By DENNIS BOXCovington Reporter Editor Jan 28 2010, 5:50 PM Races in the 47th Legislative District are drawing some attention from interested candidates.

The race for the State House Position No. 1 has three candidates listed on the Public Disclosure Commission Web site.

The incumbent, Geoff Simpson, D-Covington, Republican Nancy Wyatt who lives in unincorporated King County and Mark Hargrove, R-Covington.

Hargrove announced his candidacy with a kickoff party Sunday.

This is the second run at the seat for the 53-year-old Hargrove, who lost to Simpson in 2008. Simpson was elected to the House in 2000.

Hargrove said during a phone interview he believes, “government is meant to keep us safe and free to live our lives. We don’t need government to run our lives.”

Hargrove said in an e-mail, “joblessness in our state is what is driving my commitment (to run).”

Hargrove works as a pilot instructor for Boeing and he has lived in Covington with his wife Sandy for 22 years.

On the Senate side of the 47th, Republican Joe Fain is challenging incumbent Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, who was elected in 2006.

This is the 29-year-old Fain’s first jump into the political pool, but he is very familiar with the workings of government. The Auburn resident is the chief of staff for King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer.

Fain said he believes the “state government is on the wrong trajectory. A lot of things could have been done differently.”

Fain pointed to the projected $2.6 billion state budget deficit as evidence of the problems in state government.

Fain wrote in a press release, “We need to encourage job growth, not punish businesses for investing in new employees.”