Lillian Ortiz-Self and Bruce Guthrie on the issues

Lillian Ortiz-Self, left, and Bruce Guthrie

Snohomish County Elections mailed ballots for the Nov. 3 general election to 500,000 registered voters on Oct. 20. The county previously mailed ballots to military and overseas voters, as well as out-of-state and rural voters..

The Beacon sent five questions to both incumbent Democrat Lillian Ortiz-Self and Independent Bruce Guthrie. They are vying for the two-year Position 2 state representative seat in the 21st Legislative District.

Ortiz-Self has held the seat since 2014. Guthrie ran for the seat in 2016 and 2024, but did not advance out of the primary.

Edmonds Beacon: The Legislature approved Washington's first tax on personal income over $1 million. It’s now a hot topic in advance of the election. Do you support or oppose the new millionaires tax? Why or why not?
 
Lillian Ortiz-Self:  We need a fairer tax system that puts less of the burden on working families and ensures those with the greatest means contribute to the services that strengthen our communities.

The Millionaires Tax is an important first step toward that future, and I am proud to support it.
The Millionaires Tax is a once-in-a-generation investment in our children’s education, school meals, and relief for the everyday necessities that Washington families rely on. At a time when billionaires are benefiting from federal tax cuts while working families struggle with the rising cost of living, it is time for the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share. As federal funding cuts put essential services at risk, Washington must step up to support our most vulnerable communities.

The Millionaires Tax will help fund the services Washingtonians depend on while providing meaningful relief to families. As someone who has worked in our education system, I know firsthand how important it is to invest in our children and give every student the opportunity to succeed.
 
Bruce Guthrie: I strongly oppose this new income tax and support I-645 to repeal it. I believe this tax will soon be modified by the Democrats in Olympia to affect those earning as little as $250K per year. Every other income tax across the nation including the federal and the California income taxes, have started by only taxing the most wealthy and then were altered to affect the middle class.

This income tax will be no different. And it will reduce employment in the state by increasing the costs to produce goods and services. It will drive some of the millionaires out, and they will take jobs with them. We are tied with three other states for the highest unemployment rate of any state, and this tax will make that worse. It will wind up hurting the very people it is intended to help.

We don’t have a need for more revenue in this state. Revenue is at record levels. Over the last 10 years, state revenue and spending growth have exceeded the rates of inflation and population growth. Instead, we have an over-spending problem. Politicians have gotten greedy, and they risk killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Beacon: Ferry reliability, as demonstrated in the Oct. 5 “sick out” from the engineering crew, remains a major issue for Mukilteo and Edmonds residents. What specific actions would you support to improve Washington State Ferries service?
 
Ortiz-Self: Ferry reliability is one of the most important transportation issues facing our district. The recent ferry “sick-out” is a reminder that our workers are being overworked and deserve better working conditions, fair pay, and the dignity their work demands.

I support changes that improve working conditions for our ferry workers while strengthening service for the communities that depend on them. I recognize that our ferry system needs significant improvements, and I know the Legislature is committed to finding solutions.

The challenges facing our ferry system also highlight why we need sustainable revenue to invest in our transportation infrastructure. The Millionaires Tax can help provide the resources Washington needs to strengthen our ferry system, support its workers, and deliver the reliable service our communities deserve.
 
Guthrie: Monopoly is bad. We now have a government monopoly in ferry service. Competition provides an incentive to keep costs and prices low, and service quality high. The government protects a monopoly in ferry service in this state, and that reduces the incentive to provide reliable service and gives employee unions the power to block our commute. All we have to do is allow competition from private ferry services. Allow the construction of private ferry docks and terminals by private investors.

Bring back the mosquito fleet that worked in Washington’s history. Let the free market work to provide better service at lower costs. This would cost the taxpayer nothing. Monopoly tends to be awful, and government-forced monopoly is the worst kind of monopoly. The answer is to stop using state government force to prohibit competition with the state ferries. Imagine if you had a choice among three to five different ferry options?

Don’t you want more choices, instead of being forced to use a monopoly? These alternatives will tend to specialize, creating a diversity of service options. This will also make it impossible for one striking union to disrupt your commute.
  
Beacon: Do you believe state government has struck the right balance between encouraging housing density and preserving local control over zoning? Why or why not?


Ortiz-Self: We have worked hard to strike the right balance between state and local control over housing density and zoning. By establishing statewide standards that support growth and opportunity while preserving local flexibility, we can make progress on housing affordability without losing sight of the needs of our communities. This approach helps ensure that progress is not held back by unnecessary delays at any level of government, while keeping our communities at the center of housing decisions. We must create more opportunities for affordable housing so the next generation can stay in Washington, build a future, raise a family, and contribute to our local economy.                         

By working together at the state and local levels, we can build a Washington where everyone has the opportunity to find an affordable home and thrive.
 
Guthrie: Housing costs are too high, and bad government policies are the cause. Price is a function of supply and demand. Anything that constricts the supply of housing tends to increase housing prices and rents. Zoning restrictions, the Growth Management Act, and increasing traffic congestion all serve to restrict housing supply. High property taxes increase housing prices directly and reduce demand, thus increasing housing prices.

These are all government causes. And inflation is also created by government actions. Inflation hurts the poor more than the rich. The Federal Reserve makes too much money available in the economy, thus reducing the value of money. State and federal overspending results in many more dollars chasing the same amount of goods. I do not trust the federal, state or local governments with the task of encouraging housing density.

