Former Commissioner runs

COLUMBIA BASIN — Max Golladay trusts that his belief in local control over land use and background as a Kittitas County commissioner give him the edge in a political match to become the next state representative from Washington's 13th District.

The Terrace Heights resident wants to carry forth a message of improving the business climate, maintaining local control over land-use issues, keeping local agricultural profitable and competitive, and re-evaluating the state's educational system.

Golladay faces Moses Lake businesswoman Judy Warnick in September's primary for the House of Represent-atives seat currently held by Moses Lake Republican Rep. Janea Holmquist. Holmquist is leaving the seat in a run for the state senate. Primary voters will decide the race, as no Democrat has filed for the post.

Golladay received the Republican party endorsement to run for the post last month. He said he was encouraged to run and come out of his political hiatus since his loss in a re-election bid to the Kittitas county commission in 2004.

The one bill Golladay would pitch if elected is one which would amend the Growth

Management Act to give it more local control. GMA, he said, impacts most of what local governments do, and he noted his experience in local water use and land use issues in saying it doesn't work the way it's currently structured.

"It's very important that we keep that at the local level," Golladay said. "We can't fix King County's problems and they can't fix ours."

Golladay said the way the plan is currently structured, a local comprehensive plan can be appealed to one of the governor-appointed growth management hearings boards. Golladay would like to amend the Growth Management Act so the state hearings boards are structured as more of a mediation board, and legal issues would need to be resolved in the court system.

The gasoline taxes are basically a fair tax, Golladay said, but noted he felt the last gas tax was a mistake. Golladay said he supports gas taxes, but he wants to know what they are going for.

With water, he said the state needs to look at all measures for farmers, be it conservation or storage.

Golladay came from a ranching background, and joined the Kittitas County commission after 30 years on a ranch in the county.

He has been a resident of the 13th district for almost 50 years. He has also owned small businesses, adding he knows the impact of rules and regulations on those businesses.

Golladay spent eight years on the Kittitas County Commission, and called it an enjoyable and rewarding experience, but also a very intense one. He said they faced a number of issues on the commission, but stated his proudest moment was when the county's comprehensive plan passed all the legal tests.

As a commissioner, finding the impact local governments can have, Golladay said it gave him the experience needed for the House of Representatives post. Between the commission and posts with the Washington Cattlemen and the Farm Bureau, Golladay said he has gone on many trips to Olympia in an official capacity.

Golladay wants to look at the rising minimum wage, saying it's the small businesses who are impacted the most. "It seems to create as many problems as it solves and it certainly gives a false sense of security or a false sense of real life," Golladay said.

He feels there is a direct correlation between the high minimum wage and businesses leaving the state. He said they've got to take a look at the tax structure, and cited his concern over the increased number of government jobs.

The Republican acknowledges his party is in the minority in Olympia.

"As a minority it's an uphill battle," Golladay said. "That philosophy we have to show that bigger government isn't necessarily better."

A pro-life Republican, Golladay also stated his support of marriage between one man and one woman.

At the state level, he said education should be funded first.

"The constitution says we have to find the budget for education first and then take care of the rest of the programs," he said. "Let's take our jobs seriously."

He said the board should give control back to where locals control their destiny. It should be given back to help local school districts make it work. He said they need to look at bringing education standards back to local control, and allowing local school districts, who know the students and the process, be more involved.

Golladay said he doesn't know if the Washington Assessment of Student Learning is a bad test, but he also doesn't know if the state is applying it right. He said they should look at alternatives to achieve desired results.

Golladay concedes the 13th district is a large one geographically, but said the issues are similar no matter which county you go to. Golladay recently went to a meeting in Warden and said it reminded him much of what it was like to be in Kittitas.

"You're always open to learn but I don't think there's a great learning curve from one county to the other," Golladay said. "I think we have similar problems, similar opportunities."