Why I am Running for Office

Why I am Running for Office

"I am running because of what I see and what I believe. I see that our country and state is in crisis and I believe we can do much better than this for ourselves and our children.

• I see homeowners being forcibly turned in to renters and renters spilling out on to the streets.

• I see a lack of justice in our courts.

• I see that our elected officials seem out of touch with the critical concerns of most of the folks I talk to on a daily basis.

• I see small businesses struggling to navigate a labyrinth of regulation and taxation.

• I see workers who are making 1/3 of what they were making before the recession with no hope of advancement.

• I see the elderly, families and the weakest among us being abused and brutalized by monopolistic forces.

• I see an education system where 1 out of every four of our children doesn’t graduate and more still graduate loaded down with debt and no hope for secure employment.

I believe that TOGETHER we can do much better than this.

• I believe it is time to end all forms of waste fraud and abuse in our state

• I believe it is time to get traffic flowing again because this s good for families, the economy AND our environment

• I believe it is time we put government back in its place and get government out of our businesses, bedrooms and wallets

• I believe is it time we revolutionize our education system so we can prepare our children for the responsibilities of tomorrow, without dumbing them down for the political expediency of today.

• I believe the bedrock of the 48th district and this state is small business and we need to do everything in our power to unleash the ingenuity, passion and opportunity that healthy small business offer our state

• I believe that every employee should have the opportunity to move up the ladder and not be stuck at a minimum wage, no matter what that wage is, their entire lives.

• I believe the people of my district need a representative that will hear their concerns and take that message to Olympia.

• I believe it is time for WE the people to embrace our diversity and respect our differences.

• I believe it is up to US as individuals and communities to solve our problems and that we must stop waiting on the government to do it for us.

• I believe it is time for us to BE the change we wish to see.

I am running for the Washington State House of Representatives to be witness to what I see and an example for what I believe. TOGETHER we MUST BE the change we wish to see.

Thank you and I appreciate your support and your vote in August and November."

- Michelle Darnell

Michelle is fighting for YOU in Washington State.

Pushing for REAL Education Reform in WA!

Michelle Darnell for 48th Legislative District.

This fight needs your help. Whatever you can provide is a step forward towards the goal. It's not just a donation, it's an INVESTMENT into everyone's future: https://secure.piryx.com/donate/ZLRowrM1/Michelle-For-The-House/

http://www.michelleforthehouse.com/
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Stop Government from Hurting Small Business!

“Stop Government from Hurting Small Business!”

Michelle Darnell - L, 48th District of Washington candidate

When elected, I would work to repeal or amend legislation to provide relief for businesses struggling to grow and provide the sorts of jobs and opportunities our region desperately needs.  I would also work to level the playing field.  It is not right that one group would be taxed less or has a competitive advantage, simply because they had better representation in Olympia.   A company like Boeing, though great for our region, should not escape the B&O tax, while the burden of paying for our education shortfall this shifted to everyone else.  That is unequal protection. 

I would reach out businesses to hear what they say.  In fact I already have and well before this campaign started to do so.  I was encouraged to run for office because they wanted a voice.  They tell me that if they did not have the burden of the B&O, a complicated tax on their gross before they ever turn a profit, they could invest in marketing and advertising and grow their businesses.   One woman who owns a cleaning business, says she would be able to hire help and not have to work such long hours.

They tell me that a statewide $15/ minimum wage would not only destroy their businesses and increase unemployment, and it still would not be enough to keep up with the high cost of living and increasing rents in our region.  We need more jobs and better jobs, not just arbitrary increases in the minimum wage that increases the cost of labor and goods and services.  The largest of companies will absorb this and automate but our smaller businesses will go under.  These businesses are our neighbors and our friend and don’t have the option of moving out of state to find cheaper labor. 

I have been told how regulation is inhibiting building affordable housing and restricting innovation by over 100 years!  It was explained to me that the inability to get an occupancy permit for a home built with hemp products, for example, is suppressing the growth of a new innovative market and opportunity to build affordable, environmentally friendly, non-combustible homes. 

  

Zoning regulations are preventing the opportunity to build “mother in law units” and explore other options in response to our affordable housing crisis.  I was told that over 50% of our land is zoned single family and this limits the opportunity to build multi-family units in a time when apartments and micro housing options are desperately needed.  Also, regulation adds so much to the cost of building, that the smaller builders must build over a certain number of square fee or they can’t turn a profit.

Burdensome licensing and permitting requirements are stifling business start ups.  The licenses can be expensive and the process arduous.  

These are just a few of the sorts of things I would look at when considering how to respond to our economic inequality and affordable housing crisis.  I do not think raising the minimum wage or raising more taxes to support programs is the answer.  This is simply redistributing the wealth and putting more pressure on businesses who are wealth creators and producers of job, products, services and opportunities that this region so desperately needs.  So when elected the first thing I would do would be to reaching out to my community and other stakeholders and engaging them in the process of repealing unnecessary and burdensome regulation.  I don’t presume I have all of the answers. But I can see the problems and I would listen to my constituents and the experts to arrive at solutions that make sense and increase prosperity for all, not just well funded special interest groups.

I care about business owners and I believe they need a voice in Olympia.  I will listen and I will be that voice. 

- Michelle Darnell

http://www.michelleforthehouse.com/

http://www.facebook.com/MDarnellWashington

http://www.twitter.com/Darnell4Change

http://www.facebook.com/MichelleDarnell4Change

http://www.michelledarnell.org