Don Hewett

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Don Hewett completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hewett's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" id=\"heading-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI am a regular working person, not a professional politician. I am here to serve my community so that I can help us to improve our lives to achieve our dreams.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" id=\"heading-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>I am not red, I am not blue, I am red, white and blue. Here to serve you.</li><li>Washington state does not have an income problem, it has a spending problem.</li><li>If you do not get involved and vote for regular citizens, you will be ruled by your inferiors.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-443002-2026-05-15\" id=\"heading1-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-443002-2026-05-15\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-443002-2026-05-15\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWashington state's overreach into our personal lives.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-443002-2026-05-15\" id=\"heading2-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-443002-2026-05-15\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-443002-2026-05-15\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-443002-2026-05-15\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tNone. Don't need em, don't want em. I do not want to be indepted to others. Please keep your money and spend it on stuff you need. Keep your money, but please just give me your vote.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Don Hewett did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nDon Hewett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hewett's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I am a regular working person, not a professional politician. I am here to serve my community so that I can help us to improve our lives to achieve our dreams. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? I am not red, I am not blue, I am red, white and blue. Here to serve you. Washington state does not have an income problem, it has a spending problem. If you do not get involved and vote for regular citizens, you will be ruled by your inferiors. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Washington state's overreach into our personal lives. What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign? None. Don't need em, don't want em. I do not want to be indepted to others. Please keep your money and spend it on stuff you need. Keep your money, but please just give me your vote.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.\n\nDon Hewett did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Hewett’s campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Education</b>\n</p><p>I will give a voice to the voiceless. I believe that the education system has left many of our students behind, the U.S. ranks 38th out of 71 countries in math and 24th in science. I will make the education of ALL students a top priority, and insure parents are in control of their children’s education.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Military Strength</b>\n</p><p>I believes that the United States maintains a military to protect our homeland and impose America’s will on its enemies and to prevent a would be enemy from doing so to the United States. As a result, the United States must maintain a military strong enough to be able to win decisively in combat. In order to accomplish this, I believes our military must be equipped with properly maintained modern equipment and adequately staffed and provisioned units. \n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Low Taxes</b>\n</p><p>I believes that Washingtonians work hard for their money and they deserve the opportunity to save, spend, and invest as they see fit. I believes that keeping taxes low will strengthen the middle-class and open up new opportunities for Washington families and families throughout America.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Support our Police</b>\n</p><p>I will support our police and all of our first responders. I believes that law and order is paramount for our society. These are the guy who keep us safe and make sacrifices that we many never know to do this. Let’s bring law and order back to our streets and reduce our crime rate.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Maintain and recover our Freedom</b>\n</p><p>I believes that we must maintain and recover our lost freedoms. He fully supports our second amendment rights as well as all of our other rights. We must never let our guard down, and must always fight to keep our freedoms. The U.S.A. is the shining city on the hill because of our freedoms. I will fight to keep and recover our freedoms.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Fiscal Responsibility</b>\n</p><p>I will work to make our government become more fiscally responsible. Our government needs to spend money as if it is their own money, not as if it is just someone else’s money. We don’t need a government that buys stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>America First</b>\n</p><p>I believes in putting America first. This does not mean put America only, but if we do not take care of ourselves, we will not be able to help others. This includes taking care of ourselves by protecting our borders and the security of our own country.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>The Four Branches of Government</b>\n</p><p>I believes that there are four branches of government. The Executive branch, the Legislative branch, the Judicial branch, and the People. The fourth branch of government, the people need to take back our government, and this can only be done with a representative who will listen to your voice and empower you as the fourth branch of government to regain control of your government.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Common Sense</b>\n</p><p>We will bring back common sense to our government and not allow our country to be destroyed by stupid government policies. We will not destroy ourselves and lose our freedoms.\n<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_3-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-3\">[3]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Don Hewett’s campaign website (2024)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-4\"><a href=\"#cite_note-4\">[4]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<p>Don Hewett did not complete <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection</a> survey.