As JT Wilcox will retire from his position in the state Legislature at the end of his term, two local Republican candidates are on the ballot to replace the longtime politician in the state representative position No. 2.
John Snaza, Yelm, and Matt Marshall, Eatonville, each spoke to the Nisqually Valley News on Monday, Sept. 30, to discuss why they’re viable candidates for the Legislative District 2 state representative position No. 2 seat.
John Snaza
Former Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza said, if elected, his big points of emphasis as a state legislator would be public safety, public resources, viable housing options and assistance for small and local businesses.
“Public safety isn’t just about law enforcement. It’s about the community. I want to make sure our community is safe and that we have affordable housing. That’s a big part, too,” Snaza said. “I really want to work on the Blake Decision. I really believe that just making drugs — meaning methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, gross misdemeanors – I don’t agree with the process.”
He added that the process of providing people with the assistance needed to get off drugs is a tough process. If elected, Snaza said he’d like to see drug possession become a felony.
“The unfortunate part that I’ve seen over the years, being a narcotics detective, is that I’ve processed probably close to 1,000 methamphetamine labs in Thurston and Pierce counties and other counties around the state with [Washington] State Patrol,” he said. “I know a lot of the drugs we deal with today lead to addiction, mental health, and that’s why we see a lot of homeless.”
He’d also like to help small businesses and would like to see more entrepreneurs and business owners become involved in communities like Yelm, Eatonville and Graham so more people can work where they live.
“Being able to work in a community where you want to live and raise your children, or be involved in the community, that’s what really makes District No. 2 really an awesome place to live,” Snaza said. “The district represents the values that I’ve always held, not only the values that we have for District No. 2, but the values of the state of Washington. I really believe that I can represent the people of District No. 2, and of the entire state, based on my experience in legislature and involvement in the community.”
Snaza said he was inspired to run for the position with Wilcox’s retirement looming. He said he and Wilcox ran together in 2010 when he ran for Thurston County sheriff and Wilcox sought to become a representative.
“I’ve known JT for many years before that, but I really got to know him during the first election process. What really inspired me was JT. When he told me that he was going to be retiring from his position, he told me that he thought I’d be the best person to fill that position,” Snaza said. “I spoke to my wife about it and decided that with everything that I’ve been involved in, whether it’s in the community, being a coach for many years and being a sheriff, I felt with everything I’ve learned over the years that I really can make a difference.”
Snaza said he was honored to hear that Wilcox, the House minority leader, had him in mind for the position. Snaza added that he and his wife, Amber, were invited to the Wilcox residence to discuss the upcoming election and his campaign.
“He really believed that I could be the guy to help make a difference, not only in District No. 2, but in the state based off my previous experience being a legislative representative for both the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and a legislative representative for Washington State Sheriff’s Association,” Snaza said. “Over the last 12 years, I was involved in legislation and have met with legislative representatives and senators and also bringing up legislation to get passed. I have that experience, and [Wilcox] felt with all the experience I had, he believed that I could do the job.”
Snaza said he believes he’s a viable candidate for the position due to the experience he’s gained through being a military and law enforcement veteran. He aims to become a community-based leader in the second district and believes he understands the wants and needs of the community in that region.
“This is a race worth fighting for because I really do believe that I can make a difference in District No. 2 and represent it better because of my experience in working in the Legislature,” Snaza said. “I’ve represented both associations, and I’ve been able to pass legislation. I know the process. I know there’s a lot to work with in the Legislature, but I also know that working across the aisle is the only way we’re going to get things done, and I have done that. I’ll continue doing that.”
Matt Marshall
Matt Marshall, a military veteran who has served on the Eatonville School District school board, said he’s been involved in politics since leaving the military in 2018. He’s currently enrolled in Seattle University’s law school with a focus on public policy and administrative law.
“When I saw this position open, I saw it as a way that I could further serve the community and the second legislative district,” Marshall said. “When JT [Wilcox] was retiring, it looked like the natural timing for me to throw my name into the hat. I feel like my values are reflective of a great majority of the second legislative district. I also think that I have a perspective that is very diverse and unique. Whether it’s from having spent many years active duty in the Army, raising a family, living on a small farm and raising our own meat — I also work in medicine, and now [am] going to law school — I think I can relate to just about anybody regardless of political ideology.”
If elected, Marshall said he believes that he understands the problems occurring in the district. His points of emphasis, if he takes office, include public safety, opposing any mega-airport in the region, housing and deregulation to help small businesses thrive.
“We have a lot of rural property crimes going on,” Marshall said of public safety. “We have a lot of increased violent crimes. Thurston County Sheriff’s Office seems like they’ve got victims of everything from violent crime to property crime every time I look in the Nisqually Valley News.”
Marshall said creating more housing starts with streamlining permitting processes.
“We also need more housing in general to help with the homeless crisis, and right now, with how long permits are taking, it’s non-functionable for developers or for persons trying to build a house.”
In terms of housing and providing solutions for homeless individuals, Marshall said the best thing that can be done in the second legislative district is to work closely with partners in the region, including Thurston and Pierce counties.
“We’ll try to find ways that we can effectively streamline the permitting process, including providing incentives. There’s a lot of work to be done there,” Marshall said. “That’s probably the best the Legislature could do is provide incentives to local governments for streamlining the permitting process.”
To Marshall, finding bipartisan solutions to issues both in the district and statewide will be another big point of emphasis if elected.
“I think the reason we’re seeing some of our legislators retire is from the frustration of not being able to get much work done because there’s two votes away in the House from a supermajority for the Democrats,” Marshall said. “Trying to get anything done that’s primarily Republican is going to be difficult.”
He added that attending Seattle University as a conservative Republican has taught him how to communicate properly with people who don’t necessarily have the same views that he does. He noted that he does not represent the law school’s typical demographic.
“I’ve learned to talk about very complex, very sensitive issues, very emotional issues — and political ones — with people that have a very different way of approaching them than I do. I believe I have the interpersonal skills required to actually talk rationally with people of different viewpoints, but also, with a law degree, I’ll be able to actually draft my own legislation,” Marshall said. “I think just being able to work outside of the caucus to get things done will be a way that we can actually get some bipartisanship.”
If elected, Marshall said he plans on being a very present state legislator. He said he’d like to replicate the work with the community Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders has done.
“I want to have frequent town halls. I think, once elected, having frequent town halls, similar to what Sheriff Derek Sanders is doing right now, is important to have people come out and talk, voice their concerns and actually see you in order to learn about what’s going on in the second,” Marshall said. “I’m going into this position to serve the people of the Second [Legislative District]. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about one party. It’s about doing what’s best for the Second Legislative District.”
