Probably not surprisingly, their approaches differ at least partially along party lines.

Still, from calls for a state income tax to recommendations for 10-percent budget cuts, local candidates in the Aug. 17 primary all have what they think are the answers for whatever they think ails the Washington economy. And while they have differing answers, most candidates put the question of the economy at or near the top of their list of campaign issues.

At least in comments made to Reporter Newspapers, State Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, was the strongest supporter of a state income tax.

Running for re-election to her District 32 seat, Kagi said in order to raise funds for education, she backs a call for a roughly 2-percent income tax on residents making $200,000 a year or more. Making a run for the District 32 state Senate seat, Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, currently the second state representative from District 32, also has supported a state income tax in the past.

A Republican taking the opposite tack and one of two candidates opposing Chase, Kenmore Mayor David Baker repeatedly has emphasized his opposition to a state income tax, bragging he never voted to raise taxes during his seven years in municipal office.

“Here in Kenmore, we live within our means and I think it’s time the state learns to live within its means,” Baker said.

While he may not have voted to raise taxes to date, Baker presently is backing the idea of a $20-per-vehicle license-tab fee that would be imposed on Kenmore residents to help pay for road improvements in that city. Baker has said that while Kenmore’s council could put the fee in place on its own, he wants the issue to go to a public vote.

Kagi’s chief opponent, Shoreline Republican Gary Gagliardi, also opposes a state income tax. His Web site advertises the candidate as a “business strategist” who helps companies reduce bureaucracy and he said he hopes to do the same for the state.

In other races, candidates have cautioned the economic picture in Olympia is not pretty and the budget talks in the next legislative session are liable to get ugly.

“I’m an idealist,” said Luis Moscoso, secretary of the state Democratic Party and one of three candidates for state representative, District One, Position 2.

Moscoso said he would like to see the state helping as many people as possible, doing whatever it can to lend a hand. But he also added that, given the current economic climate, some programs may have to be reduced or eliminated.

Responding to some of the finger pointing happening in the course of the campaign, Moscoso contends it’s easy to blame Olympia for budget and economic problems when clearly the entire country has been struggling.

“Blaming people and being angry isn’t going to turn it around,” he said.

Moscoso’s Republican opponent, Heidi Munson, favors borrowing a page from longtime Washington politician and U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi. She said both parties need to come together, set spending priorities and come up with a sustainable budget. Munson added that while Rossi’s idea was formally presented years ago, it also seems to be one not even mentioned during the current budget crisis.

While several candidates talked about the negative impacts of cuts in the state budget, cuts are just what the state needs, according to Art Coday, a Shoreline Republican running for the District 32, Position 1 state-rep seat.

According to Coday, the state could sustain a 10-percent spending reduction without greatly impacting critical programs. Coday was careful to say the cuts would come in the aggregate, from total state expenditures, not necessarily from individual programs such as education or social services.

While she did not come out in favor of a state income tax, former Shoreline councilmember and mayor Cindy Ryu said the state might have to look for ways to raise revenue. A Democrat, Ryu is running in the same race as Coday.

“Are there any taxes out there we are not collecting that we reasonably could?” she asked.

Ryu said that specifically she wants to study closing certain exemptions, some of which she further contends never were intended to be permanent.

In the District 1, Position 1 race, Republican and former Bothell deputy mayor Sandy Guinn echoed some of Munson’s comments, saying better cooperation among legislators would lead to a better budget and a better Washington economy.

One of Guinn’s opponents in the crowded race, Lynwood Republican Dick Lapinski favors allowing slot machines in non-native casinos as a means to raise revenues. Another Bothell resident in the contest, Democrat Derek Standford said Olympia can jump-start the state economy by accelerating capital improvement projects, generating jobs in the short term and giving the private sector a chance to recover from its current slump.

Yet another District One candidate, Bothell Republican candidate Dennis Richter slammed Olympia for what he claims is the $5,000 legislators spend for every person in the state. What’s the proper figure? Richter believes that’s debatable, but it’s clear he feels $5,000 is too much.