The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

The political race for representative #1 for Washington's 12th Legislative District, which includes much of the Grand Coulee Dam area, is between Republican incumbent Keith Goehner and challenger Adrianne Moore, a Democrat.

Goehner, a former teacher from Dryden, has served as Chelan County commissioner and is currently finishing his first two-year term in the Legislature. 

His priorities include "addressing unfunded mandates on local government, agriculture and tourism," his website says. 

"It is critical we protect our agriculture industry and water, while ensuring tourism will remain strong during this difficult economic downturn," he says on his website. "If we work together and do not let partisanship hinder our progress we can address these issues with practical, common-sense solutions."

Goehner has introduced bills promoting oil-free hydroelectric turbine technology (House Bill 2825) and prohibiting transferring water rights from one water resource inventory area (WRIA) to another, which could cut off farmers from their water source (HB 2866). 

"These transfers can have serious adverse impacts on the WRIA of 14 origin, including impacts on agriculture and community," the bill reads. "This is particularly true where water from the WRIA 17 flows into the Columbia river and there are no WRIAs upstream to 18 replace water that has been transferred out." 

Moore, from Winthrop, ran a non-profit on her own. 

"Together with schools, health agencies, government, businesses, nonprofits and churches, we developed a system of supports to help our community thrive," her website says, adding that the organization works to help provide "housing for more families; student support services in our underfunded schools; a new child care facility serving low-income families; youth-led quality improvement projects in regional health agencies; partnerships with juvenile detention; a regional coalition to address youth homelessness; and coordinated care across EMS, police, and mental health care." 

In 2014, when Okanogan County faced wildfires, she "worked with people across the region, and across political and social divides, to stand up the long-term recovery effort," she states on the site. "I led the two-year disaster case management program overseeing the distribution of millions of dollars in direct financial assistance, donations, and volunteer time, and a skilled staff providing one-on-one support to families who lost their homes and livelihoods." 

Moore's website puts health at the top of the list of her priorities, citing the struggles medical bills cause. Mental health is another big challenge for families she'd like to address. 

Adrianne Moore

She also lists helping small businesses out of the current crisis as a priority, saying the state should "eliminate tax subsidies for large corporations and invest in small businesses and entrepreneurs instead. As a state, we are fortunate to have built and attracted large and successful corporations. They can continue to thrive in our state without massive tax exemptions currently granted to them; let's ensure they join the fight to save Washington's economic vitality by creating a truly level playing field for business in our state."

Moore additionally lists lowering taxes for lower- and middle-class families as a priority, as well as reducing wildfires and increasing access to childcare.

"Investing in education, including high quality, affordable childcare, is not just the right thing to do, it benefits the economy and reduces future public spending," her website reads.