Candidates across the 12th Legislative District, now reaching from parts of the Snoqualmie Valley to Chelan, are gearing up for the Aug. 6 primary election.
According to Washington’s new legislative district map, residents from parts of Duvall, Carnation, Fall City and North Bend will vote in the 12th Legislative District rather than the 5th Legislative District, as in previous years.
Two candidates are running for State Representative Position 1: Brian Burnett, a former Chelan County sheriff, and Heather Koellen, a nurse at Harborview Medical Center. Jennifer Bumpus, a third candidate, dropped out of the race on July 1, but her name will still appear on the ballot.
Below is a series of questions the Snoqualmie Valley Record posed to each candidate about their priorities, support for residents and their small businesses, housing and SR 18 construction.
If elected, what would your top three priorities be?
HEATHER KOELLEN (D)
1. Improving healthcare access and quality: As an Intensive Care Unit nurse at Harborview Medical Center, I understand firsthand the challenges in our healthcare system. My top priority is to expand access to affordable healthcare for all residents, ensuring that everyone receives the care they need without facing financial hardship. I will advocate for policies that support healthcare workers, increase funding for public health initiatives, and address the mental health crisis.
2. Enhancing public education: Education is the foundation of a thriving community. I am committed to ensuring that our schools are well-funded and that teachers are supported with the resources they need to provide high-quality education. This includes advocating for increased funding for public schools, supporting measures to reduce class sizes, and ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities for all students.
3. Addressing housing affordability: The rising cost of housing is a significant issue affecting many in our community, including service workers, first responders, and teachers. I will work to implement policies that increase the availability of affordable housing, support tenants’ rights, and promote sustainable development practices that meet the needs of our growing population.
BRIAN BURNETT (R)
1. Public safety: Addressing the aggressive growth in crime rates. Let’s empower our local Law Enforcement leaders and their agencies by:
• Advocating for laws and policies that empower our local law enforcement agencies to enhance our living standards through effective law enforcement and education.
• Working collaboratively with local, state and federal partners to properly address the following issues: dangerous drugs, mental health and homelessness.
• Tackling the critical issue of human trafficking and illicit drugs at the Southern Border is a key aspect of our campaign. These issues significantly influence the prevalence of dangerous drugs, mental health challenges and homelessness. My firsthand experience touring the Southern Border has given me a deep understanding of the current situation and its detrimental effects on Washington State and specifically areas within District 12.
• Securing adequate funding for the recruitment, hiring and training of law enforcement. Especially considering that Washington State ranks last in the nation for the number of officers per capita.
2. Helping small businesses thrive: In our quest to stimulate small business growth, we must embrace innovative solutions that minimize over-regulation impacting these businesses, their employees, and their clientele. I am committed to exploring new ways to support your businesses and reduce unwarranted regulation.
3. Lowering your tax burden: Washington state is amongst the frontrunners in the nation when it comes to taxation. The burden of taxation has a negative impact on the escalating costs and inflation that we are experiencing. I pledge to tackle these issues and only support legislation that supports vital and important tax based programs, departments, and projects. Gas taxes are amongst the highest in the nation yet our roads, bridges, ferry systems and other critical infrastructure are failing. Individuals with fixed, low, and medium incomes are experiencing unprecedented financial pressure due to the rising costs of fuel, groceries, housing, healthcare, and other necessities. This is a reality I cannot ignore. Reducing your tax burden and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand.
With the redistricting in Washington State, a portion of the Snoqualmie Valley was looped into the 12th District, which stretches to Chelan. How will you work to learn and address the specific needs of residents in the Snoqualmie Valley?
HEATHER KOELLEN (D)
I plan to engage directly with community members through town hall meetings, listening sessions, and regular meetings with community leaders and local electeds. My door will always be open to any constituent and I will work to be at as many community events as possible to ensure residents have the opportunity to highlight their issues and concerns.
