Biography (max 750 char)
Shaena Garberich is a community advocate, certified Peer Recovery Coach, litigation paralegal, and candidate for State Representative in Washington's 35th Legislative District. She has worked as an Outreach Specialist and Resource Room Navigator, connecting individuals and families with housing, employment, and behavioral health resources. Garberich has advocated in Olympia for stronger housing and recovery policies and believes effective leadership starts with listening, collaboration, and accountability. She is committed to bringing practical, people-centered solutions to strengthen rural communities and improve opportunities for working families across the 35th District.
My top budget priorities are affordable housing, behavioral health, public safety, education, and workforce development because strong communities depend on these investments. We must protect programs that help people achieve stability while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.
If additional revenue or budget reductions become necessary, I would first focus on greater accountability, stronger oversight, and eliminating waste and duplication before cutting frontline services. I support regular audits to ensure public funds produce measurable results and reach the communities they are intended to serve. Responsible budgeting means making smart investments that strengthen Washington's future without placing additional burdens on working families.
Washington should continue to strengthen public confidence in elections by increasing transparency, expanding voter education, and ensuring that every eligible voter has access to accurate information and a secure voting process. I support regular audits, strong cybersecurity, and adequate funding for local election offices so they can administer elections efficiently and accurately.
We should also encourage civic participation through stronger civics education, nonpartisan voter outreach, and opportunities for residents to engage with local and state government. Public trust is built through openness, accountability, and consistent communication. Every voter should have confidence that every lawful vote is counted fairly and accurately.
Public safety begins with strong partnerships between law enforcement, first responders, behavioral health providers, schools, and local communities. The state should ensure law enforcement and emergency responders have the training, staffing, and resources needed to respond effectively while also investing in behavioral health, substance use treatment, and crisis response services that address the root causes of crime.
We must also support crime prevention through stable housing, education, workforce development, and youth programs. A balanced approach that combines accountability, prevention, and community collaboration will create safer neighborhoods and improve public trust across Washington.
Local journalism plays a vital role in keeping communities informed, strengthening civic engagement, and holding government accountable. Washington should support public access to reliable local news while protecting the independence of the press. I support increasing government transparency, improving access to public records, and ensuring state agencies communicate clearly with the public. We should also encourage partnerships that expand access to local news, especially in rural communities. An informed public is essential to a healthy democracy and meaningful civic participation.
I would support reforms that make Washington's bipartisan redistricting process more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the public. While the current process has helped promote fairness, there is always room for improvement. I support expanding opportunities for public input, making draft maps and supporting data easier to access, and using technology to encourage participation from rural and underserved communities. Redistricting should keep communities of interest together while complying with federal and state law. The process must remain independent, open, and focused on fair representation rather than political advantage so every Washingtonian can have confidence their voice is fairly represented.
The greatest challenge facing the 35th Legislative District is ensuring people can afford to live, work, and thrive in our communities. Too many families struggle with housing costs, limited access to behavioral healthcare, workforce shortages, and the high cost of living. State government should partner with local communities to expand affordable housing, strengthen behavioral health and substance use treatment, invest in education and workforce development, and support public safety. By working with local leaders instead of imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, we can build stronger rural communities and create opportunities for everyone to succeed.
Campaign Phone Number
3602049636
Biography (max 750 char)
Dan Griffey was born and raised in Allyn, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Dinah. Married for 35 years, they have 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and volunteer throughout the community. Dan began his firefighting career as a volunteer and served more than 30 years professionally with Central Mason after becoming one of Washington’s youngest EMTs. Inspired by helping people on their toughest days, he ran for the Legislature to serve the 35th District. Dan has helped constituents cut through government red tape, championed property rights, strengthened protections for crime victims, supported seniors, and remains committed to practical, common-sense solutions that improve lives.
My top budget priorities are public safety, education, and transportation. To address our budget deficit, we must attract and keep businesses in Washington. Robust job markets grow tax revenue supporting schools, first responders, and infrastructure. Washington has the workforce, abundant energy and location to succeed, but excessive taxes and redundant regulations hold us back. The income tax set to be collected in a few years is causing businesses to flee the state taking jobs and opportunity with them. By streamlining permitting, encouraging housing, reducing unnecessary barriers, and supporting business growth, we can strengthen our economy without raising taxes. There were budget proposals that did not increase taxes and used existing revenue. We have options.
Transparency goes a long way. We should continue the practice of live cameras while votes are being tabulated. Many counties in our state already do this. We should also remove non eligible voters from the voting rolls with reports to the public (with the names redacted) that state how many were removed and how many new voters have been added. In addition, I would like to see polling places open up again in our communities. Civic engagement is important and public polling places encourage us to come together as a community. They stand as a strong reminder to those passing by that it is election day. This is welcoming to new voters and encourages participation.