If people want to live close together, they will tend to increase demand for dense housing. If they want big yards and single family housing, they will go where they can buy that. People should be left free to buy what they want for their families, without government coercion or manipulation through zoning and tax policy. You have the incumbent to blame for high housing costs.

Beacon: What role should cities like Mukilteo and Edmonds have in making land-use decisions versus mandates from the Legislature?
 
Ortiz-Self: Cities across our district should have the ability to make local land-use decisions that best serve their communities, while meeting our statewide goals and complying with state law. Our Legislature has worked hard to balance local control with the need to make progress on housing, growth, and opportunity.

Our communities have long worked to contain urban sprawl, protect our environment, and preserve our farmland. The state should be an active partner in those efforts, providing the support and resources local governments need to shape their communities responsibly.

While disagreements between state and local governments can arise, we must recognize that both share the same fundamental goal: building stronger, healthier communities. By working together, we can respect local priorities while advancing statewide goals and ensuring that Washington continues to grow in a way that benefits everyone.
 
Guthrie: Let’s say you buy a small lot in a small town. Who should get to say what you build on that land? As long as you are not creating a nuisance, you should get to decide. Not the mayor, not the city council, and not the politicians in Olympia. My answer to the question is that both the cities and the state Legislature should have as little power as possible over the land-use decisions you make for your property and for your family and for your home.

All levels of government should have far less power than they currently wield over the land-use decisions of peaceful people in our state. If we reduce this power, housing costs will tend to go down. The incumbent is responsible for this problem.
 
Beacon:  Crime rates have improved in some areas, but residents remain concerned about retail theft, drug crime, and property crime. What additional public safety legislation would you support?
 
Ortiz-Self: Everyone deserves to feel safe in the communities they call home. I have always been proud to support law enforcement funding and accountability. Our officers need the resources, training, and support to do their jobs effectively, and they must be held accountable for their actions.

But keeping our communities safe requires more than law enforcement alone. We need a comprehensive approach that includes mental health professionals, crisis response teams, and addiction counseling to ensure people get the help they need. We must also continue investing in the systems that prevent crime in the first place, including education and community-based services.

Public safety means supporting our law enforcement officers while building stronger communities where people have the resources and opportunities to thrive. By investing in both, we can create safer communities for everyone.
 
 Guthrie: Theft and shoplifting are already crimes on the books. But politicians have instructed the police not to arrest shoplifters, and prosecutors are choosing not to charge people arrested for certain property crimes. This has resulted in the high rate of property crimes we have in Washington, as well as contributing to the record-high rates of homelessness that we have here.
Washington has one of the highest rates of property crime and one of the highest rates of homelessness in the nation. These two problems are related. There are two kinds of crimes: those with victims and those without. Policing for victimless crimes like gambling, prostitution, and drug use is wasting the time of our police.

Refocusing the efforts of police on violent crimes and property crimes like murder, rape, assault, theft, and shoplifting that actually have victims will result in less crime and fewer homeless people. This will ultimately result in less drug addiction as well. The Defund the Police campaign, which the incumbent supported, has demoralized the police. We have her to blame for increased crime and homelessness. We don’t need more legislation. We need to enforce the laws we already have.

Beacon: What additional steps, if any, should the Legislature take to address wildfire preparedness, flooding and climate resilience?
 
Ortiz-Self: The past few years have made it clear that we are not fully prepared for the growing impacts of the climate crisis. Record flooding and widespread destruction have devastated our communities, leaving some areas permanently changed. While our existing preparedness systems have helped protect us, recent disasters have exposed weaknesses that we have a responsibility to address.

We must invest in testing, researching, and strengthening our flood resilience systems while ensuring emergency crews have the resources, training, and infrastructure needed to respond quickly. We also need to maintain our forests, reduce wildfire risks, and ensure our fire services have the funding and equipment to protect our communities.

Since joining the Legislature, I have consistently supported efforts to address the climate crisis, from the Climate Commitment Act to expanding electric vehicle adoption. I remain committed to protecting our environment and preparing Washington for the challenges ahead.

Recent federal funding cuts have created additional challenges for our emergency preparedness systems. While Washington continues to prepare for disasters, our ability to respond quickly depends on having adequate resources and strong partnerships. We must strengthen our state's capacity to respond to emergencies while working with our federal partners to ensure our communities have the protection, infrastructure, and support they need when disaster strikes.
 
Guthrie: The Department of Natural Resources should identify the regions with the highest risk of wildfire that affects life and property in our state.

It should assess the levels of fuel in these areas and prioritize land for fire risk reduction activities such as controlled burns, the creation of additional fire breaks, tree thinning, and fuel reduction.

We know how to prevent wildfires. Over the last 100 years, forest fire acreage is a fraction of what it used to be. But recently, burn acreage is on the rise. I believe this is due to a shift in policy towards leaving forest land untouched. We have abdicated the role of land stewardship in the name of some kind of utopian naturalism. We don’t lack the means or the knowledge for reducing wildfire risk.

Instead, we have allowed a bad land-use ideology to take root in our government. We need to return to the policies of being good stewards of the land.

Breaching dams reduces our ability to control flooding. It reduces our ability to produce low-carbon hydropower as well. Fish ladders and shade trees should be used instead to maintain this important source of power while improving salmon runs.