WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

New legislative position multiplies Takko’s workload

State Rep. Dean Takko has been appointed to the Joint Select Committee on Junior Taxing Districts, Municipal Corporations & Local Government Finance.

This pivotal, eight-member panel — equal part Democratic and Republican, and including a complementary number of representatives and senators — is charged with finding better ways to stretch dwindling public dollars, while ensuring a safe and healthy level of essential public services.

“With the Great Recession continuing its near-death grip on our economy,” Takko said, “it’s more important than ever for us to find better, less expensive, more efficient and streamlined ways of doing things in the public sector.”

He already chairs the House Local Government Committee, and he’s a member of the House Transportation Committee and the House Environment Committee.

His Local Government Committee has a major responsibility for covering issues involving operations and financing of counties, cities, and other smaller municipalities. The panel also discusses the Growth Management Act and related land-use issues, such as local permitting and the subdivision of property.

Takko’s foremost legislative priorities include:

1. Promoting rural economic development and diversification that provides good-paying, dependable jobs.
2. Establishing realistic, workable budgets that invest in the future and that respect the wallets and purses of taxpayers.

3. Restoring government that citizens can trust and count on.
4. Emphasizing common sense in environmental rules and regulations that support timber and fishing industries.
5. Protecting local governments that too often today live in fear of unfunded mandates tossed down by the state government.

Takko and his wife, Debra, live in Longview. He’s been a volunteer firefighter for a quarter of a century, and he’s a former Cowlitz County Assessor and Cathlamet City Councilmember.