MESA — Pat Hailey is running for election as a Republican to the state House of Representatives for the Ninth Legislative District because she is knowledgeable about the issues and concerns of citizens living in the district.

“By serving the house, I can take those issues to Olympia and be a strong clear voice to make a difference for the economy, education and agriculture,” she stated. “My main goal is to serve the people of this great district with integrity, honesty and hard work.”

She explained how her experience will help her with the position.

“Having traveled the Ninth District far and wide for seven years has given me an insight to the people and their issues that perhaps no other candidate has,” Hailey stated. “I travel constantly from Franklin to Asotin, Spokane, Garfield and Whitman counties talking with people, listening to them. I have worked on agricultural legislative issues for 30 years through ag organizations and educational issues through my time in office on the North Franklin School District Board of Directors.”

Her goals for the position are to remove the ‘use it or lose it’ water policy and prevent passage of legislation that is harmful to farming operations.

“I want to protect farms of all sizes from being placed on the B&O tax system,” she stated. “We need to remove some of the hardships from our small business owners, not add more.”

Hailey explained the tax should be paid based upon profit, not gross.

“We need to make it a fair tax,” she stated. “Our business owners are over taxed and over regulated. We need them in our communities. We need to stop running them off main street.

She stated the budget will be a challenge for the office.

“We will need to work for common sense solutions to recover our economy and to find common sense solutions to budget cuts,” Hailey stated. “We need to prioritize our needs, separate them from our wants and tighten up our belts. That is the way we have to do it on the farm. When the economy gets better we can fund some of our wants, but we always have to remember that rainy day fund needs to be in place for the next time.”

She explained why citizens should vote for her.

“A good legislator listens at home, learns the issues and gains understanding, then goes to Olympia and works for good solutions with common sense and a clear voice for the people who elected you,” she stated. “I will be that kind of legislator. I will always have an open door for any and all. My campaign is about the people of this district and this state and not about special interest groups and big political action committees.”

Hailey explained she will serve with honesty, integrity and sincerity.

“I have the experience and knowledge to get the work done for the people of Eastern Washington,” she stated.

She stated she will support farmers and agriculture in Adams County.

“I am a farmer. I own and operate a fourth generation family farm in Franklin County,” she explained. “The Adams County line is about 15 miles from my ranch. I will work to support and serve farmers in Adams County as I would farmers across this great legislative district. I have spent a lifetime working on agricultural issues and farmer’s rights. I will continue to do that in the House of Representatives.”

She stated water is a serious issue surrounding farmers.

“This is the ultimate issue for farmers. I cannot survive on my farm without water for domestic use or for my livestock,” Hailey explained. “We have to sustain those water rights and protect our right to use them as stewards of our lands. In Eastern Washington we understand the difference between ground water and surface water and the importance of conservation.”

It’s important to increase tourism because it generates business, she stated.

“It also gives us the opportunity to create new business and improve what we have,” she explained. “I would listen to and support ways of creating new ways of getting people to visit our area. It helps us all.”

She explained her view on the state’s role in increasing natural gas pipeline capacity.

“In my opinion increasing natural gas pipeline capacity would be something the state should work toward,” Hailey stated. “The state should take the lead role because it would increase business opportunities for certain industries which would be a boon in the economy.”

She has several priorities for Adams County.

“My top priority for Adams County would mirror what I would work for district wide. We need to put agriculture in the center of the plate, in other words to educate legislators from other regions and especially urban areas, that in the Ninth District we generate $1.2 billion toward the state’s economy,” she explained.

She stated the ‘use it or lose it’ policy must be changed this year because it affects agriculture and the community negatively.

“Supporting efforts to bring new businesses to our towns and helping sustain the ones we have by lifting unnecessary regulations and giving some tax relief would be a priority,” Hailey stated. “Education is the top priority of the state legislature. Our community schools are important to maintaining our lifestyle in Eastern Washington. I want to work toward stable funding and consistent programs.”