In the November election, Mary Dye, Washington House of Representatives Republican incumbent, will face Democratic challenger Jennifer Goulet for Position 1 of the 9th District at the state capital.

The district includes Adams, Asotin, Garfield, Whitman and parts of Franklin and Spokane counties.

Dye received her bachelor’s degree from University of Idaho for crop management and plant science. She was an agricultural educator and volunteer for Peace Corps in Thailand, but since then she has been farming with her husband for 31 years, she said.

She was elected two years ago and is now going for a second term. During her time as state representative, she has worked on the Capital Budget Committee and House Environment Committee. She also served as co-chair of Energy, Agriculture and the Environment plank of the National Republican Platform.

“I’m looking to build economic opportunities for rural communities and give them the tools they need,” she said.

She addressed improving the main highways to keep college students safe, making sure community members have access to internet, using railroads so they are economically viable and providing resources for rural communities.

“Rural infrastructure usually gets left behind, but I want to improve that,” Dye said.

Goulet, a Pasco native, is a small business owner who provides online training to Microsoft employees. She also is on the Board of Directors at Planned Parenthood and is the former chair of the Franklin County Democrats.

She is the co-founder and former president of the Tri-City Freethinkers organization. The website for the nonprofit describes it as a “community outreach organization serving the religion-free population of the Tri-Cities metropolitan area.”

Goulet said she is putting education, including elementary and higher education, at the forefront of her campaign.

“I want students to know that I am very aware of the burden that student loans bring to young adults,” she said.

She is also focusing on the issues of the regressive tax structure. That includes the capital gains tax, and she wants to reform the business and occupation tax as well, she said.

“I prioritize people above all,” Goulet said. “It’s humans over businesses.”