Mullet, who owns four Ben & Jerry’s ice cream franchises and a Zeek’s Pizza on the Sammamish Plateau, has served as Issaquah’s state senator since 2012.
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — State Sen. Mark Mullet knows he’s not winning the name recognition race in the run to replace Gov. Jay Inslee as Washington governor.
Mullet is up against fellow Democrat, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and Republicans like former King County Sheriff and Congressman Dave Reichert and former Richland School Board member Semi Bird.
But Mullet said he hopes a hairstyle trend could be a good sign for him.
”Right now, when people think of mullet, let’s be honest, they think of a bad hairstyle from the 80s,” said Mullet, D-Washington, “Although I will say, the mullet’s coming back this year!”
Mullet, who owns four Ben & Jerry’s ice cream franchises and a Zeek’s Pizza on the Sammamish Plateau, has served as Issaquah’s state senator since 2012.
He said his experience as a small business owner has him best suited for the governor’s office.
“Small business owners hate wasting money,” said Mullet.
If elected, Mullet said public safety and affordability would be his priorities.
“A lot of people are having the same anxiety I’m having, which is, will their kids be able to afford and stay and live here or are we turning into the next Bay Area in Northern California where the average working family just gets priced out?” said Mullet.
Mullet said he would vote to keep the state’s Climate Commitment Act but would vote to throw out the state’s long-term care program and capital gains tax under initiatives submitted by voters.
Mullet said the state has enough funding to continue existing projects without the money generated by the long-term care payroll deduction and the capital gains tax.
Earlier this month, he supported the initiative to roll back restrictions on police pursuits.
Mullet voted to place those limits on police chases in 2021.
He said criminals are taking advantage of the fact police can no longer pursue them for some crimes, including property crimes.
Mullet said the willingness to admit when you are wrong is a trait that’s lacking in today’s politicians.
“What we need from our government is the ability to raise your hand and admit if you have made a mistake, don’t just defend your vote, be willing to have the intellectual honesty to say, ‘Hey we screwed up,’” said Mullet.
