2004 Candidate Questionnaire

 

SECTION I               

 

BASIC CANDIDATE INFORMATION

 

1.      Name as it will appear on the ballot

 

First Name

Middle Initial or Nick Name

Last Name

Joe

     

Henry

 

2.   Office sought (include office, jurisdiction, position/district number):

 

State House of Representative, 30th District, Position #2

 

3.   Are you the incumbent?                  Yes              No

 

 

4.   How long have you resided in this district/city?

 

27 years

 

5.   How long have you resided in King County?

 

50 years

 

6.   Is the office sought partisan or nonpartisan?         Partisan      Nonpartisan         

                                                                                                                       

7.   If partisan, please indicate party:  Democrat

 

CAMPAIGN CONTACTS

 

 

Campaign Name:

 

Neighbors For Joe Henry

 

Address:

 

3307 SW 327th Pl.

 

City/State/Zip:

 

Federal Way, WA.  98023

 

Campaign Phone:

 

(253) 838-4136

 

 

Campaign Fax:

 

     

 

 

Campaign E-mail:

 

joe_hen@msn.com

 

 

Campaign Website:

 

     

 

 

POLITICAL BACKGROUND

 

1.   Beginning with the most recent position, please list public offices which you have held.  Include positions on appointive Boards or Commissions.

 

Public Office

Elective or Appointive?

Dates Held

Leadership Role (if any)

City of Federal Way, Parks & Recreation Commission

 

Appointive

 

2003 - present

 

Comissioner

 

 

Federal Way School Board

 

Elected

 

1982-1984

 

Board Member

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

 

2.   If you ran for public office but were not elected, please list those races below:

 

Office Title

Year of Run

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 


 


SECTION III

 

In this section, we are seeking responses that reflect the four ratings criteria: involvement, effectiveness, character, and knowledge.  These are defined as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.      In a page or less, why are you running for this office?  (Note: the interview committee will be given a copy of this statement before your interview; at the beginning of your interview you will have the opportunity to expand on this statement in any way you wish.)

 

I am running for this office because I am very concerned about the state of our state.  I believe the people in our state want to improve the quality of life and I believe the voice of the people in our state has been ignored.

 

Education is so very important to improving the quality of life in our community.  Education is the common thread that connects responsible citizen behavior to a productive workforce to a healthy economy to a safe and civil environment.  Yet, it has been ignored.

 

Our transportation system is at a critical juncture.  The legislature has put off making hard decisions.  Getting more bang for our buck means someone is going to be unpopular.  We need leadership in Olympia that is going to make efficient, effective solutions.

 

We are seeing some recovery in our economy at the national level but it's not trickling down to the local level because of a lack of leadership in our state government.  We need to increase governmental accountability through performance audits, downsizing mega government such as DSHS and holding our leaders more responsible.

 


 

2.      Describe your most important personal characteristics or traits as they relate to the office you seek.

 

I have a lot of energy and am always on the go.  Commitment to my community is important to me.  I have a history of giving back to my community, most recently as a member of the City Parks & Recreation Commission and as a member of the Federal Way Symphony Board, and as a school board member.  Three characteristics that define me are enthusiasm, commitment to community with personal integrity and stellar character (I'm a former Marine Corps officer).

 

3.      Please describe in sufficient detail, one to three accomplishments or contributions of which you are most proud.  These examples should illustrate effective skills and capabilities you think apply to the office you are seeking.  These accomplishments may have occurred at any time in your personal, professional, or public life. 

 

Serving my country as a Combat Platoon and Company Commander in Viet Nam (awarded Bronze Star with Combat V) during the most trying of times is one of the accomplishments of which I am most proud.   My decisions and management skills positively influenced the lives and well-being of countless Marines.

 

Serving my community as an elected school board member and passing a bond and levy request on the same ballot (not done in 20 years prior).

 

Serving countless numbers of students as their Health and Fitness teacher by challenging their young minds to be the best that they can be, to serve others and to remain true to their core values.


 

4.      Please list or describe your current and past activities in the community in which you have acquired skills that relate to the office you seek.  Include your role in the activity and the year(s) in which you were involved.  Involvement consists of many areas such as family, neighborhood, community, employment, or public life.

