EPHRATA — Incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Dent and Democratic challenger Juan “Jerry” Garcia offered contrasting approaches to taxes, health care and state government during a candidate forum Wednesday night at the Art Semro American Legion Post 28 in Ephrata.

The forum, hosted ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, featured candidates seeking legislative offices in the 13th District. Dent and Garcia, who are running for Position 1 in the Washington House of Representatives, answered questions about state taxes, bipartisanship and party influence.

Dent, who has represented the district since 2015, talked about his experience in Olympia, committee assignments and record of bipartisan work.

"It is an honor to represent you and the trust that so many of you have placed in me," Dent said.

The Moses Lake farmer said his approach to public service is guided first by his principles, then by the interests of his constituents.

"I will not violate my principles, ever," he said.

Garcia, making his first run for legislative office, told the crowd he entered the race because he believes many residents are struggling with affordability and feel disconnected from the government.

"What I've seen is people in an environment where just the concept of politicians running out here and saying 'affordability this' and 'affordability that' is just insulting," Garcia said.

Garcia said his campaign is built around three priorities: affordability, public investment and "people over party."

"Regardless of what the party thinks, I'm going to vote with what is constitutionally right for people's life, liberty and pursuit of happiness," he said.

One of the sharpest policy differences emerged during a discussion about taxes and state spending.

Asked whether Washington should raise taxes or work within its existing budget, Dent said the state government has a spending problem rather than a revenue problem.

"We don't have a money problem. We have a spending problem," Dent said.

He said lawmakers should review existing programs and eliminate or streamline those that are not producing results.

"My proposal has been to go through every agency and look at all the programs that have been approved by the Legislature over the past several years," Dent said.

Garcia said he believes the state faces both spending and funding challenges.

"I think a broken clock can be right twice a day," Garcia said, agreeing in part with Dent's assessment while saying additional revenue may also be necessary.

Garcia said he supports new taxes, if implemented in a way that protects working families.

"It's not about adding taxes, but rather how we add them, and most of all, who is going to be affected," he said.

The candidates also differed on Washington's capital gains tax, often referred to by opponents as a millionaire's tax.

Dent said he supports repealing it, arguing it could discourage investment and eventually expand to affect more taxpayers.

"It's going to hurt our state," Dent said. "We are seeing people that make a lot of money. They can afford to move. They're not staying here."

Garcia said the debate should focus less on whether new taxes exist and more on who pays them.

"The biggest issue isn't should we have an income tax, but rather how it should be implemented," Garcia said.

When discussing legislative priorities, Garcia said his focus is on campaign finance reform and health care.

"Money out of politics" would be his top priority, he said, followed by efforts to expand health care access.

Dent talked about his existing work in Olympia, saying that successful legislation often depends on relationships rather than partisanship.

"Politics is relationships. Everything in Olympia is about relationships," Dent said.

Dent talked about his record working with Democratic lawmakers despite Republicans remaining in the minority in both legislative chambers.

"We don't have enough Republican votes to pass anything," Dent said. "Sometimes you have to put politics aside and talk about issues."

Garcia said he would also prioritize cooperation across party lines but argued elected officials must focus first on the needs of constituents.

"I don't know everything," Garcia said. "But it is my job to do my job."

Both candidates also said they would reject pressure from party leadership if they believed legislation would harm the 13th District.

Dent said Republican lawmakers are not instructed how to vote and that his decisions are based on his conscience and constituents.

"My conscience, my constituents and the caucus," Dent said, describing his order of priorities.

Garcia similarly said he would not support legislation simply because party leaders wanted it.

"I will stand my ground," Garcia said.