OLYMPIA — Three candidates are seeking election to State Representative Position 2 in Legislative District 13. To help voters compare their views, each candidate was asked the same set of questions. This question asks candidates to outline their top priorities if elected. 

Deanna Martinez and Don Myers submitted responses by the deadline. Joshua Thompson submitted his response one day late, citing a family medical emergency. His answers are included so voters can consider the positions of all three candidates. 

Primary ballots must be postmarked or returned by Aug. 4. 

Question: If elected, what would be your top three priorities during your first legislative session, and why are those priorities most important to the residents of the 13th Legislative District? 

Martinez: If elected, what would be your top three priorities during your first legislative session, and why are those priorities most important to the residents of the 13th Legislative District?  

Return and maintain local control. Local decisions are best addressed by local government and communities. One-size fits all mandates and bad policy from Olympia does not reflect the issues, needs and values of the 13th district  

Stop the income tax- it’s driving business investors/potential revenue out of our state.   

Improve affordability by decreasing taxes and reallocating state spending to agencies and programs to better address our needs not our desires.   

Myers: My first priority would be improving affordability for working families. Too many decisions made in Olympia have increased the cost of housing, energy and everyday necessities. I will focus on reducing unnecessary regulations, reviewing policies that drive up costs and making sure government lives within its means before asking taxpayers to pay more. 

Second, I will prioritize infrastructure that supports the long term success of Central Washington, especially water, transportation and energy. Those three systems are the foundation of our agricultural economy, housing growth and future job creation. We need to maintain the infrastructure we have, invest strategically for the future and coordinate projects so taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. 

Third, I will work to restore greater flexibility for local communities. The 13th District is diverse, and communities across Central Washington should have more freedom to address their own challenges rather than relying on one size fits all policies from Olympia. Local leaders are often in the best position to understand what their communities need. 

These priorities are connected. When families can afford to live here, infrastructure supports growth and local communities have the flexibility to solve problems, the entire 13th District is stronger. 

Thompson: My first priority would be lowering the cost of living and making Washington more affordable. I would oppose new income taxes and unnecessary tax increases, reduce regulations that raise the cost of housing and doing business, and support policies that help families, farmers, and small businesses keep more of what they earn. 

My second priority would be protecting agriculture, water access, and critical infrastructure. I would fight to preserve Columbia Basin Project water, secure funding for the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program, and invest in highways, farm-to-market roads, bridges, rail, and freight corridors. Agriculture is the backbone of the 13th District, and reliable water and transportation systems are essential to protecting jobs and growing our economy. 

My third priority would be strengthening public safety and access to essential services. I would support law enforcement, address the fentanyl and mental-health crises, and expand rural healthcare workforce programs, telehealth, and local training opportunities. Families should not have to wait months or travel hours to receive care, and communities deserve the resources needed to remain safe. 

These priorities – affordability, agriculture and infrastructure, and safe, healthy communities – reflect the everyday concerns I hear from residents across the district. My focus would be delivering practical results while protecting local control, constitutional rights, and the values of Central Washington.