Meet Jim Thatcher, 45th Legislative District Candidate

Editor's note: Patch has submitted questionnaires to all 45th Legislative District candidates, and plans to post the responses verbatim as we receive them.

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NAME: Jim Thatcher

OFFICE SOUGHT: State Representative, 45th Legislative District, Position 2

PARTY AFFILIATION: Republican

TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Redmond

CURRENT OCCUPATION: Principal Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: See http://www.electjimthatcher.com/about

WEBSITE: www.ElectJimThatcher.com

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

The struggling economy has impacted our district heavily in the form of high unemployment and reduced purchasing power.

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

In order to support businesses in the district to allow them to grow and create more jobs I will call for the review of all regulations that are currently adding cost to businesses. The review should focus on three key questions: 1) Does the need that the regulation was written to address still exist? 2) Is the regulation addressing the need as expected? and 3) Are there unintended consequences resulting from application of the regulation that are out of proportion to the benefit the regulation is providing? Regulations that are no longer needed should be eliminated. Those that are not addressing the need or have consequences out of proportion to their benefit should be revised as appropriate.

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

Reject. I am concerned that, despite the lengthy list of changes to Washington statutes, SB 6239 does not sufficiently address the many legal implications of modifying the meaning of a term that has been used in private legal agreements for centuries.

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

Oppose. I am not convinced that legalization would result in lower rates of abuse, as proponents have claimed. I think the more likely result would be an increase of use of marijuana not only among those over 21, but by minors as well. I am also concerned that legalization will result in users being less cautious when using, leading to an increase in driving while impaired.