Enumclaw School Board member Cathy Dahlquist kicked off her campaign for the 31st District State Representative at Enumclaw’s Expo Center Fieldhouse on Friday.

Dahlquist, a Republican, is running for the seat being vacated by Dan Roach, who is expected to run for the Pierce County Council.

With 215 people in attendance and $28,000 raised since she filed a few weeks ago, Dahlquist said she was excited so many people are enthusiastic about her campaign.

“There is a lot of passion and energy right now,” Dahlquist said. “People want to make their voices heard for a more efficient state government that has the right priorities.”

Dahlquist said she is a fiscal conservative and would take those values to Olympia.

“We cannot create any new or raise existing taxes,” Dahlquist said. “And we cannot afford to invest money into programs that have failed.”

Dahlquist said education is an issue that is very close to her heart.

“As a School Board member I have seen the effects of our legislature ignoring our state constitution by not fully funding basic education,” said Dahlquist.

Sen. Pam Roach, R-rural Auburn, spoke at the event, encouraging the audience to remain engaged in the political process.

Representative Dan Roach also spoke, asking people to make campaign contributions to Dahlquist’s campaign.

Representative Skip Priest, co-chair of the House Republican Organizational Committee (HROC), told the audience that he had personally endorsed Dahlquist.

Priest said the criteria that HROC looks for are candidates with high integrity, are highly capable, hard working and who believe in fundamental Republican principles.

“Cathy has high integrity,” said Priest. “She is a hard worker, which will pay off not only on the campaign trail, but for the citizens of the 31st District in Olympia as well.”

Priest said Dahlquist’s time on the Enumclaw School Board and as a small business owner show her commitment to serving her community.

Dahlquist has served as president of the Enumclaw School Board for the last two years. She and her husband, Jeff, own an architectural business and have three children. Daughter Jennifer is 24 and married. Jeffrey is 15 years old and a freshman at Enumclaw High School. Hannah is 14, in eighth grade at Enumclaw Middle School.

Dahlquist is endorsed by King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, Representative Skip Priest, Representative Glenn Anderson, Representative Jay Rodne and Representative Jan Angel.