\n</p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"></div>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Don Hewett completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hewett's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMost of my life has been here in Tacoma Washington. I have lived in Washington State for most of my entire life. This is my home. I am native to this area. I graduated from Wilson High School in Tacoma. I then worked at Microsoft. I worked with the early development of Windows. This was during the O/S 2 and windows battle. I then served in the Air Force at Dyess AFB in Texas. I served in a Security Police Squadron for the 96th Bomb Wing. I served in many capacities as administration, security patrols for a B-52H and later B-B1 bombers as well as Law Enforcement patrol on the base. After serving I came back and went to school at the University of Washington and completed a degree and Mathematics and a degree in Computer Science. I then worked at Boeing as an engineer working on the 747, 767 and 777 line. After quite a few years there I had saved up enough to go back to school where I got a degree in Electrical Engineering. This is the area of engineering that I had come to want to work in. I graduated Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) and IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society). After completing my degree I worked at Intel in Dupont Washington designing high end computer servers. I worked there for many years. I have been fortunate enough to work with many fine people in my life. It is my turn to give back to you, who have helped me. I would be blessed to listen to and serve you.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li><p>It is my passion is to help serve you by meeting with you often, and bringing your message to our federal government. It is time for us, (the 4th branch of government) to be heard. It is you that sent men to the moon and brought them back safely, not our politicians. We are capable and very smart, we just need to be heard. It is not my job to change our system with what I think should happen, but to change it to what you the people want our country to be like.</p></li><li><p>I want to focus on keeping and returning more freedoms and rights back to you. The side effect of writing laws is that our government creates more criminals. We need to focus on laws that are positive, not negative that threatens you with punishment. For example, suppose we wished to get more people to follow the speed limit on a road. Perhaps we should put up equipment to check car's speed as they travel down the road, record their speed and license number. For those who follow the speed limit they should be automatically entered into a lottery to win a $20 gift certificate. A positive law that we want to follow. I would like to see more rights and freedoms and less punishment.</p></li><li>Integrity, common sense, and humanity are being lost in our government. This will not happen with our profession politicians that are striving to be powerful lifelong members of congress. I will not lie, cheat, or steal and will not tolerate anyone who does. When I have completed my work in congress, I am coming back home. Our congress members are out of touch with the real life that we live, and do not realize how hard we work. They have consequently lost touch with realizing that we are all brothers and sisters on this planet.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading1-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe policy issues that I am most concerned about are many. I am concerned mostly about are: Our widening wealth gap, health care, our freedoms and rights being eroded, our federal debt, college debt for our children, growing homeless, environment, rising taxes, inflation, etc. Pretty much all of the same concerns as you. The issues are many. I could harp about each of these issues, but I would be preaching to the choir. The issue is not what I am passionate about, but what you are passionate about. The first thing that I am going to do if elected to office is to meet with you the people with a white board. Have you tell me what issues are most important to you. Have you vote in the meetings on these items and then work to tackle the top issues. Collect your ideas on how to solve these issues, and then work with you to present bills to congress to solve these issues. My passion is to have you the people author bills for congress and introduce this bill to the House of Representatives. It is not about me, it is about you; the people, the 4th branch of government. I want you to be heard and represented. When you see the jelly bean jar to guess how many beans are in the jar, you can always win that. You do it by averaging everyone's guesses. Together, with all of our voices heard, we are smarter. I want to leverage each and every one of you to help us make our country better. It is not about me, it is about you. :)\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading2-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tIntegrity is important. Without integrity, we cannot trust our representatives to represent us. I do not lie, cheat, or steal. I will not tolerate anyone who does. <br/><br/>\n<p>Humility is also very important. A representative needs to realize that their job is to represent their constituents, not to just push their own ideas. They need to have the humility to realize that they are not always right. For example, I do not believe that legalizing marijuana is a good idea. But, the people have voted to legalize it. I am wrong, because by definition the people are right. I will stand by legalizing it because the people have voted to legalize it. I will stand by your decisions and have the humility to realize when my opinions are wrong. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nActively listening to others is extremely important. We learn from each other. Think of one thing that you know that you have not learned from others. We would not even know how to dress ourselves if it was not for our parents. We learn from each other, and my ideas have been learned from others around me. People do not speak about things that they could care less about. Are you interested in the life cycle of earth worms? Not many of us are. So when people speak, they care. They deserve to be listened to, each and every person.