August 6 Primary Election Candidate Profiles

Jonathan Hendrix

I'm Jonathan Hendrix and I'd like your vote to be the next Washington State Insurance Commissioner as an independent voice for the people, communities and businesses here who buy, maintain and use insurance.

The Office of Insurance Commissioner approves the rates insurance companies can charge and regulates pivotal market activities. The Commissioner leads a dedicated team in Olympia who accomplish this constitutional mission, and routinely interacts with market stakeholders. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner collected $823.9M in premium taxes from insurance companies generating over $58.2B in premiums in 2022 and has a biennial budget of $79M. Insurance is an economic driver in Washington.

Healthy stakeholders in the system are pivotal, but sometimes their special interests are at odds with people who buy, maintain, and use their services. The people, communities and businesses who buy, maintain, and use insurance need to make ends meet.

My campaign is about helping WASHINGTON MAKE ENDS MEET by creating a healthier insurance market through leadership and oversight. Washington possesses many bright minded, socially responsible people and resources. Together we will modernize and rebalance our insurance system by addressing root causes driving up costs, reducing access and giving people the runaround.

My administration will be oriented around three key themes to create a healthier insurance market:

1. Affordability

2. Access

3. Customer Experience

Also, as the insurance system applies Artificial Intelligence (AI) to modernize, reduce insurance risks and costs, we will ensure such improvements occur in a secure manner that does not infringe on our rights.

I have more than thirty-five years' experience in various insurance executive capacities. This includes industry (NOLGHA) and non-profit board experience (Boys & Girls Clubs), as well as community service (Assistant Scoutmaster, Big Brother). I have an undergraduate degree from Whitman College and an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace University. Two of my four kids are working professionals, one is a Lance

Corporal in the US Marine Corps and a fourth enters college this Fall.

Let me apply my business leadership experience, background, and knowledge to protect your interests when you buy, maintain, and use insurance in Washington.

Healthy community and business environments enrich the lives of all Washington residents. Isn't it time

we improve the health of the insurance environment HERE?

Look, this General Election you have a pretty clear choice. You can elect the status quo politician backed by special interests, leading to higher insurance costs, fewer coverage options and inconsistent service. Or, elect a leader with leadership and business oversight experience committed to make the insurance environment in Washington healthy, effective, and affordable for all (even pets!).

This upcoming primary, vote for Jonathan Hendrix to help Washington State make ends meet. For more information see https://jonathanhendrix.com or e-mail the candidate at [email protected].

John Pestinger

"John Pestinger is an experienced, common-sense insurance professional who stands up to powerful industry interests as an advocate for insurance consumers. He dedicated the last 24 years to working in and regulating insurance. He is the only candidate with both industry experience and regulatory experience. John handled over 25,000 insurance claims, one claim at a time, for many on the worst day of their life. He knows what it is like to help people recover from the unexpected. John also knows how to regulate the industry by balancing the needs of a healthy insurance market with the need for affordable coverage for all Washingtonians. John knows the profound effect insurance has on our lives, from before we are born, each, and every single day of our lives, and even after we die.

The people of Washington deserve quality and affordable health insurance. John helps to protect consumers from receiving surprise medical bills for emergency services. He works to assure that choices in healthcare remain with you and your doctors. Increasing access to affordable medical care and life-saving medicine is John's top priority. This couldn't be more personal to John; his son is a Type 1 diabetic and needs insulin to live. Patients and Doctors are the ones who should decide what is the best way to care for the individual, not employers or insurance companies.

We are all experiencing the impact of skyrocketing insurance rates. John knows what it takes to stabilize the market and bring rates down. Increasing environmental catastrophes and increasing frequency and severity of losses are making your rates climb, and legislative and regulatory uncertainty are making it worse. Even proposing bills that affect insurance cause rates to skyrocket because they have to plan for contingencies. The job of the Insurance Commissioner is to regulate a healthy insurance market and prevent the polarizing political agendas in the Legislature from destabilizing it.

The people of Washington need an insurance regulator willing to protect us all. We need an Insurance Commissioner who will make sure coverage is available and will make sure insurance companies keep their promises. There is only one candidate who has been there and done that, vote John Pestinger for Insurance Commissioner."

John Pestinger

John P for OIC