's clubs. During the last three years I have given many speeches on the proper role of government (to Rotarians, students, and single-issue groups), and trained Snohomish County Precinct Committee Officers as well as fiscally-conservative candidates for city councils, school boards, and water districts, which led to my award as 2011 Republican Woman of the Year (ERWC).

One example of working effectively with people of other political parties is my work on the Citizens Levy Review Committee in Edmonds, where I was the lone person on our team who advocated for not putting an increased property tax on the ballot. My team of fellow citizens and I took a close look at the city budget and identified some places we thought could be tightened. I wrote the minority opinion for our team (the majority wanted to put a levy on the ballot for well over $3 million), continued to advocate for living within our means, and eventually the City Council did agree not to put the levy on the ballot that fall; more importantly, my team members and I shared a mutual respect and several stayed in touch. This kind of reasonable approach is what we need at all levels of government.