<br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading3-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI have lived a life of service. I have learned that serving others is the most rewarding thing that one can do in their life.<br/><br/>\n<p>I feel that I am a very good active listener. I have learned from others everything that I know and have learned to appreciate others. In fact, I would rather have discussions with people I disagree with more than those who just agree. I learn more that way.<br/><br/>\nI have strong leadership skills. I have worked as a more senior engineer and performed many activities in which I had to take the lead on projects and organize others to complete tasks. I have learned how to utilize the skill of others to get jobs accomplished. <br/><br/>\n</p>\nI have a great deal of empathy for others. We need each other, and we are all human with human strengths and human frailties. We are all the same, yet different. Cherish the differences.<br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading4-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading5-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy very first job was a shrimp peeler for a sea food restaurant, where I was prompted to dishwasher washing dishes when I was 9 or 10. I was able buy a encyclopedia set, each book from A-Z one book at a time. I also got a second job delivering news papers as a paper boy for the Houston Chronicle. My dad worked for NASA with the Apollo space program, and I was able to help make several prototype circuits with work. I think they did this just to help the kids. These jobs taught me to be diligent and trust worthy. I learned how important it is when other people depend on you to do your part and how important it is.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading6-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was the last song that got stuck in your head?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere are many, but off hand I would have to say, Louie Armstrong. \"What a wonderful world\"\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading7-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe U.S. House of Representatives that make it unique from the other branches of government is that it is the people's house. The Senate has oversight duties of the House and of the Presidency. The U.S. House of representatives has the closest ties with the people, and as a result has greater sympathy with the people. From the very beginning, unlike the Senate or the Judicial branch of our government, the representative of the House have always been elected by the people. Since House members are up for election every 2 years, this also causes house members to be more responsive to the needs of the people. It is truly the people's house.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading8-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI do not think that it is beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics at all. I think that it is very detrimental. I believe and trust the people far more than our career politicians. I feel that our career politicians are so out of touch that they have no idea of how hard most of us work just to make ends meet. Our politicians do not realize that it is we the people that sent men to the moon and returned them safely to this planet. We grow the food, fix our cars, build our roads, and on and on. It is not politicians that do this. After being in politics for so long they become out of touch with the people. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading9-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere are many challenges that United States will face in the next decade. There are some that we can predict today, and others that we do not yet have. <br/>\n<p>Immigration is a problem that we face. Immigration is a good thing, but we need to be able to control immigration into our country. The first priority of the U.S. government is to protect its citizens. When you get on an airplane, it says that you put your oxygen mask on first. You must do this so you will not become a casualty. If you do, you will not be able to help others. We need to put ourselves first, but not over do it, so that we will still be able to help others.<br/>\nWealth inequality is another of our great challenges. Although your productivity has pretty much tripled since 1972, you purchasing power has not increased since then. This is causing our society to stratify into the few wealthy and everyone else. <br/>\nIncreasing costs for health care is an issue that we have. The cost of health care is growing far faster than our income. <br/>\nEducation is a big issue. The rising costs for schooling, especially college. Fewer and fewer of our children to be able to get higher education. This is causing student loan debt to be rising at an alarming rate. It is also causing our employers to have difficulties finding qualified employees. <br/>\nNational debt is out of control. Every dollar that is borrowed has to be paid back with interest in future. We are about $67,000 in debt per person. It cost you almost $1200 just pay the interest each year.<br/>\nWe will probably be facing another housing crisis. Housing costs are rising far faster than our incomes. When this reaches a crisis, the bubble will burst.<br/>\n</p>\nLoss of freedoms and rights and the growing bureaucracy of our government. As our government grows, our government gains its legitimacy from the people. We need to get back to and restore our Constitutionalism. We need to get back to a country of the people, for the people, by the people.<br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading10-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI would like to be on the United States House Committee on Education and Labor. After volunteering and working with kids in school, this is near and dear to my heart to help our children grow into healthy, happy, productive adults.<br/><br/>\n<p>I think I could add value to the United States Committee on Oversight and Reform. I believe some financial common sense needs to be brought back into our government. We need members that treat the public's money just as if it were coming out of their own pockets.<br/><br/>\nThe United States House Committee on Small Business is a committee that I would like to work in. All big businesses were at one time small businesses. We need to promote our small businesses because they are the back bone of our country.