Spencer Harrison Meline

[{"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>Spencer Meline 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 Meline'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-405833-2026-04-01\" id=\"heading-bio-405833-2026-04-01\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-405833-2026-04-01\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-405833-2026-04-01\" 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-405833-2026-04-01\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-405833-2026-04-01\" 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’m a small business owner, husband, and father of four, born and raised in Edmonds, Washington, and now living in Cashmere in the 8th District. I’ve built my businesses from the ground up in Leavenworth, gaining firsthand experience managing payroll, navigating regulations, and leading teams through growth and uncertainty. That experience gives me a practical understanding of how federal policy impacts real employers, workers, and families.\r\nMy wife and I homeschool our children because we believe parents should play a meaningful role in education. My nontraditional path has reinforced my conviction that while there are many paths to success, responsibility, discipline, and hard work are essential. Faith is central to our family and guides how we live, work, and serve our community.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-405833-2026-04-01\" id=\"heading-key-message-405833-2026-04-01\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-405833-2026-04-01\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-405833-2026-04-01\" 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-405833-2026-04-01\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-405833-2026-04-01\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Small businesses are the backbone of Washington’s 8th District. When small businesses are strong, communities are strong, workers have opportunity, and the American Dream is within reach.\r\n<p>I built my businesses from the ground up, and I know what it takes to make payroll, navigate regulations, and grow a team. In Congress, I will fight to ensure Washington supports the people who create jobs—not just corporations with teams of lobbyists and lawyers.\r\n</p>\nThat means lowering costs, cutting unnecessary regulations, and empowering local owners not distant bureaucracies to make the best decisions for their employees and communities.</li><li>Working families are being squeezed from every direction groceries, energy, and housing all cost more. When Washington overspends and overregulates, families pay the price.\r\n\r\nI will support responsible federal budgeting, oppose reckless spending that fuels inflation, and advance policies that bring down everyday costs. That includes protecting access to affordable energy and addressing the housing crisis.</li><li>Public lands define Washington’s 8th District and deserve active, responsible care. These lands aren’t abstract to me they are part of how my family lives, explores, and experiences this place we call home.\r\n\r\nResponsible stewardship means more than preservation. It means reducing catastrophic wildfire risk, supporting active forest management, maintaining trails and access roads, and ensuring these lands remain accessible for future generations.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-405833-2026-04-01\" id=\"heading1-405833-2026-04-01\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-405833-2026-04-01\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-405833-2026-04-01\" 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=\"heading1-405833-2026-04-01\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-405833-2026-04-01\" 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 most passionate about restoring the conditions that allow families to thrive and the American Dream to remain within reach.<br/><br/>\n<p>That starts with strengthening the foundation of family life where parents are empowered, children are raised with strong values, and communities are built on responsibility, faith, and hard work. I believe policy should support, not replace, the role of families in shaping the next generation.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nI also care deeply about ensuring that opportunity is not limited to a select few. The American Dream should be attainable for anyone willing to work for it not something that feels out of reach for young families trying to build a life.\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": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nSpencer Meline completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Meline's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I’m a small business owner, husband, and father of four, born and raised in Edmonds, Washington, and now living in Cashmere in the 8th District. I’ve built my businesses from the ground up in Leavenworth, gaining firsthand experience managing payroll, navigating regulations, and leading teams through growth and uncertainty. That experience gives me a practical understanding of how federal policy impacts real employers, workers, and families.\r\nMy wife and I homeschool our children because we believe parents should play a meaningful role in education. My nontraditional path has reinforced my conviction that while there are many paths to success, responsibility, discipline, and hard work are essential. Faith is central to our family and guides how we live, work, and serve our community. 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? Small businesses are the backbone of Washington’s 8th District. When small businesses are strong, communities are strong, workers have opportunity, and the American Dream is within reach. I built my businesses from the ground up, and I know what it takes to make payroll, navigate regulations, and grow a team. In Congress, I will fight to ensure Washington supports the people who create jobs—not just corporations with teams of lobbyists and lawyers. That means lowering costs, cutting unnecessary regulations, and empowering local owners not distant bureaucracies to make the best decisions for their employees and communities. Working families are being squeezed from every direction groceries, energy, and housing all cost more. When Washington overspends and overregulates, families pay the price.\r\n\r\nI will support responsible federal budgeting, oppose reckless spending that fuels inflation, and advance policies that bring down everyday costs. That includes protecting access to affordable energy and addressing the housing crisis. Public lands define Washington’s 8th District and deserve active, responsible care. These lands aren’t abstract to me they are part of how my family lives, explores, and experiences this place we call home.\r\n\r\nResponsible stewardship means more than preservation. It means reducing catastrophic wildfire risk, supporting active forest management, maintaining trails and access roads, and ensuring these lands remain accessible for future generations. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I am most passionate about restoring the conditions that allow families to thrive and the American Dream to remain within reach. That starts with strengthening the foundation of family life where parents are empowered, children are raised with strong values, and communities are built on responsibility, faith, and hard work. I believe policy should support, not replace, the role of families in shaping the next generation. I also care deeply about ensuring that opportunity is not limited to a select few. The American Dream should be attainable for anyone willing to work for it not something that feels out of reach for young families trying to build a life.\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."}]