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Shea, Biviano battling for 4th district seat
10/17/2012 10:59:36 AM
By Valerie Putnam
Splash Contributor
A dinner table conversation prompted Amy Biviano, Democrat, to challenge incumbent Republican Matt Shea this November for the 4th Legislative District's Washington State Representative, Position 2.
"I was frustrated by the fact that yet another one of my small business clients was declaring a loss for the year but still had a significant check to write for their B&O taxes," said Biviano, who owns a CPA firm. "That inequality coupled with the fact that our schools never seem to have the funding support they need was on our minds. My husband reminded me that if I really wanted to change the business environment, it was time someone with tax experience stepped up."
Biviano's platform includes spearheading tax reform. She proposes closing special interest tax loopholes so "everyone is paying their fair share." According to Biviano, large banking institutions pay a lower tax percentage than family-owned businesses.
Republican Shea wants to "get government out of the way of small businesses" to prompt job creation.
"I pledge to vote against any bill that would increase the size and scope of state government and to continue finding and cracking down on fraud, waste and inefficiency," Shea wrote on his website. "I will also continue pushing back on unconstitutional federal laws using the 10th Amendment."
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Amy Biviano (D), age 37
Family: Married for 15 years to Andrew. Children, Alex, 14, and Aidan, 12.
Current occupation: Business Owner Amy C. Biviano MBA CPA.
Past political experience: Chair, Spokane Democrats, 2008-2010; campaign manager, Re-elect Mayor Mary Verner, 2011.
Community involvement: Taught Sunday School at Bethany Presbyterian Church, financial literacy committee of the Washington Society of CPAs, Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, PACE board member in West Valley schools.
Education: MBA, taxation, Gonzaga University School of Business Administration; BA, anthropology, Yale University.
Website: www.amybiviano.com
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Matt Shea (R), age 38
Family: Married to Viktoriya Shea.
Current occupation: Attorney, Casey Law Offices P.S.; Washington State House of Representatives.
Past political experience: Four years as 4th District State Representative; four years as precinct committee officer in 4th District.
Community involvement: Attend Calvary Chapel Spokane (10 years); allied attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom with 450 Hours of pro-bono service to the community; former assistant Scoutmaster; founder, executive director, Washington Family Foundation (now merged with Family Policy Institute of Washington); life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; current member of the American Legion; life member of Gun Owners of America and the National Rifle Association; board member of One Body Ministries; vice-chair Eastern Washington Army Advisory Board; and member of local Selective Service Board.
Education: Doctor of Law at Gonzaga University School of Law.
Website: www.voteshea.com
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In an e-mail, Shea said he wants to get "Washington working again." He further wants to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the State Constitution, sponsoring bill HJR 4225.
"So we quit passing the buck, literally, to future generations," Shea wrote about the amendment.
Shea is also for an amendment to the State Constitution making a two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes permanent. Biviano stated she opposes two-thirds majority rules for tax increases.
Both candidates value the importance of education and plan on championing legislation to strengthen the education system.
According to Shea's website, he believes in a "first-class education in both public and private schools based on four principles: competition, prioritized funding, parental choice and accountability." He plans to eliminate or reduce unfunded mandates on local school districts to ensure money is getting into the classroom.
"This includes treating hydropower as renewable," wrote Shea, "which would dramatically cut actual and projected electricity rates for our school district."
According to Biviano's website, she plans on working to ensure government funding to fulfill the government's responsibility to support education.
"I vow to fight against the budget cuts that lead to lost programs, increased class sizes and higher dropout rates," Biviano wrote. "I will also fight against the cuts to higher education that have caused double-digit tuition increases year after year."
Biviano further believes fostering partnerships between private and public companies will create jobs. Biviano pointed to Spokane Valley Tech as an example, which is a collaborative effort by Central Valley, East Valley, Freeman and West Valley school districts.
"This will prepare kids for jobs in the future," Biviano said.
Shea is known for his strong conservative values, being "pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-guns, and pro-life."
During his current term, he co-sponsored the Regulatory Freedom and Accountability Act, HB 1946, to opt Washington state out of implementing Obamacare (Federal Health Care Act).
Biviano stated her campaign is based on strengthening family, education and small business.
She further wants to reduce domestic violence by implementing programs that track families.
"Spokane Valley has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in our state," Biviano said. "This affects all of us."
Her proposed programs would involve the Sheriff's Office, county prosecutors and victim advocates all working together.
According to his website, Shea recognizes public safety as one of his top priorities and was the "prime sponsor of HB 2712 in 2010 to stop the practice of allowing field trips for the criminally insane in the wake of the Phillip Paul escape from the Spokane County Fair. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support and was eventually signed into law by the governor."