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nI would serve on any committee in which I am needed. <br/></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading11-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tYes. Representatives should only serve for two years and be up for re-election. This keeps them closer to the people and the concerns of the people that they represent. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading12-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are your thoughts on term limits?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tWe should have term limits. I think that it is fair that a Senator be limited to 2 terms of office (total of 12 years of service), and a representative to 4 terms of office (total of 8 years). I also think that Supreme court justices should not serve after the age of 72. This allows for new people to come up and serve and brings in new ideas. We need to be able to step aside and let the next generation have the reigns. The question now is how would you get congress to vote on term limits on themselves?\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading13-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse13-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse13-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIf you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading13-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse13-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI would join in any leadership role in which I am called to serve.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading14-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse14-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse14-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading14-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse14-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere is no particular representative that I would model myself after. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-72450-2020-02-06\" id=\"heading15-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse15-72450-2020-02-06\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse15-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tBoth sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading15-72450-2020-02-06\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse15-72450-2020-02-06\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI met Denny Heck at a town hall meeting in Lacey. I was impressed with his spending time to listen to each person who wanted to speak with him. There were no particularly stories. Whether one is a republican or a democrat, it is most important that they listen to and represent the people in their district. Everyone has a story and a reason why they are telling you their point of view.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "Hewett’s campaign website stated the following:\n“ Education I will give a voice to the voiceless. I believe that the education system has left many of our students behind, the U.S. ranks 38th out of 71 countries in math and 24th in science. I will make the education of ALL students a top priority, and insure parents are in control of their children’s education. Military Strength I believes that the United States maintains a military to protect our homeland and impose America’s will on its enemies and to prevent a would be enemy from doing so to the United States. As a result, the United States must maintain a military strong enough to be able to win decisively in combat. In order to accomplish this, I believes our military must be equipped with properly maintained modern equipment and adequately staffed and provisioned units. Low Taxes I believes that Washingtonians work hard for their money and they deserve the opportunity to save, spend, and invest as they see fit. I believes that keeping taxes low will strengthen the middle-class and open up new opportunities for Washington families and families throughout America. Support our Police I will support our police and all of our first responders. I believes that law and order is paramount for our society. These are the guy who keep us safe and make sacrifices that we many never know to do this. Let’s bring law and order back to our streets and reduce our crime rate. Maintain and recover our Freedom I believes that we must maintain and recover our lost freedoms. He fully supports our second amendment rights as well as all of our other rights. We must never let our guard down, and must always fight to keep our freedoms. The U.S.A. is the shining city on the hill because of our freedoms. I will fight to keep and recover our freedoms. Fiscal Responsibility I will work to make our government become more fiscally responsible. Our government needs to spend money as if it is their own money, not as if it is just someone else’s money. We don’t need a government that buys stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have. America First I believes in putting America first. This does not mean put America only, but if we do not take care of ourselves, we will not be able to help others. This includes taking care of ourselves by protecting our borders and the security of our own country. The Four Branches of Government I believes that there are four branches of government. The Executive branch, the Legislative branch, the Judicial branch, and the People. The fourth branch of government, the people need to take back our government, and this can only be done with a representative who will listen to your voice and empower you as the fourth branch of government to regain control of your government. Common Sense We will bring back common sense to our government and not allow our country to be destroyed by stupid government policies. We will not destroy ourselves and lose our freedoms. [3] ” —Don Hewett’s campaign website (2024) [4]\n\nDon Hewett did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.