To understand where they are today, you might want to know how they got here. Chris grew up understanding a little bit about politics, as his father was an elected member of the Kent School Board when Chris was young. He deeply admired his father's commitment to public service, and willingness to publicly take a stand on issues that were important to him. Education was in the midst of very turbulent times during the early 1970s. Chris saw his father stand up for what he felt were important principles during a difficult and uncertain time in the history of our nation, as the Vietnam War was coming to a close. Chris always had a love of history and current events, and his parents involvement was an important influence on him.
Past Campaigns
Meet the family
As the years passed, Chris took up his career in law enforcement and carried forward some of his father’s dedication to public service. Then in 1996, a group of citizens came to him and asked him to run against Les Thomas, a popular incumbent in the 31st Legislative District, who the citizens felt was doing a poor job of representing the interests of constituents. Although a nice man, Les Thomas was seen more and more as being deeply in the pockets of the banking and insurance lobbyists in Olympia. When the week of filing came, still no one was willing to take on such a difficult and well-funded challenge. Chris and April talked and discussed the commitment and obligation that a run for the legislature would entail. In the end, they agreed that if no else would run, Chris would file on the last day of filing in July of 1996. No one did and Chris filed. Their campaign got underway, but they had no money to take on a well-funded incumbent. So they went back to the basics of what Chris had learned as a teenager - hard work and going out and meeting the voters. The campaign was only able to afford a couple of pieces of mail, and they didn't even have a good portrait picture of Chris for the literature. So one evening, their daughter Kimberly, 7 years old at the time, offered to draw one. She did, and everyone liked it so well, they used it. A reproduction of it is on this page. Chris still thinks it may be the best picture they have of him yet. In the end, Chris lost the race by 400 votes, but learned much. Chris went back to work as an undercover narcotics detective and he and April beginning thinking about the campaign in 1998.
The campaign in 1998 was very different. Chris and April were able to combine two passions this time around. They not only campaigned hard for the principles they felt were important, but they decided to get a whole lot of new voters excited about participating in their civic duty as well. It is a sad fact that we, in America, have the lowest number of registered voters participating in elections of any civilized democratic country in the world. Chris, April and another friend decided to do something about that in the 31st District. In 1998, they campaigned hard, but also signed up 5,200 new voters! Chris won the election by an overwhelming margin, one of the largest ever in which an incumbent was replaced by a challenger. They continue their voter registration efforts to this day, something they take great pride in, as they feel nothing is more important to self-government than participation by its citizens. In the photo from 1998, here is Chris, before getting a haircut for the campaign, after working as an undercover narcotics detective, with their optimistic license plates of "WININ 98".
In the year 2000, Chris faced a challenge from Pastor Steve Hammond of Enumclaw. The campaign was difficult, and unfortunately at times brutal for its negativity, something Chris has never liked in political campaigns. In the end, Chris again won by 4,000 votes. Since getting to know each other during that campaign, Steve and Chris have become friends and work together on many property rights issues of interest to citizens in rural parts of the district. Chris, in fun, likes to point out that he won his legislative campaign that year by ten times as many votes as the President of the United States did, which was only 400 votes.
The campaign in 1998 was very different. Chris and April were able to combine two passions this time around. They not only campaigned hard for the principles they felt were important, but they decided to get a whole lot of new voters excited about participating in their civic duty as well. It is a sad fact that we, in America, have the lowest number of registered voters participating in elections of any civilized democratic country in the world. Chris, April and another friend decided to do something about that in the 31st District. In 1998, they campaigned hard, but also signed up 5,200 new voters! Chris won the election by an overwhelming margin, one of the largest ever in which an incumbent was replaced by a challenger. They continue their voter registration efforts to this day, something they take great pride in, as they feel nothing is more important to self-government than participation by its citizens. In the photo from 1998, here is Chris, before getting a haircut for the campaign, after working as an undercover narcotics detective, with their optimistic license plates of "WININ 98".
In the year 2000, Chris faced a challenge from Pastor Steve Hammond of Enumclaw. The campaign was difficult, and unfortunately at times brutal for its negativity, something Chris has never liked in political campaigns. In the end, Chris again won by 4,000 votes. Since getting to know each other during that campaign, Steve and Chris have become friends and work together on many property rights issues of interest to citizens in rural parts of the district. Chris, in fun, likes to point out that he won his legislative campaign that year by ten times as many votes as the President of the United States did, which was only 400 votes.
Election artwork from his daughter Kim
Chris, right before the start of the 1998 Campaign
In 2002, Chris surprised his colleagues, and announced he would not seek re-election due to his daughter entering high school. He promised to come back to politics when his daughter turned 18, four years in the future. Not everyone understood this and some folks in Olympia were even mad. There was speculation as to why a successful and well-supported elected official would voluntarily give up his seat in the legislature. As speculation continued, Jan Shabro, a Pierce County Councilwoman, who was prohibited by term limits from seeking an additional term in that office, filed for the seat held by Chris. Some even said that Chris chose not to run due to being afraid of being beaten by Shabro. Chris just smiled, and continued on with his life as a police detective, father and family man. Four years later, in 2006, as promised, Chris ran again for his old seat in the House of
Representatives. This time, against a formidable opponent, one who had been in public office for 12 years now as a County Councilwoman and State Representative. For the second time in his political career, Chris defeated an incumbent by a significant margin for his seat in the Washington State House of Representatives. Any questions remaining about his leaving office in 2002, and willingness to take on a tough challenge were put to rest. As in the past, Chris credits his wife, April, and volunteers with a successful campaign. In the end, he feels that the hopes and dreams of average people just like him are what win a campaign.
In 2008, Chris was challenged again, this time by Sharon Hanek. He always felt that the contrasts of ideas in a campaign are an important part of a free society. Not only do people get a choice, but more importantly, an opportunity to express and test ideas, and then cast a vote. Nothing in our democracy is more important. Although Chris had a deep and abiding respect for his opponent, he also felt that there were profound differences between them. In the end, the voters agreed and Chris defeated Hanek by almost 10,000 votes, an astonishing landslide by any measure. Chris was deeply gratified by the support of the voters and what they felt about the work he has been doing on their behalf.
In 2008, Chris was challenged again, this time by Sharon Hanek. He always felt that the contrasts of ideas in a campaign are an important part of a free society. Not only do people get a choice, but more importantly, an opportunity to express and test ideas, and then cast a vote. Nothing in our democracy is more important. Although Chris had a deep and abiding respect for his opponent, he also felt that there were profound differences between them. In the end, the voters agreed and Chris defeated Hanek by almost 10,000 votes, an astonishing landslide by any measure. Chris was deeply gratified by the support of the voters and what they felt about the work he has been doing on their behalf.
Get to know Chris, his family and why he serves this fine district
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It's 2010, let’s do this! Get in the know for what’s happening on the campaign trail.
Now, in 2010 Chris has another challenger, and welcomes the race.
A political campaign is about contrasts and choices. You, as a voter, are the final judge and jury in this contest, just as you have been in the past. Chris hopes he has represented you well in Olympia, and has, once again, earned your confidence and your vote. We will post more information as the campaign develops. Thanks for checking us out!
A political campaign is about contrasts and choices. You, as a voter, are the final judge and jury in this contest, just as you have been in the past. Chris hopes he has represented you well in Olympia, and has, once again, earned your confidence and your vote. We will post more information as the campaign develops. Thanks for checking us out!
Designed by Michael Luttmer
Paid for by Citizens for Christopher Hurst | Independent Democrat | 62504 Indian Summer Way E | Enumclaw, WA 98022
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