Matthew Burke (R) Redmond

Experience: Burke has worked as a financial advisor since 1987. He received his financial planning certificate in 1995 and has worked with individuals and families to create stable financial situations since then. “Understanding economics, how financial issues tie together to affect the average American citizens that are trying to save for retirement, or their kids’ college, that’s my specialty.”

Why are you running? “I’m running because I understand economically what they’re doing to this country. You can’t solve an economic problem caused by cheap money and easy credit with more cheap money and easy credit.”

How are you different from the other two challengers? “The comment that we get quite often is I’m very direct in answering questions; I don’t sound like politics as usual.”

David Schirle (I) Lynnwood

Experience: Schirle served as a surgeon for the Army National Guard in Iraq and has been with the U.S. Army and National Guard in a medical capacity off-and-on since the Vietnam War. He worked in private practice in Seattle as a pediatrist from 1988 to 2003 before being shipped out to Iraq. Since his return, Schirle has worked as a traveling physician for Dyncorp International tending to soldiers. “Lawyers have learned there’s a game you can play. The laws don’t always make sense. In medicine the rules make sense. My patients don’t like me if they don’t get better; I can’t make excuses.”

Why are you running? “Recently, in the last several years, I’ve been watching the debt rise, and most importantly I’ve been watching a general paralysis of the federal system to deal with problems.”

How are you different from the other two challengers? “I specifically saw both parties as failing miserably. If either parties win, nothing is going to significantly change.”

James Watkins (R) Redmond

Experience: Watkins has held a variety of positions throughout his career, including small business owner, business consultant, and a department head at Microsoft. He served with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for four years in the early 1990s, where he helped to reduce the organization’s spending. “I’m the only guy in the entire country that’s cut spending at a federal agency and help save thousands of jobs in the private sector.”

Why are you running? “We can’t afford our current government. We need more guys with real world experience rather than career politicians.”

How are you different from the other two challengers? “Clearly the experience and background I bring to the race. What I can say is I have that experience of being with a federal agency.”