\n\n\nDon Hewett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hewett's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. Most of my life has been here in Tacoma Washington. I have lived in Washington State for most of my entire life. This is my home. I am native to this area. I graduated from Wilson High School in Tacoma. I then worked at Microsoft. I worked with the early development of Windows. This was during the O/S 2 and windows battle. I then served in the Air Force at Dyess AFB in Texas. I served in a Security Police Squadron for the 96th Bomb Wing. I served in many capacities as administration, security patrols for a B-52H and later B-B1 bombers as well as Law Enforcement patrol on the base. After serving I came back and went to school at the University of Washington and completed a degree and Mathematics and a degree in Computer Science. I then worked at Boeing as an engineer working on the 747, 767 and 777 line. After quite a few years there I had saved up enough to go back to school where I got a degree in Electrical Engineering. This is the area of engineering that I had come to want to work in. I graduated Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) and IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society). After completing my degree I worked at Intel in Dupont Washington designing high end computer servers. I worked there for many years. I have been fortunate enough to work with many fine people in my life. It is my turn to give back to you, who have helped me. I would be blessed to listen to and serve you. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? It is my passion is to help serve you by meeting with you often, and bringing your message to our federal government. It is time for us, (the 4th branch of government) to be heard. It is you that sent men to the moon and brought them back safely, not our politicians. We are capable and very smart, we just need to be heard. It is not my job to change our system with what I think should happen, but to change it to what you the people want our country to be like. I want to focus on keeping and returning more freedoms and rights back to you. The side effect of writing laws is that our government creates more criminals. We need to focus on laws that are positive, not negative that threatens you with punishment. For example, suppose we wished to get more people to follow the speed limit on a road. Perhaps we should put up equipment to check car's speed as they travel down the road, record their speed and license number. For those who follow the speed limit they should be automatically entered into a lottery to win a $20 gift certificate. A positive law that we want to follow. I would like to see more rights and freedoms and less punishment. Integrity, common sense, and humanity are being lost in our government. This will not happen with our profession politicians that are striving to be powerful lifelong members of congress. I will not lie, cheat, or steal and will not tolerate anyone who does. When I have completed my work in congress, I am coming back home. Our congress members are out of touch with the real life that we live, and do not realize how hard we work. They have consequently lost touch with realizing that we are all brothers and sisters on this planet. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? The policy issues that I am most concerned about are many. I am concerned mostly about are: Our widening wealth gap, health care, our freedoms and rights being eroded, our federal debt, college debt for our children, growing homeless, environment, rising taxes, inflation, etc. Pretty much all of the same concerns as you. The issues are many. I could harp about each of these issues, but I would be preaching to the choir. The issue is not what I am passionate about, but what you are passionate about. The first thing that I am going to do if elected to office is to meet with you the people with a white board. Have you tell me what issues are most important to you. Have you vote in the meetings on these items and then work to tackle the top issues. Collect your ideas on how to solve these issues, and then work with you to present bills to congress to solve these issues. My passion is to have you the people author bills for congress and introduce this bill to the House of Representatives. It is not about me, it is about you; the people, the 4th branch of government. I want you to be heard and represented. When you see the jelly bean jar to guess how many beans are in the jar, you can always win that. You do it by averaging everyone's guesses. Together, with all of our voices heard, we are smarter. I want to leverage each and every one of you to help us make our country better. It is not about me, it is about you. :) What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official? Integrity is important. Without integrity, we cannot trust our representatives to represent us. I do not lie, cheat, or steal. I will not tolerate anyone who does. Humility is also very important. A representative needs to realize that their job is to represent their constituents, not to just push their own ideas. They need to have the humility to realize that they are not always right. For example, I do not believe that legalizing marijuana is a good idea. But, the people have voted to legalize it. I am wrong, because by definition the people are right. I will stand by legalizing it because the people have voted to legalize it. I will stand by your decisions and have the humility to realize when my opinions are wrong. Actively listening to others is extremely important. We learn from each other. Think of one thing that you know that you have not learned from others. We would not even know how to dress ourselves if it was not for our parents. We learn from each other, and my ideas have been learned from others around me. People do not speak about things that they could care less about. Are you interested in the life cycle of earth worms? Not many of us are. So when people speak, they care. They deserve to be listened to, each and every person. