MOSES LAKE – The race for the 13th District seat in the Washington State House of Representatives will between candidates who are dyed-in-the wool members of their parties.

Just as Matt Manweller of Ellensburg was raised a Republican by his parents, Kaj Selmann of Moses Lake was raised a Democrat by his.

“I was raised by a Lutheran pastor father. My mother served on the boards of many social service agencies,” Selmann said. “They are solidly Democrats. They ingrained in me a deep sense of social justice and public service.”

As a general contractor, it's Selmann's job to build new structures and fix things that are outdated or broken. He believes the political system needs fixing, and he wants to apply eastern Washington teamwork and knowhow to the task.

“Our region has a history of working together to build something better,” he said. “The results are the incredible irrigation systems, power generation, and the revitalization of desert into cropland that is some of the most productive in the world.”

Lately, Selmann said, politicians haven’t been doing much building or fixing.

The rhetoric has gotten so bad, he said, that some Republicans would have you believe that having coffee with a Democrat would make you a socialist. Some Democrats would have you believe that shaking hands with a Republican would make you a fascist.

“I’ve learned that out here in the real world, most people, regardless of party affiliation, have honorable motives and just want to see things get done,” he said. “It’s simple. Let’s be fair, let’s be reasonable, let’s get things done.”

Selmann noted he has voted for Republicans for political office, saying he selects the right person for the job.

Selmann married into a family of military, farmers and business owners. He has been in business most of his adult life.

Selmann believes he shares the perspective of a lot of Republicans, and many Democrat business people as well, on issues effecting small business, farming and regulatory reform.

“We need to continue to streamline government and make sure regulatory state agencies have proper oversight of their own practices,” he said.

Selmann says he falls between liberal and conservative. He says his first reaction to most things is that of a conservative. When he thinks things through, however, he usually lines up in the middle.

Selmann believes the health care system needed fixing. But he agrees with only some of the steps taken in Obamacare.

Selmann noted the provision that allows children to be on their parents' health plan to the age of 26, is a positive for him now that he has college-aged children.

He added that a sister with skin cancer was able to get a medical policy because of Obamacare. But he doesn't agree with the buy-or-be-fined mandate.

“I understand why that was needed in this scheme, but that's not the scheme I would have chosen,” he said. “I don't believe you can manage costs with a top down approach.”

If Selmann had been in the House when the gay marriage vote was taken, he would not have voted for it. He would have voted for referring it to a referendum of the people.

Selmann believes gays should be treated as anyone else under God's first two laws, but he said the marriage issue is “too big” to be decided by a legislature. He's glad it will end up on a referendum ballot.

“I realize other people have views different than mine,” he said.

If Selmann were president, he'd tackle the gas price issue with a long-term approach of research and development into alternative fuels. He'd invest federal money in R&D universities.

Selmann pointed to Camelina, a crop that can be planted and harvested with the same equipment as wheat. He said plans call for allowing Conservation Reserve Program landowners to farm it and still collect CRP payments from the government. He said Camelina will produce 500-800 pounds of fuel per acre.

“We already have a biodiesel plant in Moses Lake. Another one is going in at Warden,” he said.

Regarding unemployment, Selmann would encourage the development of green jobs, again by investing in R&D universities. He said a lot of Moses Lake's recent growth can be credited to green jobs.

“We need to re-emphasize rail as a future economic driver throughout the district, including the need to construct a line into the Port of Moses Lake,” Selmann said.

“We need to continue to diversify business and industry in our region. We need to protect the resources necessary to expand our existing agriculture and agribusiness industries.”

Selmann believes the key to the future is at least some political harmony. And he believes he can bring that to the 13th District.

“I know we all have jobs to do, mortgages to pay, and families to attend to, but we have to get involved if we want the system to change,” he said.

“Vote. Register to Vote. Register new voters. Work with a campaign. Get involved. Together we can fix what’s broken, improve what works, and build for the future. Let’s get this done.”

Selmann grew up in Kenmore and attended Central Washington University. While in Ellensburg, he worked at a horse boarding  facility and hay operations. He became a music and youth minister in Seattle and returned to Eastern Washington after marrying his wife, Jo Anne Dacy Selmann, in 1998.

Selmann has built several successful small businesses, including a toner recycling business, a publishing and printing company, and a construction and remodel company.

In his spare time he enjoys horseback riding, guitar and piano, writing music, and spending time with Jo Anne and their three children.