Pasco Democrat announces bid for state representative spot

Pasco resident Jennifer Goulet is hoping the second time will be the charm.

The head of the Franklin County Democrats announced she is making another attempt to win a seat at the state House of Representatives.

She is facing off against Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, for a second time. The pair competed in the November 2016 general election to represent the 9th District.

The district stretches from Othello into the southeastern corner of Washington and includes west Pasco and rural Franklin County.

Dye filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission that she plans to run again in 2018.

Water rights top Goulet’s list of issues. She said it’s become an increasingly contentious issue for the mainly agricultural district.

“This is an issue that must be addressed and cannot be kicked down the road for future generations,” she said. “Our farming communities and growing population cannot wait, and this challenge won’t solve itself.”

Veterans approached her about the challenges they faced getting healthcare from the Department of Veterans Affairs, she said, adding that the department seems ill-equipped to address the needs of the young men and women, and she wants explore ways for the state to possibly help to streamline the process.

She also is looking into making sure quality healthcare and a college education are affordable, and making sure Hanford workers are safe.

“After seeing what extreme partisanship has done to our country over the last year, I feel even more strongly that I need to be part of the solution by offering my voice in Olympia on behalf of the citizens of the 9th,” she said.

Goulet, a mother of two teens, works as an instructional design external vendor for Microsoft. She is also a member of the board of directors for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho.

This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Pasco Democrat announces bid for state representative spot."