EPHRATA — As voters in Washington's 13th Legislative District prepare to cast their ballots, they will choose between a longtime incumbent and a first-time challenger for a seat in the state House of Representatives. 

Republican Tom Dent, who has represented the district since 2015, is seeking reelection against Democrat Juan "Jerry" Garcia. The district stretches across all or parts of Grant, Adams, Kittitas, Yakima and Lincoln counties, encompassing a largely rural region of Central Washington. 

As part of the Columbia Basin Herald's election coverage, both candidates were asked the same series of questions about state spending, public policy and the priorities they would bring to Olympia if elected. Their responses are presented below. This is the second installment in a two-part candidate Q&A series ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

Ballots must be postmarked or returned to an official ballot drop box by Nov. 3. Voters can verify their registration status and access election information through VoteWA.gov. Grant County voters may also contact the Grant County Elections Office at 509-754-2011 ext. 2704 with election-related questions. 

Question: If you were asked to help close a significant state budget shortfall and could not raise taxes, what would be your top two spending priorities to protect and one area of the budget you would be willing to reduce? Why?

Garcia: One of my campaign pillars is “Smart Public Investments." Essentially, we need to spend a little more now to save even more later. I would protect children's education, because cuts there cost us for generations, literally. The second would be securing the funding to finish the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program because our farms and local towns depend on the aquifer. We can’t just stop halfway! One area I would be willing to reduce is the Department of Corrections. We have a nursing shortage, where we hire contract nurses at a higher rate. We should consider more local nurses. Also consider the Medications for Opioid Use Disorder program by tightening eligibility requirements to focus on people who have already arrived from county jails, and tighter on those about to return to society, because for some Incarcerated it's easy to fraudulently qualify. We can also pair this with a hiring freeze on non-essential positions, to prevent people from being laid off.  

Dent: We don't have a money problem; we have a spending problem. The first thing we must do is make budget cuts across the board to stabilize our finances, then we need to look at every line item in the budget and prioritize where we spend our money.  We have to prioritize our personal budgets, why don't we prioritize the public's budget. Our current spending is not sustainable; we absolutely need to become fiscally responsible. Since I took office, I have seen the state budget double; the people's wages haven't doubled. This pattern is unacceptable. 

Question: What is one quality, accomplishment or leadership trait you genuinely respect about your opponent? Given that strength, why do you still believe you are the better choice to represent the 13th District in Olympia?

Dent: Truthfully, I do not really know my opponent, and to give an opinion would not be a fair answer.  

I am proud of what I have accomplished in my time in the legislature, I have worked hard to represent the people here at home. My record is an open book, and I encourage folks to have a look. I am also transparent and accessible, questions, issues, I am but a phone call away.  

I have always said politics is a relationship, relationships and seniority matter. And it not just relationships within the House of Representatives, but the Senate, and with the staff, and with the Governor's office, and with the Agency's, and many more. These relationships don't happen overnight; it takes years to build these relationships. I have cultivated these relationships for years, and they are gold to my ability to represent the district. And seniority matters when you are trying to move legislation, gain access to agency staff or just need a favor moving a project up the list. Relationships built on trust and respect coupled with seniority matter in the legislature. 

Garcia: One leadership trait my opponent has attempted is his efforts on House Bill 1561, expanding the Department of Children Youth Families Oversight Board from eighteen people to twenty-one, mandating Eastern Washington getting five seats. A form of DEI. A great example of going beyond identity politics. I believe that I'm the better choice because I see that as great legislation as well; I'm not blinded by party loyalty. I hate discussing identity politics, but currently that's what is often seen. But at the end of the day, we all have the same goal of funding our localities and emphasizing faster processes as needed. For example, another thing my opponent advocated for was HB1047, removing local fire departments from sales taxes that returned to the General Fund. I would advocate for that as well, expanding in fact! Expand it to who? I would advocate for expanding exemption policies to local agency departments, within a small population threshold, to include law enforcement, park and recreation, hospitals and so forth. That they are no longer forced to hand their limited tax dollars to the state’s General Fund when buying critical equipment.