Meet Shelly Schlumpf, Candidate for 25th District State Representative

This is part of a series of candidate profiles Patch will be bringing you for the 2012 elections. Shelly Schlumpf is running against Dawn Morrell for Position No. 1 in the 25th Legislative District.

NAME:  Shelly Schlumpf

OFFICE SOUGHT:  State Representative, 25th District, Pos. 1

PARTY AFFILIATION:  Republican

TOWN OF RESIDENCE:  Puyallup

CURRENT OCCUPATION:  President & CEO of the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:  Small business owner for over 20 years, Executive Director for Sumner Downtown Association, Puyallup River Watershed Council member, Tacoma Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau board member, Paralegal and Office Manager local law firm

WEBSITE:  www.shellyschlumpf.org

WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FACING VOTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT?  It’s challenging to identify just one issue because jobs, education and the state budget are all important to the voters I’m talking to in the 25th District.  However, transportation is a common theme in most conversations because it affects everyone on a daily basis in each of those categories.  Whether you are a commuter trying to get to your job, driving to school, traveling to meetings as part of your occupation, transporting freight or even just trying to get to the airport on time, our transportation corridors have a chokehold on our economic growth in Pierce County.  We need to complete SR 167.

IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?  The Legislature will most likely need to propose a revenue package to fund completion of SR 167 that voters can trust and will vote to support.  What has been frustrating to watch over the past 30 plus years is transportation dollars committed to projects that do not invest in a statewide infrastructure plan supporting economic growth.  I believe we are currently seeing the consequences of prior administration choices that benefit certain regions, but do not improve our state’s economic viability in very competitive national and international markets.  Other states and countries are investing billions in transportation infrastructure.  If we don’t do the same, we will certainly lose business and jobs at our ports, distribution warehouses and manufacturing employers.  This election is critical for our state and we need to elect legislators that will work together with common sense and be willing to make tough choices.  I already do that at a local level and I want to take that same experience and passion for our region to Olympia.

DO YOU SUPPORT/OPPOSE REFERENDUM 74: SHOULD GAY MARRIAGE BE LEGAL IN WASHINGTON? BRIEFLY, WHY? I do not support Ref. 74 personally, but I would respect the will of the voters.

DO YOU SUPPORT/OPPOSE, INITIATIVE 502, TO MAKE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA LEGAL TO PEOPLE 21 AND OLDER? BRIEFLY, WHY?  I do not support Initiative 502.  My conversations with educators, law enforcement and health care providers all indicate this would not be good for Washington or the 25th District.