Klicker, Strickler, Rude or Corn? Here are the Herald’s picks for 16th District House seat

Two state House seats are up for grabs in the 16^th District, and in both races voters have a choice between a Republican incumbent and a Democrat challenger.

All the candidates hail from Walla Walla.

It used to be the 16^th District encompassed all of Walla Walla County and a portion of Benton and Franklin counties, while skirting around most of Kennewick.

But boundaries have been updated following the 2020 Census. Now, a significant number of Kennewick voters south of Highway 395 are included in the 16^th, along with residents of Finley, Benton City and Prosser. Only a sliver of Franklin County remains in the 16th.

Democrat Jan Corn is trying to unseat Republican Rep. Skyler Rude and Democrat Jeff Strickler is running against Republican Rep. Mark Klicker.

All the candidates are civic-minded and thoughtful, and all say they are committed to serving the needs of the Tri-Cities in addition to those of their hometown.

Rude v Corn

Republican Rep. Skyler Rude is the most experienced 16^th District candidate running for office. He was first elected in 2018 to fill the vacancy left when Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton, decided not to run after serving a decade in the House.

Rude showed great promise from the start, and after two terms he has earned a reputation for being a collaborative lawmaker. He’s even been known to invite both Democrat and Republican legislators out to dinner in an effort to encourage bipartisanship.

His describes himself as a centrist who votes in the best interest of his district, and notes that his bill success rate is high — three of four bills he sponsored last year passed with unanimous support.

The one that didn’t get very far would have improved access to the state’s Death with Dignity Act — an issue he feels strongly about. As it happens, Democrats helped carry the bill for him while few of his Republican colleagues supported the effort.

But that says a great deal about his ability to build relationships and work across the aisle. Rude tries to go beyond partisanship and “humanize the other side,” as he says, which likely explains why he was able to get his other bills through.

Rude said he believes in the importance of local control when it comes to deciding where to place wind turbines in Eastern Washington. He also said he cares immensely for the fish, but supports keeping the Snake River dams.

And as for police reform, he believes the Democrat-controlled Legislature pushed changes through too quickly and fixes are still needed.

Rude serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which oversees the state budget, as well as the House Education and the House Health Care committees.

While he’s made strong legislative connections in his relatively short time in office, being in the minority party has its limitations.

On that note, challenger Jan Corn said the 16^th District is missing opportunities because it has no Democrat at the table.

She said legislative updates from Rude and his Walla Walla counterpart, Rep. Mark Klicker, often speak of how difficult it is for Republicans to get legislation through with Democrats in control.

She said continually sending only members of the GOP to Olympia is not helping the district.

Corn worked as a waitress and a hairstylist and built a career in the cosmetology industry. She said through grit and determination she eventually opened her own business — Impress Salon in Walla Walla.

Over the years, she has taken on many leadership roles in her community, and has served on a number of executive boards for nonprofit organizations. She also has been a volunteer for Blue Mountain Action Council, Providence St. Mary Medical Center, the American Cancer Society, Walla Walla Community Hospice, and Tour of Walla Walla.

She has been member of Walla Walla Noon Rotary for 18 years, and served a term as president of the organization. She said she has made connections with Tri-Citians through Rotary District 5080, which includes much of Eastern Washington.

She agrees with Rude’s take on wind and solar energy issues and supports the Snake River dams. She also thinks there were police reforms that went too far.

Where they differ is on the issue of abortion. Corn believes women should be in control of their own health care. Rude is pro-life, but noted that any legislation aimed at limiting abortion rights would not get past the governor’s desk.

Corn told us she can work with everyone in Olympia, and that’s easy to believe. She is candid and friendly, and notes that she has spent long days on her feet, listening to people and taking care of them.

She also believes hyper-partisanship is getting worse, and she is genuinely concerned that democracy in our country is in jeopardy. Corn doesn’t see herself as a politician, but rather, someone who is passionate about helping people.

We don’t doubt her resolve make a difference in people’s lives, and if elected she would likely be a force.