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? I have lived a life of service. I have learned that serving others is the most rewarding thing that one can do in their life. I feel that I am a very good active listener. I have learned from others everything that I know and have learned to appreciate others. In fact, I would rather have discussions with people I disagree with more than those who just agree. I learn more that way. I have strong leadership skills. I have worked as a more senior engineer and performed many activities in which I had to take the lead on projects and organize others to complete tasks. I have learned how to utilize the skill of others to get jobs accomplished. I have a great deal of empathy for others. We need each other, and we are all human with human strengths and human frailties. We are all the same, yet different. Cherish the differences. What legacy would you like to leave? What was your very first job? How long did you have it? My very first job was a shrimp peeler for a sea food restaurant, where I was prompted to dishwasher washing dishes when I was 9 or 10. I was able buy a encyclopedia set, each book from A-Z one book at a time. I also got a second job delivering news papers as a paper boy for the Houston Chronicle. My dad worked for NASA with the Apollo space program, and I was able to help make several prototype circuits with work. I think they did this just to help the kids. These jobs taught me to be diligent and trust worthy. I learned how important it is when other people depend on you to do your part and how important it is. What was the last song that got stuck in your head? There are many, but off hand I would have to say, Louie Armstrong. \"What a wonderful world\" What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution? The U.S. House of Representatives that make it unique from the other branches of government is that it is the people's house. The Senate has oversight duties of the House and of the Presidency. The U.S. House of representatives has the closest ties with the people, and as a result has greater sympathy with the people. From the very beginning, unlike the Senate or the Judicial branch of our government, the representative of the House have always been elected by the people. Since House members are up for election every 2 years, this also causes house members to be more responsive to the needs of the people. It is truly the people's house. Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics? I do not think that it is beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics at all. I think that it is very detrimental. I believe and trust the people far more than our career politicians. I feel that our career politicians are so out of touch that they have no idea of how hard most of us work just to make ends meet. Our politicians do not realize that it is we the people that sent men to the moon and returned them safely to this planet. We grow the food, fix our cars, build our roads, and on and on. It is not politicians that do this. After being in politics for so long they become out of touch with the people. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? There are many challenges that United States will face in the next decade. There are some that we can predict today, and others that we do not yet have. Immigration is a problem that we face. Immigration is a good thing, but we need to be able to control immigration into our country. The first priority of the U.S. government is to protect its citizens. When you get on an airplane, it says that you put your oxygen mask on first. You must do this so you will not become a casualty. If you do, you will not be able to help others. We need to put ourselves first, but not over do it, so that we will still be able to help others. Wealth inequality is another of our great challenges. Although your productivity has pretty much tripled since 1972, you purchasing power has not increased since then. This is causing our society to stratify into the few wealthy and everyone else. Increasing costs for health care is an issue that we have. The cost of health care is growing far faster than our income. Education is a big issue. The rising costs for schooling, especially college. Fewer and fewer of our children to be able to get higher education. This is causing student loan debt to be rising at an alarming rate. It is also causing our employers to have difficulties finding qualified employees. National debt is out of control. Every dollar that is borrowed has to be paid back with interest in future. We are about $67,000 in debt per person. It cost you almost $1200 just pay the interest each year. We will probably be facing another housing crisis. Housing costs are rising far faster than our incomes. When this reaches a crisis, the bubble will burst. Loss of freedoms and rights and the growing bureaucracy of our government. As our government grows, our government gains its legitimacy from the people. We need to get back to and restore our Constitutionalism. We need to get back to a country of the people, for the people, by the people. If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of? I would like to be on the United States House Committee on Education and Labor. After volunteering and working with kids in school, this is near and dear to my heart to help our children grow into healthy, happy, productive adults. I think I could add value to the United States Committee on Oversight and Reform. I believe some financial common sense needs to be brought back into our government. We need members that treat the public's money just as if it were coming out of their own pockets. The United States House Committee on Small Business is a committee that I would like to work in. All big businesses were at one time small businesses. We need to promote our small businesses because they are the back bone of our country. I would serve on any committee in which I am needed. Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives? Yes. Representatives should only serve for two years and be up for re-election. This keeps them closer to the people and the concerns of the people that they represent. What are your thoughts on term limits? We should have term limits. I think that it is fair that a Senator be limited to 2 terms of office (total of 12 years of service), and a representative to 4 terms of office (total of 8 years). I also think that Supreme court justices should not serve after the age of 72. This allows for new people to come up and serve and brings in new ideas. We need to be able to step aside and let the next generation have the reigns. The question now is how would you get congress to vote on term limits on themselves? If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role? I would join in any leadership role in which I am called to serve. Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? There is no particular representative that I would model myself after. Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? I met Denny Heck at a town hall meeting in Lacey. I was impressed with his spending time to listen to each person who wanted to speak with him. There were no particularly stories. Whether one is a republican or a democrat, it is most important that they listen to and represent the people in their district. Everyone has a story and a reason why they are telling you their point of view.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]