BRIAN BURNETT (R)
I’ve already been hard at work on this. I’ve logged over 3,000 miles on my personal vehicle since Jun 10, 2024, as I’ve traveled throughout the 12th district, meeting with individuals, business owners, attending chamber of commerce meetings and other events. I will work with the other legislators from the 12th to host both live and virtual forums and meetings in order to gather information that is important to members of the 12th district that I can take back to Olympia. I will identify and work with many partners from all three counties in order to continually gather up to date information that represents their communities.
Housing in our community has become unaffordable for many – including service workers, first responders, law enforcement and teachers. What policies or ideas would you support to address this?
HEATHER KOELLEN (D)
To address the housing affordability crisis, I support a multi-faceted approach:
• Increasing affordable housing supply: Advocate for state funding and incentives for the construction of affordable housing units, ensuring a diverse range of housing options are available for all income levels.
• Supporting inclusionary zoning: Promote policies that require new developments to include a percentage of affordable units, helping to integrate affordable housing throughout our communities.
• Expanding housing assistance: Increase investments for programs that provide rental assistance, homebuyer education, and financial support for low- and moderate-income families.
BRIAN BURNETT (R)
Affordable housing has been one of the top discussion points across the 12th District for quite some time. I’ll work closely with other legislators to identify and only support legislation that moves the needle of affordable housing to support our communities and their needs. One of the top priorities will be to identify and shutdown over regulation, which is a huge factor in the rising cost of housing, among other things. I’m endorsed by both the Building North Central Washington and the Affordable Housing Central Washington Home Builders Association. Those organizations are a direct link to the businesses that have invaluable input to best practice policy and solutions to the affordable housing crisis.
How would you work to support the small businesses in the Snoqualmie Valley?
HEATHER KOELLEN (D)
Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and I am committed to supporting their growth and success. My priorities are:
• Advocate for financial support: Push for state grants, low-interest loans, and tax incentives aimed at helping small businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic and thrive in the long term.
• Streamline regulatory processes: Work to simplify and expedite the permitting and licensing processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles that can stifle business growth.
• Promote local business initiatives: Support initiatives that encourage residents to shop locally and programs that highlight the unique offerings of small businesses in the Snoqualmie Valley.
• Enhance workforce development: Invest in workforce training programs that provide small businesses with access to a skilled and capable labor force.
BRIAN BURNETT (R)
The exact way I will support businesses in all three counties in District 12. Listen to their needs and challenges and only support legislation that coincides with supporting small businesses and making sure we minimize and eliminate wasteful policies that put an overburden and unwarranted mandates and regulations on small businesses.
Construction efforts to widen State Route 18 are a significant source of concern in the Snoqualmie Valley. How will you work to decrease the present funding gap and support the project’s completion?
HEATHER KOELLEN (D)
The widening of SR-18 is a critical infrastructure project for the Snoqualmie Valley, and I am committed to ensuring its timely completion. The next legislators from the 12th need to get this project completed. I will focus on:
• Securing state and federal funding: Advocate for increased state and federal transportation funding to bridge the current funding gap. This includes lobbying for grants and appropriations specifically designated for infrastructure improvements.
• Exploring public-private partnerships: Explore opportunities for public-private partnerships that can provide additional funding and resources for the project.
• Ensuring transparent project management: Ensure transparent and efficient management of the project by holding regular oversight meetings and keeping the community informed of progress and any potential challenges.
• Community involvement: Engage with local stakeholders, including residents and businesses, to gather input and support for the project, ensuring that their needs and concerns are addressed throughout the construction process.
BRIAN BURNETT (R)
Making sure the state prioritizes its funding and projects. Projects that have been funded need to be funded and completed before going on to other new projects. This will help the rising costs of construction for delaying those projects. We must also prioritize restoration projects in order to minimize long term costs. I will work closely with other legislators to make sure the proper amount of funding is being utilized for transportation and making sure we are being proactive vs. reactive. We should be planning 20 to 30 years in advance. Unfortunately it appears that the state transportation budget is being manipulated and we are working 20 years behind schedule. This all to say that as Washington state is one of the highest taxed states in the nation we should be leaps and bounds above other states in the transportation department. Prioritization will be key to making this happen.