But even Corn acknowledges she would be on a learning curve.

Considering that in the Tri-Cities’ 8^th District both House candidates are guaranteed to be newcomers, it is important to have an accomplished lawmaker from our region who already knows the ropes.

Rude is respected and he brings people together, and we need a lawmaker with his experience to help lead the legislative rookies representing the Tri-Cities.

The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board recommends Skyler Rude for the 16rh District House, Position 2.

Klicker v Strickler

Republican Rep. Mark Klicker was elected two years ago, and unfortunately, his first term was not a typical experience for a freshman legislator.

Instead of traveling and working in Olympia during the session, COVID kept lawmakers isolated at home working through their computer screens.

Even so, this year Klicker was able to help craft protections that would give Eastern Washington residents more input on where wind and solar projects go.

The language was negotiated with Democrats and included in House Bill 1812 — a bill that grants more authority to the council charged with siting clean energy projects in the state.

But the important section that Klicker and other Republicans had worked to get in the final draft was removed by Gov. Jay Inslee.

As it turns out, Klicker said the Democrats weren’t really working with them after all.

“They played us,” he said. The governor vetoed the language and then “they laughed about it on TVW.”

This incident highlights Corn’s concerns about our region’s lack of representation in the Democrat caucus.

For those who’ve seen the play Hamilton, there’s power in being in “the room where it happens.”

Klicker’s Democrat opponent, Jeff Strickler, said that sending a Democrat would send a strong message to Olympia.

“It will be an Eastern Washington is open for business moment,” he told the Herald Editorial Board.

As dedicated and qualified as Klicker is for the job, we agree with Strickler that it would be in our region’s best interest if we had one Democrat in Olympia backing us up.

Strickler said that “fundamentally you have to represent people in your region.” He said that regardless of party affiliation, you have to set aside your personal politics and represent the people the way they want their message carried forward.

And Strickler is working hard to represent the people of the 16^th District. He and his team have knocked on over 9,000 doors in Prosser, Benton City and Kennewick in order to find out what the people want.

Jobs, child care, housing and health care are the top concerns, he said.

Strickler is a real estate agent serving parts of eastern Washington and Oregon who spent more than 20 years in the software industry, mostly running his own consulting practice.

He moved to the area in 2010 from Seattle, though he previously spent time in Eastern Oregon.

When asked about the lack of affordable housing in our region, he said the housing problem is really a jobs problem.

He noted that if you fix the jobs side of the equation — which means providing livable wages and not just low-paying work — then housing and a lot of other issues related to it suddenly become a lot easier to solve.

Klicker, though, also has thoughtful response to concerns with the economy. He points to the need to reduce the cost of fuel and the cost of products, which would lower prices for consumers down the line.

He also wants to see reduced government regulations. If the state doesn’t slim down the rules then building costs skyrocket, which makes the cost of homes even more expensive, he said.

Klicker is concerned about rules to prohibit the use of natural gas in commercial and residential buildings and other requirements that are adding to the cost of new construction.

He added that he has lived in the 16^th District his whole life and he knows and understand our region. He worked for the Washington State Farm Bureau as a regional field director and brings strong agriculture credentials from his family farming background.

Klicker sells timber and also works in farm and ranch real estate. He serves as assistant ranking minority member of the Environment and Energy Committee and as a member of the following committees: Rules, Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Development, and Transportation.

He lamented the fact that last year’s transportation package left our region out and that efforts to fund the next phase of Highway 12 were dismissed.

Would it have been different if we had a Democrat at the table?

Perhaps.

Klicker is an excellent candidate and embodies conservative values of the 16^th District. We know that if he returns to office he will continue to fight the good fight.

But with Strickler, a Democrat who wants to listen to the people, our region might win a few battles.

This race is a tough call, but in the end we think there’s something to be said for having someone in the caucus with power.

The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board recommends Democrat Jeff Strickler for the 16^th District House, Position 1.

This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 2:04 PM.