Politics & Government

Meet Maureen Judge: Candidate for State Senate, Legislative District 41

The former NARAL Pro-Choice Washington PAC board member and Expedia.com manager is vying against incumbent State Senator Steve Litzow to represent the 41st in the State Legislature.

NAME: Maureen Judge

OFFICE SOUGHT: Senator, 41st Legislative District

PARTY AFFILIATION: Democrat

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TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Mercer Island

CURRENT OCCUPATION: Marketing Consultant

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PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: I was the Executive Director of the Washington Toxics Coalition, where I pushed landmark legislation banning toxic chemicals from baby bottles. I’ve also worked at both Expedia.com and RealNetworks.

WEBSITE: www.maureenjudge.com

WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE FACING VOTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT? 

We need to fully fund education and restore the promise we made to provide our kids with a quality public education. It’s really all about education. We hear that at the door all the time. People are still pretty worried about the economy, but people in the district seem to have escaped the worst of it. When we were out doorbelling, we would talk with many grandmothers and grandfathers, moms and dads — it’s an issue that’s very important to them.

IF ELECTED, WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS IN OFFICE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE?

It’s so much about the funding piece of education. We have to be very creative about funding moving forward. We need to take a look at the tax loopholes and preferences that have been there for decades — some of these are simply outadated and we should get rid of them. A great example of the way I want to move forward is Seattle Rep. Reuven Carlyle's (D-36) bill that could end tax exemptions. They should come up for review at the same time they’re extended by the State Legislature. The food exemption from the state tax is an exemption that I think is working but we need to take a look at the others and measure their benefit.

DO YOU SUPPORT/OPPOSE REFERENDUM 74: SHOULD GAY MARRIAGE BE LEGAL IN WASHINGTON? BRIEFLY, WHY?

I absolutely support it. R-74 is important to our state it will ensure moving forward, that everyone who wants to be married, can ... and I was recently joking with some friends about this, but it's true: it will be great for the local wedding industry!

It’s really a civil right and it’s great to see Washington state lead, and I’m so proud to be a Washingtonian and to have voted in support of that issue. I sat down with my daughter when I voted on this, and it felt really good.

DO YOU SUPPORT/OPPOSE, INITIATIVE 502 TO MAKE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA LEGAL TO PEOPLE 21 AND OLDER? BRIEFLY, WHY?

That’s the one I have the most trouble with. As the mother of a teen I’m concerned about access, and I’m also concerned about the current strength of marijuana. With alcohol you know what the proof is, it's right on the bottle, 60 proof, 80 proof — you know what you're getting. With the new strains of marijuana out there today, you’re not sure what you’re going to get.

I appreciate that people are eager to see that legalized and regulated, but as the mother to a teenager I did vote against it.


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