What actions would you take as a state legislator to protect and strengthen Washington’s food security safety net, including both public nutrition programs and the food banks and food pantries serving communities across the state?

My approach to protecting our state’s food security safety net focuses on fiscal accountability, administrative efficiency, and empowering local communities through public-private partnerships. We must ensure that public assistance serves as a temporary hand up rather than a permanent handout, while directly supporting the local charities and agricultural networks that feed Washingtonians. To protect and strengthen food security across Washington, I will champion the following legislative actions: 1.         Reduce Administrative Waste and Avoid Costly Penalties. Under the new federal-state cost-sharing model, states are required to pay a penalty—covering between 5% and 15% of their total SNAP benefit costs—if their administrative error rates exceed a strict 6% threshold. Washington’s error rate is 6.98% that will force the state to cover 5% of benefits, which equals more than $90 million in added costs for Washington.  2.     Support Successful Workforce Transitions. I will support state legislation that integrates food assistance with proactive job training, certification programs, and localized employment pipelines.   3.                  Empower Local Farmers and Private Food Banks. Cut the red tape preventing local food production from reaching local tables. I’m in favor of tax credits and regulatory relief for Washington’s agricultural producers who donate surplus crops, dairy, and livestock directly to regional organizations like Food Lifeline and local pantries.

What have you done to understand food insecurity in the communities you seek to represent—including engaging with people experiencing hunger or local hunger-relief organizations—and what policies would you prioritize to address the root causes of hunger and ensure Washington residents can afford and access the food they need?

As a Republican candidate for Washington State, I believe we must address food insecurity by tackling its true root causes: high inflation, skyrocketing energy and housing costs, and government-mandated barriers that make it harder for working families to get ahead. When everyday essentials become unaffordable, food budget is often the first thing to suffer. I have spent time on the ground across our district. I have met with local food bank directors, faith-based leaders, and volunteer coordinators who are on the front lines of hunger relief. I would prioritize the following policies: We need to cut the state sales tax and roll back the hidden taxes that drive up gas and utility prices. When families spend less at the pump and on their electric bills, they have more money left over for the grocery store. We should support our local farmers by reducing burdensome regulations and lowering fertilizer and equipment costs. Keeping our local supply chains strong means more affordable, fresh, and accessible food for everyone, including our rural and underserved areas. The ultimate solution to poverty and hunger is a robust economy that creates good-paying jobs. I support pairing safety-net programs with robust job-training initiatives, childcare deregulation to lower costs for working parents, and workforce development to help individuals transition from assistance to financial independence. Local charities, food pantries, and religious institutions are far more efficient and compassionate at delivering aid than a distant state bureaucracy. I will advocate for policies that incentivize private charitable giving and remove bureaucratic red tape so these groups can expand their reach safely and effectively.

What policies or investments would you support to strengthen Washington’s food system, increase access to locally produced food, support Washington farmers and producers, and reduce food waste?

Strengthening Washington’s food and agricultural system requires a market-driven approach that reduces government interference, rewards efficiency, and empowers local producers. Washington is an agricultural powerhouse, yet our current state policies are creating a hostile environment for the very farmers who feed us. To support our agricultural community, lower food costs for families, and reduce waste, I would champion the following policies and market-based solutions: Repeal costly mandates like the state’s current agricultural overtime rules.  We need to streamline the permitting process for processing facilities, cold storage, and distribution hubs. Bureaucratic delays prevent farmers from scaling up their operations and getting their products to market efficiently. We can increase access to locally produced food by expanding farm-to-table infrastructure by incentivizing private investment in local processing and distribution networks. This makes it easier for small and mid-sized farms to sell directly to local grocery chains, schools, and hospitals. Protecting Agricultural Land: We must protect all of our agricultural land while ensuring burdensome zoning laws or heavy-handed state directives do not force any more multi-generational family farms out of business or pressure them into selling to developers. I support reducing food waste through market incentives expanding state-level tax credits for farmers, processors, and retailers who donate surplus, edible food to local food banks, rescue organizations, and faith-based charities.