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'Enthusiastic Advocate for Conservative Values.' Pasco Woman Aims for WA Legislature by Annette Cary Tri-City Herald, March 25, 2022

The former state treasurer for Washington state has dropped out of the race for the state Legislature seat now held by Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Wash., and has endorsed another candidate.

Stephanie Barnard, the head of government affairs for the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, announced her campaign for the District 8 Position 1 legislative seat this week.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., announced that he also was endorsing Barnard and thanked Duane Davidson for his public service.

With filing week still seven weeks away, the contest for Klippert's legislative seat was shaken up this week when Davidson, announced on social media he was ending his campaign for the seat and thanked his supporters.

Davidson was the Benton County treasurer from 2003-'17 and the Washington state treasurer from 2017-'21.

Rather than run for a legislative seat he has other ways to make a difference in his community, he said.

He posted on Facebook that he will focus on his work with local nonprofits and being a father and grandfather.

He stepped into the legislative race after Klippert announced that after serving in the Legislature since his election in 2008 he planned to instead run for Congress, challenging Newhouse, in 2022.

Newhouse called Barnard "an enthusiastic advocate for conservative values" and said her long record of public policy engagement positions her to be an effective state legislator.

"She is a passionate community leader, a devoted and courageous mother, and has a deep knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our region," Newhouse said.

She's been in the news this year after accusing her former husband -- Benton Franklin Superior Court Judge Sam Swanberg -- of physical and verbal abuse over their 33-year marriage.

She went public with allegations in January, nine months after her divorce was final, after a recent girlfriend of Swanberg filed a harassment claim against him.

Swanberg has pleaded innocent to two misdemeanor counts of assaulting Barnard.

Barnard, a Pasco Republican, is running for the Legislature as a small business and agriculture advocate.

Barnard has lived in the Tri-Cities for 30 years and has worked at the chamber for local and state policies that strengthen business and promote the Tri-City area's economy and quality of life.

"I've been at the frontline with local businesses combating unnecessary regulations and mandates," she said in her campaign announcement. "I can't sit back and watch disastrous policies continue to erode our economy, our families' budget and our liberties."

As a state lawmaker she would work to lower taxes, build a prepared workforce and strengthen public safety, she said. She also would be committed to protecting the region's agricultural economy and the lower Snake River dams that have been proposed for removal, she said.

She also founded and directed the nonprofit ANGELS Network, which provided car seats and training to low income parents of newborns. She has held a leadership position with the Boy Scouts.

She has served as vice chairwoman and treasurer for the Franklin County Republic Party and in 2012 she was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

In addition to endorsements from Newhouse and Davidson, she has the backing of Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville; Sen. Perry Dozier, R-Waitsburg; Rep. Mark Klicker, R-Walla Walla; Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla; Benton County Commissioner Shon Small and Franklin County Treasurer Josie Koelzer.