Four seek seat in Congress

Ballots for the August 19, 2008 primary election hit mailboxes last week. This year, the top two winners of the election, regardless of party affiliation will advance to the general election in November.

State representative profiles are as follows:

Incumbent Brian Baird (D): Brian Baird has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 1998. His qualifications include a B.S in Psychology from the University of Utah and a Ph. D and M.S in clinical psychology from the University of Wyoming.

His elected experience includes chair of the House Science Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Research and Education Subcommittee.

Other career experience includes working with cancer and brain injury patients in clinical and VA hospital settings. He was also the chair of the Department of Psychology at Pacific Lutheran University.

In his terms as US Representative, Baird says he has brought change and solutions to Southwest Washington. He has worked to improve education standards in schools.

Baird is married and has two children.

Cheryl Crist (D): Her education is a Bachelor of Arts from Austin College and a Masters in Teaching from Texas Tech University.

Other career experience includes: Public high school teacher, manager of a social services non-profit agency, radio advertising sales manager, and real estate agent.

If elected, Crist will work to bring the troops home from war. “This election is about more than stopping a war,” she said in a statement. “It is also about creating a culture of peace.” Crist said she will work toward creating a public health care system so no United States Citizen will go without medical care. “Many other countries have a public system and we can too.”

Crist has one son and one grandchild.

Michael Delevar (R): His education is a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado. He is currently employed as an airline pilot for Horizon Air.

If elected, Delevar says he will work to build a new I-5 bridge connecting Washington to Oregon using existing federal gas taxes. Delavar says he will reject tolls and light rail in Vancouver. “Light rail will burden Vancouver with additional taxes and might increase crime.” He will work to stop a liquefied natural gas plant because of “the eminent domain land grab for private citizens.” He is against building a new casino in Cowlitz County saying it is an abuse of the Native American treaty process.

Delevar is married and has two children.

Christine Webb (R): Current employer: Director of Economic Development/ South Lewis County Chamber of Commerce.

Other career experience includes: a small business owner, Chairman of the Evaline School District in Lewis County, paid and volunteer positions within the Republican Party Caucus, and citizen activist.

If elected, Webb says she will work to strengthen the local economy, improve public safety and restore balance for all of Southwest Washington.

“As a mother, I am acutely aware of the need for quality education that prepares our children for adulthood. As a small business owner, I know we need good jobs in our communities, which in turn support and employ the graduates.”