 

I have served in a variety of roles over the years (small businessman, manager, educator, Marine Officer, and parent) and as a result have developed a broad base of transferable skills needed by a State Representative.  Some of the most important skills are consensus building and active listening.

 

I currently serve on the City of Federal Way Parks and Recreation Commission.  As a commissioner we review, take public comment, and recommend to the City Council many policy and issue items.  There is a keep oublic interest in quality of life in our community.

 

I also serve on the Federal Way Symphony Board of Directors and manage the stage crew for our six annual performances.

 

I was elected to the Western Washington University Alumni board in 2000 and currently serve on its Awards and Scholarship Committee.

 

In 1982 I was elected to the Federal Way School Board.  As a School Board member, I was constantly challenged with balancing important fiscal issues with thet needs of parents and children.  Understanding all sides of an issue, then making an informed decision (sometimes unpopular) that influences many individuals was a rewarding experience.

 

 

  1. Please describe the duties of the office you seek.  Which are the most important duties and why?

 

Every year the Legislature meets to engage in the process of public decision making.  The objective is to reach a consensus on a wide range of issues affecting every citizen and the future prosperity of Washington State.  It is a process that involves cooperation to make critical decisions in everyone's best interest.

 

A Legislator introduces specific bills for consideration.  These bills should adequately reflect the will of the people.  A Legislator will vote for or against many  of legislation.  Knowing and understanding the impact of many pieces of legislation is a paramount duty.

 

I believe the most important responsibility of a State Representative is to listen to the concerns, desires, and ideas of our constituents.  To be an active listener, involved in and available to the community is the best way to be in touch and represent the district.

 

This is precisely how the legislative process was designed to work best.  It is based on a close, open and positive relationship between elected officials and the citizens whom they represent.


EDUCATION BACKGROUND SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

 

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report is distributed to voters in print and/or on our website.  It includes a summary of the candidate’s education.  Please summarize your education in 120 characters (letters, punctuation, and space all combined).  The League will delete material that exceeds the space limit by beginning with the last entry.  Suggested order is (degree) (subject) (school) (year, if desired). 

 

Note: If this question is left blank the League will not include education information in your candidate profile.

 

1968 WWU, Bellingham, WA - BA in Education

1992 Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA - MS in Sport Pedagogy

 

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT SUMMARY

FOR PUBLICATION IN CANDIDATE EVALUATION REPORT

 

The Municipal League’s Candidate Evaluation Report also includes a summary of each candidate’s civic involvement.  Please summarize your civic involvement in the space below.  We will make every attempt to include the information in the Candidate Evaluation Report as submitted.  Due to space restrictions in the Report, your response is limited to 500 characters (letters, punctuation, and spaces all combined).  It is important that you list your involvement beginning with the most important and ending with the least important.  If you exceed the length of response permitted, or if the League should find it necessary to shorten responses for publication purposes, deletions will be made beginning with the last item listed. 

 

Note: This information will appear verbatim on the League’s Candidate Evaluation Report.  If this question is left blank, the Municipal League will not include information on your civic involvement in the Report.

 

  Check here if you would like the Municipal League to copy the first 500 characters from Question 4 to paste into this section.

 

City of Federal Way Parks and Recreation Commission

Federal Way Symphony Board of Directors

Western Washington University Alumni Board of Directors

Federal Way Chamber of Commerce

Former Federal Way School Board Member

 

Finished!

If at all possible, send your response to the Municipal League electronically as an attachment, or insert it into an e-mail message (rebecca@munileague.org).  Mail and fax numbers are listed below.  If the League has not contacted you to schedule an interview, please call the League office at your earliest convenience.

 

Don’t forget to send the following to the Municipal League:  a resume, a photo, campaign literature, and, if you are an incumbent, constituent newsletters and other materials.  Please use the check-off list on the cover sheet of this packet to indicate which items you have sent.

 

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAMPAIGN!

 

THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF KING COUNTY

 

Candidate Evaluation Coordinator:  Rebecca Cooper

 

810 Third Avenue, Suite 224                  Phone: 206-622-8333                Email: rebecca@munileague.org

Seattle, WA 98104-1614                        Fax: 425-671-0506                        Website: www.munileague.org