Kent candidate forum features representatives from three legislative districts

The Kent and Covington Chambers of Commerce hosted a candidate forum at Green River College on October 6, featuring representatives from three legislative districts: the 33rd, 47th, and 5th.

In the 33rd district, incumbent State Sen. Tina Orwall attended despite having no opponent. State Rep. Edwin Obras, a Democrat, introduced himself as a relatively new official, while Republican challenger Chris Martinez focused his platform on tax reform and Second Amendment rights. In the race for Position No. 2, Yuri Marinchik, a small business owner and immigrant from Belarus, is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Mia Su-Ling Gregerson.

The forum also included candidates from the 47th district, including Republican Kristina Soltys, a Covington City Council member seeking to unseat an incumbent Democrat. The event served as a preliminary introduction for voters ahead of the November 3 general election.