Hello, Everyone. This is my first post on these forums so if something goofs bear with me :-)

A wise soul once said "Every now and then, an innocent man is sent to the Legislature."

Would I run for higher office. I have, and look forward to doing so again.

Do I feel I have what it takes to connect with the voters?
In just six years my district has moved from a swing R to a swing D district. And when I ran two years ago, I got a late start and, with zero name recognition, ran a severely underfunded campaign. Yet when all was said and done I researched the results of my campaign and found that where I was able to reach the voters my message connected. Based on this I believe that had I been better prepared I would have won or, at worst, lost by a very narrow margin.

Why should I be elected over someone who is more qualified? And what, pray tell, "qualifies" one candidate over another? A long business and social pedigree? Time in grade with the party? Prior elected experience? In my last race, I was asked what I felt qualified me to hold a legislative seat. My response was, and still is, that I am a taxpayer, a father, and a resident of my state who has a burning desire to do something to try to better the lives of the people of the state of Washington. Tell me, am I qualified?

Would I sell out my core beliefs to get elected? This one is easy enough. Never put yourself in a position to have to make that choice. And you do that by understanding that the Founding Fathers never intended for political offices to become second careers. I am not looking to make a career as a politician. So therefore I am able to look past the next election, hold to my core beliefs, and vote my conscience.

Watch for me in 2012 ;-)