State Rep. Strom Peterson is a Democrat who is progressive on social issues like gun control, yet mindful of how increased traffic and property taxes can burden his constituents. Voters in the 21st Legislative District — which includes Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Edmonds and Everett — should send him back to the Legislature for another two years.
During his most recent term, Peterson worked hard to pass a bill creating a drug take-back system for unused medications, including opioid painkillers that can play a role in suicides and overdoses. Doing more to address the opioid crisis is one of his top priorities going forward.Peterson, who owns a cheese shop in Edmonds, is also well versed on some of the areas where the Legislature fell short in its recent school-funding overhaul. In addition to putting more money into special education, he wants to push to build more classroom space — a necessary step if the state is to follow through with its plans to lower K-3 class sizes.