Elected Experience: None

Other Professional Experience: Rick is a retired Army Colonel who commanded the 1st Special Forces Group at JBLM during OEF and OIF; served at embassies in Asia and the Middle East and Operations Director for Israeli-Palestinian Cooperation in the West Bank. Currently works as a consultant and Volunteer Director of a scholarship fund.

Education: BA, Economics, University of Massachusetts; MA, Asian Studies, Naval Postgraduate School; National Security Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Community Service: Established the 1st Special Forces Group Scholarship Fund; Volunteer, Fort Lewis and St. Frances Cabrini parishes; Member, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce and the VFW.

Statement: Our 29th District continues to be a low priority for the current legislature and change is needed if we want to see our district begin to improve. I believe that people always come before party politics and, as such, I will be your independent voice for progress - I'll work with anyone in order to help our local businesses create jobs, to make real improvement in our schools, to begin reducing our traffic congestion and to properly care for our veterans here in the 29th District.