Linda Kochmar is one of the area’s most durable elected officials, having held public office in Federal Way for almost two decades as a city councilmember, mayor, and state representative who’s seeking her third term the state House.

Kochmar is of the old style, where politics is about relationships. She wants to bring home the bacon from Olympia for local projects like the Performing Arts and Events Center. She always has a smile, asks about you and your family, and rarely misses a public event. She seems to know most residents by their first names.

Kochmar appears most comfortable, and is at her best, when talking to constituents one at a time or in small groups. One local described her as everyone’s grandmother. She is a conservative Republican.

Mike Pellicciotti is relatively new to Federal Way politics, although he worked on issues affecting our community while a lawyer in the King County Prosecutor’s office. He now works for the Washington Attorney General’s Office. He serves as an alternate on Federal Way’s Human Services Commission.

Pellicciotti is bright, a Fulbright Scholar, and his legal training really shows – he can articulate policy positions and statistics on crime, corporate fraud, and homelessness, along with their impact on area residents. At times he seems shy in small groups, but he stands out in a forum or debate format. He is a newer style politician that studies and relies on data and information. He’s a big-picture thinker and wants to solve regional and state problems like education and transportation. He’s a moderate Democrat.

Since these were the only two candidates in their respective primaries, both were assured of advancing to the general election. Each approached their primary differently. Kochmar had run for office several times and was a familiar name – she appeared to want to save her resources for November. Pellicciotti, who was less well-known, had to prove that he could run a competitive race against a strong incumbent. He needed to be within five points of Kochmar to demonstrate that supporters should donate to his campaign and not send resources to other races.

Pellicciotti not only was within five points, he actually led Kochmar by 4 percent after the primary. That served as a wake-up call to state and local leaders from both parties (state party leaders desperately need to win both seats in the 30th Legislative District to have a chance at winning control of the state House).

Before the primary, the House Republican Organizing Committee had given Kochmar $9,000, but when they learned that she was vulnerable they donated $50,000 to her campaign. The House Democratic Organizing Committee did the same for Pellicciotti when they realized he actually had a chance to win, not just be competitive. Before the primary, they’d only given him $2,500. After the primary they donated $45,000.

Kochmar has raised more than $200,000 overall and spent about $88,000 heading into the last month before the election. Her donations come from typical Republican sources, like real estate and development interests, as well as with insurance corporations and the Gun Owners’ Action League. Her local political support includes donations from current council members Kelly Maloney, Susan Honda, and Martin Moore. Councilwoman Dini Duclos sent out a letter urging support for Kochmar. And former City Councilman Bob Celski, current Lakehaven Utility District Commissioner Ron Nowicki, and Republican seatmate Rep. Teri Hickel are supporting her.

Pellicciotti has raised about $191,000, and he’s spent $106,000. His donations come from usual Democratic sources and include state employees, the Washington Education Association, labor unions and Planned Parenthood. Local political support comes from school board member Liz Drake and King County Council members Dave Upthegrove and Rod Dembowski. Attorney General Bob Ferguson helped doorbell for Pellicciotti in Federal Way.

Both Kochmar and Pellicciotti have a “very good” rating from the non-partisan Municipal League.

There is always a little intrigue, and this race is no exception. Pellicciotti worked with Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, a fellow Democrat, at the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and he contributed to Ferrell’s 2013 campaign for mayor. But Ferrell is not listed as endorsing or contributing to Pellicciotti. Ferrell says he wants to stay out of partisan political races, but Ferrell is pictured in a campaign brochure for Kochmar. Ferrell says he is not endorsing Kochmar.

Supporters of Kochmar talk about her accomplishments as a council member and note that, even though she was in the minority party in the House, Kochmar was still able to get money for local projects. Opponents say she has been in Olympia for four years and the problems are still the same.

Pellicciotti’s supporters argue he is better-suited to provide regional solutions and offer that he was chair of the Washington Equal Justice Coalition. They say it’s time for the next generation, which Pellicciotti represents. Opponents cite his short residency and feel he doesn’t know the community well enough. Pellicciotti got the endorsement of the Seattle Times.

Kochmar favors a “levy swap” to solve Washington’s education funding dilemma, which would help Federal Way but could hurt other school districts whose money would shift to Federal Way. Pellicciotti believes that a money shift is bad policy and that other lawmakers won’t agree to anything that costs their district money any more than our lawmakers would support a policy that took money away from our school district. He supports increased funding from other sources, such as closing corporate tax loopholes.

Kochmar opposes Sound Transit 3, saying it’s too expensive, while Pellicciotti believes freeways are not the answer and that Federal Way won’t get mass transit without ST3. He supports ST3.

Old versus new, local concerns versus statewide thinking, relationships versus data, known incumbent versus significant potential. The two candidates provide a contrast in style and philosophy, although it may be partly generational.

The Democrats control the, House 50-48, and this is one of the key races where control hangs in the balance. Vote wisely.

Federal Way resident Bob Roegner is the former mayor of Auburn. He can be reached at bjroegner@comcast.net.