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closeFriday, Oct. 09, 2009
9TH DISTRICT: Fagan, Hailey face off for 9th District representative
By Michelle Dupler, Herald staff writer
Susan Fagan and Pat Hailey were friends long before they became political rivals.
The two Republican women got to know each other when Hailey's late husband hit the campaign trail several years ago, and Fagan was a precinct committee woman for the party in Whitman County.
Now the pair -- both 61, both widows -- face off against each other in the Nov. 3 general election to see who will replace Rep. Don Cox as 9th District state representative.
The seat was left open by the death of Rep. Steve Hailey, R-Mesa, in December, and the decision by Cox, R-Colfax, his appointed replacement, not to seek election this fall.
The election is the first time two Republicans will vie for the seat.
Both describe themselves as conservatives who favor fiscal responsibility and oppose raising taxes, as well as promoting agricultural interests in the Legislature.
Fagan, who left her job as government relations director for Schweizer Engineering Laboratories to campaign full time, has decades of experience working with government, from her time as an aide to three U.S. senators to being involved with advocacy organizations such as American Agri-Women, the Association of Washington Business and National Association of Independent Business.
She said she always thought she would make the leap to public life, and when Cox opted not to run, she decided to seize the opportunity.
One of Fagan's top priorities is to improve the state's economic climate by reforming taxes on businesses. She believes the business and occupations tax and estate tax, which she calls a "death tax," restrict businesses from growing and discourage new businesses from locating in the state.
Fagan's website reports she has been endorsed by Attorney General Rob McKenna and Secretary of State Sam Reed, both Republicans, and two-time Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.
She also has been endorsed by the Association of Washington Business -- of which she is a member -- Inland Pacific Associated Builders and Contractors, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs and Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.
Hailey, a farmer, wants to continue the work begun by her late husband in his two years as a 9th District representative, including trying to curtail state spending and pass budgets that don't overtax citizens.
Among her priorities are lessening regulations on businesses -- especially farms -- and restoring water rights to farmers who have lost them through the state's "use it or lose it" policy. She also would protect private property rights for farmers.
She said as a former member of the North Franklin School Board and school registrar that education is her passion and she'd like to serve on the House of Representatives' K-12 education committee so she can protect levy equalization money and basic education.
Hailey said she has been endorsed by the Public School Employees of Washington, a labor union that represents school district staff such as janitors and bus drivers. She said she hasn't asked for other endorsements.
Through Thursday, Fagan had raised more than $88,000 in contributions. Hailey had raised about $57,000, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
-- On the net: www.susanfagan.com; www.pathailey.com
-- Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com
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