16th Legislative District Representative
Victory May Hang in the Budget Balance

By Ryan Schreck

The primary season has thinned the herd of political hopefuls. Left standing in the 16th district representative race are two very different candidates: incumbent Bill Grant, of Walla Walla, and Terry Nealey, of Dayton. The former is a Democrat; the latter favors the GOP. One is a farmer by trade; the other a lawyer. One is hoping for a first term in office; the other has held the post for more than two decades. But ask either candidate about the state's most pressing issue, and they'll both tell you the same thing: the budget deficit.

Ask what they'll do about it, and you'll again hear similar answers – answers that are alike in their theme and their vagueness. "We will address the budget shortfall by going through the budget carefully line by line to see where cuts can be made," Rep. Grant says. "Some programs may have to be cut out completely."
"We need to set priorities by funding the core essentials of government and then find ways to cut the remaining items without raising taxes," counters Nealey. "It will not be easy."

So maybe balancing the budget—somehow—is an issue we can all agree to agree on. But the candidates do have their differences. Rep. Grant, for example, brings with him 22 years of experience in government. He clearly relishes the opportunity to represent his constituents in Olympia. "Without my presence and input, rural Eastern Washington would not be represented, and all the decisions would be made by west side legislators," he says.
With experience comes the knowledge of how to get things done in the capital. Returning to the budget issue, Grant mentions the importance of prioritizing budget requests from all entities—towns, organizations, individuals, etc.—so they can be submitted in time for consideration. This, he says, would be his first action if he were elected to a 12th term.

Rep. Grant may be one of the longest-serving members of the Washington House of Representatives, but his day job is still farming. At 70 years old he continues to put in the 12-hour days that harvest season demands. Not surprisingly, agriculture issues are close to his heart. He would like to revise the state's "use it or lose it" water rights, and he feels strongly about food safety issues, especially as they pertain to health dangers posed by imported foods.

In contrast, Nealey's background includes business and law degrees and a stint in the U.S. Army. He promises to bring a fresh perspective to the state legislature, and he has a different set of issues he plans to pursue in Olympia. Topping the list is transportation and infrastructure. With gas consumption dropping across the state, so is gas tax revenue. Nealey is concerned with how this will affect the funding for key infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the 520 bridge across Lake Washington and the ongoing construction on Highway 12. He suggests that tolls may be part of the solution, especially on the 520 bridge.

In discussing his campaign, Nealey returns again and again to the budget and the need for a more fiscally conservative government. He is confident in his ability to balance the budget, and once that is accomplished, he would like to put funds away to hedge against future downturns. "This will even out the highs and lows so we are not facing a constant financial crisis," he says.

On this issue, Nealey and Rep. Grant are once again in agreement.

Back to Top