Dye tours district

Three weeks ago, Mary Dye was planning her daughter’s upcoming high school graduation party. Now, the newly appointed ninth district representative said she is way behind on that and is trying to get up to speed on everything for her new position.

Dye, a Pomeroy resident, was appointed to the seat left vacant by the resignation of Susan Fagan of Pullman. Fagan resigned May 1, and Dye was appointed May 8 at a special commissioners meeting and election in Colfax.

She said her appointment was the fastest in the history of the legislature and credits the commissioners of District Nine for organizing so quickly.

Dye filed May 11 as a candidate in the special election for the seat she now holds by appointment. Richard Lathim, former Franklin County sheriff who was a finalist for the appointment, has also filed as a Republican for the election race. Democrat Kenneth Caylor of Othello has also filed.

Dye was appointed amid a 30-day special session to approve the 2015-17 operating budget.

Dye said the Democrats, being in favor of raising taxes, and the Republicans, hoping to find a way to compose the budget without tax hikes, have not been able to reach an agreement.

The revenue forecast released May 18 projects an additional $400 million in tax revenue not figured into the budget. She believes both sides can reach an agreement soon now that the forecast has been released.

Dye wants the people of the Ninth District to know that she is “going to be their spokesperson.”

Noting that the ninth district is mostly made up of smaller communities, Dye said “[These are] great examples of communities that support themselves and don’t ask for a lot back. [They are] the kind of communities that created our nation.”

Dye wants to be involved in the communities of the ninth district to show her support for them and to be able to know the needs of the community. She attended the May Day parade and celebrations in Garfield May 16 and said she had a lot of fun.

“I had the best hot dog I’ve ever had; I had a polish dog,” said Dye.

As she has traveled around the various communities in the district, she said she has had fun connecting with people.

“I’m meeting with so many people that I didn’t have the opportunity to do before,” said Dye. “It’s like catching up with everyone on your Christmas card list.”

For her, being out in the communities is showing her more of what it means to have community.

Though the communities in the district may be small, she feels they have a lot to offer the rest of the state.

“I think we don’t really get acknowledged in Olympia,” she said. Dye wants to change that.

One thing she wants to change is to allow the communities to have more local control.

“I want to find local solutions to local problems and not be told how we have to match everyone else – we are not Seattle east. There’s so many common sense things that local communities would fix if they were allowed to.”

Some of the issues Dye sees that she says need more local control are school systems, farmers’ taxes, unfunded mandates and dams.

Specifically, she said school systems need to untie teachers’ hands and “let them do what they do best and know how to do,” as well as change the focus on testing and assessments.

In a legislative update Dye sent out on Friday, she said, “I am committed to being a vocal advocate for limited but effective government, speaking out against any and all government overreach. I will also be a reform-minded legislator, pushing for more accountability in the state government so that we work more efficiently and effectively for you.”

Dye wants the people of the ninth district to know that her door is always open. She cares about the issues and she will get into the communities to speak with the people and learn the issues they want her to bring back to Olympia.