ARLINGTON – John Koster looked like he hasn’t missed a beat.

The Arlington Republican spoke to the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Oct. 11, along with his challenger, Ronda Metcalf, a Darrington Democrat.

After serving on the Snohomish County Council and the state House of Representatives, Koster said he “was done with politics.” But then he was asked by outgoing 39th District Republican Rep. Dan Kristianson to try to win his spot, and Koster agreed.

“I know what I’m getting into, and I’m running in spite of that,” Koster said.

He added that the legislature probably will spend most of its time trying to figure out how to fully fund basic education, but he also hopes he can help make a difference in economic development. He said regulations are a problem, as is transportation of goods and services and people. Koster said he has a breadth of experience in the public and private sector to help on the issues.

Metcalf countered that, “What we need in Olympia is change.” She said she has made things happen with the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, including a $15 an hour minimum wage. She helped the tribe becoming fiscally solvent, improving its worth from $1.9 million to $5 million by “making good contracts happen.”

She said the state needs to look at taxes, including giving small businesses small tax breaks. She has worked as a counselor, reuniting families.

“We need help out here” in Darrington, said the tribe’s general manager. “I won’t sugar coat things,” she added, saying opioid overdoses are a problem.

Other candidates also spoke:

U.S. Representative

Rep. Rick Larsen is running for his 9th term for the 2nd District. His opponent is Republican Marc Hennemann.

Born and raised in Arlington, Larsen remains committed to the region. His priorities are jobs, the environment and veterans.

He said U.S. government has had a problem with gridlock, but he has not been part of it. Even though he was in the minority party, he had seven pieces of legislation become law. To fix political gridlock, he said the courts need to overturn law that allows unreported “dark” money to flood into coffers by the millions. He also said every state needs redistricting.

He ended saying transportation means jobs and that he and others are working on a measure that would be worth $450 million to Puget Sound.

Hennemann said he wants government to “leave us alone.” He said if a bill is good for the 2nd District, he will vote for it, working across the aisle.

Hennemann said if Larsen is so committed to veterans then why did he vote against two bills that would have helped them.

He said Larsen only has a 15 percent success rate in bill passage, adding Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would lose his job with stats like that.

The Republican also said Larsen would raise the gas tax.

Superior Court

Both judge candidates talked about their impressive credentials.

Cindy Larson has been a county prosecutor of civil and criminal cases for 19 years after working for retiring Judge Thomas Wynne, who is supporting her. Her goal is always to be “fair and make sure justice is done.”

Larson said she has had to make hard decisions as a prosecutor, such as deciding which sexual assault cases are charged based on evidence that can be proved in court.

“Those are the tough decisions you have to make on the bench,” she added.

Larson also would like a court that works to help children and those with mental illness. She said she would like a mental health court in Superior Court, along with electronic filings.

Challenger Rico Tessandore touted his 17 years as an attorney, including 10 as a judge pro tem. He was ranked No. 1 in the county lawyers’ Bar Poll, has the endorsement of 31 judges, and was endorsed by both parties.

One of his main goals is to make going to court affordable.

“You should not be priced out of the court system,” he said. “People have a fundamental right to have access to court.”

He also said laws on civil cases need updating. He said only about 16 percent of filings are criminal.

Others

Cyrus Habib, a candidate for lieutenant governor, and Linda Wright, a candidate for the other representative spot in the 39th District, also spoke.

Habib said his job is special, with both executive powers filling in for the governor, and legislative powers overseeing the Senate. His background is as an attorney and a bipartisan state lawmaker.

He said he is part of the “New Deal Democrats” who work both sides of the aisle, and regarding partisan politics, we “don’t care who wins.”

Wright is also about helping small businesses and making sure big corporations don’t move out of state. She’d like to help businesses get started and stay in town, even with tax incentives.

She has had eight small businesses over 30 years. She’s also been a school bus driver and if you can do that, “You can do anything.”