By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

The 31st District legislative race for the Position 1 seat attracted two candidates looking to spend time working in the state House of Representatives.

Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake, the incumbent, is seeking his fifth term in Olympia.

Buckley City Councilman Ron Weigelt is running as a Democrat for the seat.

The 50-year-old Weigelt said he wants to be an “advocate for working families and seniors.”

He pointed to the economy and wages as to top issues in his campaign.

“My dad retired from Seattle City Light and he was able to live off his pension and medical benefits,” Weigelt said. “We've lost a lot of that and much of the medical costs have been pushed off onto the workers. Baby boomers can't afford to retire because they can't pay the medical cost.”

Weigelt said because of the tough economic times the Legislature will have to “take a real hard look at the tax base. I can have more of a seat at the table because I'm a Democrat.”

The candidate said he believes the state needs to stop relying on property taxes to fund education. He suggested one answer might be looking at “tax loop holes. A lot are legitimate, but a lot of them aren't.”

Weigelt also said there needs to be a fresh look at health care issues.

“We need to focus on funding health care for children first,” he said.

Weigelt and his wife Jane live in Buckley and have two grown children.

Roach said he looks forward to a spirited campaign. “The 31st is always exciting and there is a lot going on in the district,” he said.

The representative stated he is coming off one of his most successful legislative sessions. Three pieces of legislation with Roach as the prime sponsor passed - an identity theft bill, a measure funding training for teachers of students with autism and a bill that will help convert waste vegetable oil into fuel.

“I was the only minority member who was able to get that much done,” Roach said.

He noted taxes will again be a cornerstone of his campaign.

“I've been talking to a lot of people and hearing what's on their minds,” Roach said. “I'm hearing a lot on the economy and gas and food prices. We have to continue to hold the line on tax increases.”

The candidate said he plans to continue to work on identity theft legislation and autism measures.

Roach is the ranking minority member of the Insurance Financial Services and Consumer Protection Committee. He is also on the Education and Finance committees.

Roach, 35, and his wife Melanie have three children.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.