Business owner and Clark County GOP chairwoman Lynda Wilson announced Thursday that she’s running to unseat state Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, in 2014.
Wilson, 55, of Vancouver said she is running “to help restore liberty, opportunity and trust to the citizens of Washington state,” according to her candidacy announcement. “The fundamental purpose of government is to protect individual liberty, a point all too forgotten in Olympia, where many act as though the hardworking taxpayer exists for their benefit rather than the government serving the people.”
If elected, Wilson said she would focus on reducing state regulations and improving the job outlook for her constituents.
“Those in Olympia that believe we can tax and spend our way to prosperity, and that burdensome regulations don’t have negative consequences, are grossly mistaken,” Wilson said.
The Clark County GOP elected Wilson as chair last December, after changes in party leadership shifted the local party further to the right, philosophically.
Wilson holds positions on two business lobbying groups. She has a regional leadership position on the National Federation of Independent Business and she’s on government affairs committee for the Association of Washington Business. She’s also an advocate for gun owners’ rights.
Wilson is married to Tracy Wilson, and the couple owns DeWils Industries, a kitchen cabinet manufacturing company. She has lived most of her life in the 17th District and has three adult children.
Early this year, DeWils donated at least $500 to a group lobbying in Olympia for a redesign of the Columbia River Crossing project. CRC opponents sought to remove light rail from the project, which would replace the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Columbia River.
Wilson said she plans to continue working as GOP chair during the campaign. Her campaign website is at http://electlyndawilson.com.
Stonier said Thursday that she plans to run for re-election next year and that giving voters options in an election is always a good thing. For now, she said, “I going to be focused on the upcoming (legislative) session, and there will be plenty of campaign time after that.”
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