We must enforce the laws currently on the books and ensure crime has meaningful consequences. Accountability helps deter future crime, while restitution gives victims a path toward justice and encourages offenders to take responsibility and rebuild their lives. We also need more prosecutors and defense attorneys to keep our justice system working efficiently. Many criminals are not held accountable due to lack of representation. One practical solution is offering student debt repayment in exchange for completing a commitment to serve in these critical roles. This would reward hard work, attract qualified professionals, and strengthen our courts while improving public safety.
When I was first elected, a strong Capitol press corps covered nearly every issue. Today, that level of coverage has declined. Independent journalism is essential to transparency, accountability, and an informed public. TVW sets a strong example by providing comprehensive, unbiased coverage of legislative proceedings. I would like to see more organizations invest in fair, fact-based reporting that helps Washingtonians better understand the decisions affecting their communities.
Washington’s bipartisan redistricting process is one of the best in the nation. Two representatives from each party (House and Senate) work together and elect an independent chair to lead meetings and break tie votes. They review population data, respect natural geographic boundaries, and draw districts with equal populations. While no system is perfect, this collaborative approach promotes fairness, transparency, and balanced representation for communities across our state.
Affordability is the greatest challenge facing our district. The gas tax hits rural districts much harder because they travel further. The tax also impacts the cost of goods and service. Businesses are leaving our state due to the income tax set to take effect in a few years. This is also hurting us economically as jobs evaporate and impact the jobs in the remaining industries. Utility rates are increasing due to limits on what is allowed for energy. Crime is affecting insurance rates and business opportunities. This all impacts our district and can be addressed quickly. Lower the gas tax, encourage businesses to locate here, enforce laws to reduce crime and encourage lower utility rates with common sense solutions, not mandates. I welcome all ideas to reduce costs and improve outcomes.
Campaign Phone Number
3604026546
Biography (max 750 char)
Jim Pierson grew up in a military family, served in the U.S. Army Special Forces in the Arctic, and then spent more than 30 years in Washington state, raising a family while leading technology projects for some of the world's largest companies. His specialty is driving performance and optimization across hundreds of projects by identifying root causes and developing creative solutions to complex problems. Jim is a leader who knows how to bring out the best in those around him. He is a good listener, empathetic to difficult life experiences, and a friend who can be counted on when times are tough.
Budget decisions should begin by clearly defining the problem to be solved. Government should invest in prevention, reduce unnecessary overhead, honor long-term commitments, measure results, and focus resources where they produce the greatest long-term benefit for the people of Washington.
- Housing: Bring back the condo and townhome, mid-tier home ownership, by addressing liability and water intrusion. Streamline permitting.
- Healthcare: Reduce administrative overhead and for profit, instead of continually increasing premiums.
- Homelessness: Address mental health and addiction, not just emergency response.
- Wildfire: Invest in prevention rather than only suppression.
- Protect public pensions and COLA
- Protect the environment
- Reduce public utility rates
Voting should be both easy while also trustworthy.
Washington's vote-by-mail system is already one of the best models in the country. We no longer see long lines of voters waiting at polling places. Signature verification is strong, as I learned firsthand after signing my ballot sloppily and being contacted to verify my identity. Paper ballots can also be verified against the electronic count.
The postal system could become politicized. Voters should use the Ballot box.
Concerns about voter eligibility should be addressed through voter registration safeguards, audits, and enforcement of existing election laws. If someone votes illegally, the appropriate response is to investigate the violation and enforce the law, rather than making it more difficult for eligible citizens to vote.
The most effective state-level strategies to improve public safety in Washington state are to first deal with the root causes, Mental Health, Drugs, Criminals, dangerous roads, nature.
We need to bring back mental health councilors in schools and prioritize counseling services for adults as a part of healthcare. Dangerous drugs need to be eliminated before they hit the streets. Criminals need to face real consequences. Fixing roads, bad intersections, bridges, and crumbling infrastructure needs to be prioritized. We live in a world of natural dangers we should not ignore, earthquakes, weather, and fire, but instead be prepared.
Washington State should support both local and regional journalism that is truly balanced. We have too much partisan editorial masking as news. And even editorial is often fact free or omitting the other side of a story. Broadcasters and publishers should be held accountable when not speaking the truth. Supporting public broadcasters that are non-profit and neutral is vital.
Districts should be designed around how people actually live, work, travel, and identify with their communities. Too often the district skirts the border of many towns but does not include any of them. Ideally counties would be kept whole. Borders should follow more natural boundaries, not zigzagging neighborhood lines.
The biggest challenge facing LD35, Thurston-Mason-Kitsap is affordability. Unfortunately, much of the cause is at a national level. Raising cost of fuel due to wars in Ukraine and Iran. Healthcare costs rising due to the for-profit nature and an aging population. Inflation after COVID stimulus. Home builder cost due to litigation.
We need to focus our efforts on optimizing budgets to meet our obligations while not throwing the baby out with the bath water. Cutting basic services or raising property taxes are not the answers. Our seniors and low income are paying the price more than others.
We need to be creative about finding new solutions, using incentives rather than more regulation whenever possible, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and prioritizing programs based on outcomes.
