Q&A with 13th Legislative District candidates

Incumbent Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, Democratic challenger Eduardo Castaneda-Diaz, and John “the man” Malan, listed as a Classical Democrat, are running for a state House seat representing the 13th Legislative District.

Dent previously worked as a professional pilot, including as a corporate pilot, flight instructor and crop duster. Castaneda-Diaz enlisted in the U.S. Army while in college at Washington State University and has served as a combat engineer for five years in the Washington, California and Idaho Army National Guards. Malan, a wireman, technician and welder, also has military experience, having previously served as a reconnaissance Marine. The Columbia Basin Herald emailed each candidate a series of questions about important issues this year. Dent and Castaneda-Diaz replied, and their answers, edited, are below.

For Castaneda-Diaz: What are the main issues that you would like to address if you were elected to this position?

Castaneda-Diaz: If elected, the main issues that I would like to address are protections for Washington’s farmworkers and immigrants, water issues, campaign finance reform, environmental protections, criminal justice reform, income inequality, access to higher education, and COVID-19 relief for all Washingtonians. I want to make it clear: Access to lifesaving medicines and health care are a human right. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, I am advocating for providing a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available to all Washington residents at zero cost.

For Dent: What are the main issues that you have tackled during your time in this position?

Dent: Children’s mental health. I have worked to improve treatment and increase the workforce for these young people. I have been recognized and received national recognition by the American Pediatric Association for my work on children’s mental health issues.

I was the caucus lead on the formation of the new Department of Children Youth and Families. This department was formed by combining the Children’s administration with the Department of Early Learning and Juvenile Rehabilitation. This resulted in reducing the size of DSHS and put our children’s programs into one agency to allow more transparency and efficiency. We also created an oversight board to watch the new department and be sure they are staying on track with their mission. We also built into the new department a requirement to go upstream and help families solve their issues before children could be removed from the home to reduce the size of the foster care program.

I have done extensive work with the Department of Natural Resources in the area of wildfire prevention and suppression. I have been able to help the DNR increase the size of their air assets for use in initial attack on wildfire suppression which has dramatically reduced the size and severity of our wildfires. Increased use of initial attack has been very successful in protecting our natural resource assets.

I have been successful in redirecting existing revenue sources to fund aviation infrastructure projects and have set up for the future more increased funding for these projects. Aviation/aerospace is a $108 billion per year industry in the state.

Since first elected I have been involved in the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program to reduce the demand on the declining Odessa Aquifer. We are seeing much progress and will see water on the ground in the first part of August.

As the only professional pilot in the Legislature and a former pesticide applicator, I am the go-to guy in the Legislature for aviation and pesticide issues.

Q: What personal strengths would you bring with you to Olympia if elected?

Castaneda-Diaz: If elected, the strengths that I would bring to Olympia are my lived experiences as the son of formerly undocumented, farm-working immigrants; the experience of growing up as a low-income Latino, who against all odds, accomplished a five-year career in the U.S. Army, and who graduated from Washington State University — becoming the first person in their family to achieve a college education. I’m a young, energetic leader that is ready to lead and stand up to career politicians — who, for far too long, have ignored working families and families of color.

Dent: I am a big-picture guy and understand we are not dealing with a single issue. I have life experience and understand how legislation can affect the lives of all of us and often comes with unintended consequences. I have the reputation and the ability to work across the aisle, build relationships, find common ground and solve problems.

Q: The legislature next year will be faced with historic economic and social fallout due to the pandemic: How would you like to see the state respond to that challenge?

Castaneda-Diaz: The pandemic has highlighted the gross income inequality, not only in our state, but in our nation. It’s time for Washington’s wealthy corporations to pay their fair share into our state’s tax system. I support a state capital gains tax, as well as a progressive state income tax on Washington’s millionaires and billionaires.

Dent: Mental health issues will be a major issue to respond to as a result of this shutdown and finding ways to mitigate this potential serious issue. We will need to take a hard look at our budget and make spending priorities. We have to prioritize our issues and spending!