ELECTIONS 2024: Three run for 10th Legislative District state Senate seat

Emma Fletcher-Frazer reports on the legislative elections for the Stanwood Camano News.

Three candidates are running for the state senator seat in the 10th Legislative District on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.

The district includes Camano Island, Stanwood, La Conner, Conway, Whidbey Island, Arlington and western Mount Vernon.

Most candidates submitted responses to a questionnaire sent out by Skagit Publishing.

They Said It

Incumbent Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor… said the biggest issues constituents face are affordability and cost of living. Muzzall said he plans to address these by pushing back on costly policies, including tax policies, and building and growth regulations for housing.

Muzzall said he also values women’s health, investing in schools, public safety, and the environment.

“Rather than look for areas where we disagree, I would rather find common ground we can agree on,” said Muzzall in his questionnaire responses. “My job as your Senator is to represent all of you: Democrat, Republican, Independent. I will steward your tax dollars and protect our natural resources like clean air and water. I will defend civil rights. I will treat all people respectfully. I’d be honored to have your vote again this election.”

Muzzall said his strong ties to his community set him apart.

“When Ron was elected as State Senator, he promised to be different than what our community was used to,” reads his questionnaire response. “He’s rejected pointless virtue signaling. Every bill he’s passed has had bipartisan support. Even if you didn’t vote for him, he’s still your Senator and he works for you.”

[Janet] St. Clair [D-Camano Island] said her top priority is lowering costs for working families and seniors.

“If I am elected this fall, I will work to make sure necessities like housing, health care, and child care are affordable for everyone in our community. I believe we must investigate unfair price gouging by big corporations and restore accountability and transparency in our health care systems. I will help reduce bureaucracy that creates unnecessary burdens on our local community partners,” she said in her response.

St. Clair said she also values health care and mental health services for veterans, natural resource protection, housing assistance programs, accessible internet connectivity, support for law enforcement and women’s reproductive care.

St. Clair said that she believes her opponent, Muzzall, is a good man, but that he has voted against bills such as those that expanded access to low cost health care, protected abortion and reproductive care, and increases financial transparency from hospitals.

“As a 4th generation resident of the LD 10, we need to grow as a community while preserving our rich history of farming, natural resources, and manufacturing industries,” [Denny] Sandberg [D-Camano Island] said in the [voters’] pamphlet.

Sandberg said he values environmental health, farmlands, local control of water rights, veterans and military, accessible and affordable health care, and women’s health care.

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On The Ballot in August 2024

State Senator, LD 10	Denny Sandberg (D-Camano Island) Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island) Ron Muzzall (R-Oak Harbor), the incumbent
State Representative, LD 10, Posn 1	Carrie R. Kennedy (R-Oak Harbor) Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam (R-Arlington) Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor), the incumbent
State Representative, LD 10, Posn 2	Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor), the incumbent Gary Wray (R-Coupeville)