Jim Peck
Party: Democratic
Age: 60
Personal: Jim Peck and his wife, Joy, live in Liberty Lake and don't have children.
Education: Peck graduated from high school in Kokomo, Ind. He earned a bachelor of arts in chemistry and biology from the University of Indianapolis, and he earned his Washington state teaching certification through Eastern Washington University.
Professional: Peck served in the U.S. Army on active duty from 1967 through 1969. He was in the Army Reserve from 1969 to 1976 and worked during that time as a quality-control chemist in the flour milling industry. In 1976, he went back on active duty and served until 1995. Upon retirement, he earned his teaching certification and now is a substitute in Spokane area school districts.
Political: After retiring from the military, Peck served as a precinct committee officer for the Democratic Party. He ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2000.
Key issues: Education. Peck's goals are to fund cost-of-living raises for teachers and reduce class size. Health care. "I think we need to increase funding for the basic health plan that takes care of the uninsured," Peck said. "The state should give some premium incentives to small businesses to encourage them to provide health care to employees." Tax reform. "We need to take a good, serious look at the tax structure of the state," he said. "It's been 60 to 70 years since we've had tax reform." Citizen contact. If elected, Peck plans to operate an office in the Spokane Valley that would be open to the public five days a week. "The Washington state Legislature is not a full-time legislature," he said. "It's intended that it be a citizen legislature."
Money raised/spent: $18,603 raised, $17,098 spent as of Aug. 17, 2004
Top contributors: Crary, Clark & Domanico PS (of Spokane), Pat Dockrey (of Greenacres), Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters (of Spokane), Public School Employees of Washington Political Fund (of Spokane), Thomas Keefe, Jr. (of Spokane)
Quote: "If we take care of (education, health care and tax reform) I think the jobs will come," Peck said.
Key influence: Lt. Joey McCarty, who inspired Peck teach. McCarty was killed during a peacekeeping mission in 1985.
Favorite book: "Prince of India: Or Why Constantinople Fell," by Lewis Wallis
First priority if elected: "To take a good look at how we fund education and how we support education and how we teach our kids," said Peck, who intends to continue teaching if he's elected. "I want us to have the best schools for our kids that we can have."
Website: www.votejimpeck.com
