PORT TOWNSEND — After several campaign forums, the race for the 24th District state House of Representatives Position 1 seat has maintained cordiality, candidates Kevin Van De Wege and Dan Gase said.

“I am living the American dream,” Republican Dan Gase told the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

“I never thought I’d be running for office,” said Gase, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Kevin Van De Wege.

“I’ve traveled the district with Kevin and have received a lot of compliments from people who have thanked us for keeping it above-board and running an issue-oriented campaign with no personal mudslinging.”

At chamber luncheon

Gase, a Port Angeles real estate broker, and Van De Wege, a Sequim firefighter/paramedic in addition to his two terms in the state House, addressed the chamber luncheon at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge at noon Monday.

Ballots are distributed this week in the all-mail election. The 24th District covers all of Jefferson and Clallam counties and a third of Grays Harbor County.

If the interaction between the two candidates is civil, their views on certain issues differ.

Van De Wege said he opposed privatization of Washington State Ferries, which Gase favors.

Differ over ferry system

“I am not in favor of privatization of the ferries because it would cost the Olympic Peninsula and in particular Port Townsend jobs,” Van De Wege said.

“The people riding the Port Townsend-to-Coupeville route are only a small percentage of the overall ferry system, and that run has a 38.8 percent fare box return.

“There is no way that ferry pencils out,” the lawmaker said.

“You would have to raise the fares to the point where people wouldn’t use the ferries anymore, so the only option a private entity would have would be to cancel that route.”

Gase said there could be conditions put on the sale of the ferries to a private group.

“If the state was to sell to a private entity, there could be a restriction put on that sale to keep certain routes open,” Gase said.

“I would be for the privatization of the ferries if we can realize a cheaper bottom line that is better for the state. We’ve seen several instances where a private entity can provide as good or better service for less money.”

Van De Wege acknowledged that the ferry system has been inefficient, but that is changing.

“There has been a lot of waste, but we have taken legislative steps to make the system more efficient and curb that waste,” he said.

When asked about specific state budget cuts that can be made, Van De Wege suggested expanding the employee furlough program and cutting back some regulatory agencies, but with a caveat.

“You have to be sure that the regulations you cut out don’t cause increased lawsuits and litigation where no one is the winner,” he said.

State work force

Gase also said that government cuts reside with the work force, which is inflated.

For savings, he suggested that state workers pay a greater share of their health care costs — 20 percent rather than the 12 percent they pay today.

“That alone will save 100 million [dollars] the first year,” he said.

“Lots of little things add up to be significant things, and we should share in that sacrifice.”

As with all candidate forums, Monday’s ended on a financial note.

“The state is broke — we have no money,” Van De Wege said.

“That’s why I see it as my job to go down to Olympia and fight for the services we rely on.”

Gase said he perceives the Legislature as akin to an alcoholic.

“If an alcoholic wants to be cured,” Gase said, “he can find treatment for his disease.

“But if he doesn’t know he has a problem, he’s never going to change.”

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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.