King County Municipal League Candidate Questionnaire 2006
Section I – Basic Candidate Information
Campaign Contacts:
Campaign Name: Citizens to Re-elect Jan Shabro Enterprises
Address: P.O. Box 7381, Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Phone: (253) 740-6781 or (253) 686-8200
Fax: (253) 862-3757
Email: N/A
Website: janshabro.org
Political Background:
Public Office
Pierce County Council member, elected, 1995-2002. I served as Council chair, and chair of several committees.
Office not elected:
I ran unsuccessfully for county executive in 2000.
Section III
1. I am running for re-election to continue the work that I have started and to help my constituents with their many issues.
Since elected, I have sponsored important transportation, education legislation, etc. that are in their beginning implementation phase. For example, I was the prime sponsor of legislation establishing a ten year pilot project on Highway 167 to convert the HOV lane to a HOT lane (high occupancy toll lane). This is new to Washington State and I want to make sure that it is successful.
Another important bill that I co-sponsored was the establishment of a new Early Childhood Education Department in state government. Quality early education is critical to the state’s educational system, and I want this public/private partnership to succeed.
I am also working on legislation to help several of my constituents. One bill would correct some legislation passed last session that has had some unintended negative consequences. The other would help senior citizens and their medical expenses.
2. I think some of my most important personal characteristics that are helpful to my work as a state elected official are: my ability to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle, I am persistent when it comes to work on important issues and I am compassionate.
3. I have been successful in passing important legislation as both a County Council member and state legislator. However, the three most important are: establishing the “Save Lake Tapps Task Force,” working to successfully pass state legislation that would allow Pierce County to add a 1/10th of a percent additional sales tax for parks, and legislation to establishing a Early Childhood Education Department.
I established and chaired the “Save Lake Tapps Task Force” 6 ½ years ago to find a solution to save Lake Tapps (the largest lake in Pierce County) when Puget Sound Energy (PSE) found that it was uneconomical to continue to produce hydroelectric power. If PSE had walked away from the reservoir that it created in 1911, the lake would revert back to five small lakes. The consequences would be over a $500 million loss in property taxes to Pierce County, loss of valuable habitat, a threat to the aquifer’s recharge ability, etc. We have found a solution and are close to final resolution.
As a result of legislation I worked on as a Pierce County Council member, Pierce County has been able to upgrade Point Defiance Park, NW Trek, and establish and upgrade parks throughout the county.
I am anxious to see the consequences of the Early Childhood Department. It is a new public/private partnership that will bring millions of dollars of private money together with state dollars to upgrade our early childhood education programs. The goal of this newly created department is to insure that children are ready for kindergarten. Currently, 50% of all children are not adequately prepared for school. I hope with the new emphasis on early learning, our educational system will reap the benefits for years to come.
4. I am currently active in the Sumner Rotary. The Rotary’s sole purpose is to raise money for both local and international service. The Sumner Rotary is the primary source of revenue for the Sumner Food Bank. I am also on the Church in Society Committee at Creator Lutheran Church. The committee gives thousands of dollars to needy causes throughout the district. We are one of the primary contributors to the local Children and Family Services office in Sumner. I have also regularly volunteered to judge graduating seniors at Sumner High School for their senior project oral presentation.
For other community activities please refer to my biography or campaign literature.
5. The most important duty of my office is to represent my district and work to see that community issues are represented and receive recognition in both policy legislation and funding decisions by the legislature. For example, it is important that the 31st District receive its fair share of transportation and capital budget funds.
It is also important that I attend and actively participate in committee work, stay in contact with local governments (there are eight cities and towns in my district) and constituents. Also, I consider my work on gubernatorial appointed committees important such as Washington Learns, the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program and others an important addition to my elected responsibilities.
Also, as Chair of the Republican Caucus, I also have an important leadership role within the House of Representatives. A state representative’s job is supposed to be part-time. However, I find it a full-time job, and I treated it as such.
Education:
I have a B.S. degree from Pacific Lutheran University and a Masters degree in Administration from PLU, also.
Civic Involvement:
My current and past community involvement includes:
Founder and member of the Lake Tapps Task Force
President of the Economic Development Corp. of Pierce Co.
Chair, Tacoma-Pierce Co. Board of Health
Member Pierce Co. Regional Council
Member Sumner Rotary
Executive Board of the Employment and Training Consortium of Pierce Co.
Chair of Zoo and Trek Authority
Member of Eastern Pierce Co. Chamber of Commerce