When it comes to campaigning, state Rep. Norma Smith and her challenger have very different styles.

Smith, a Republican who lives in Clinton, speaks at length and in depth about the multitude of subjects that interest her. At a recent candidate forum, she had trouble getting everything in during her allotted time.

Scott McMullen, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, largely steers clear of in-depth policy discussions in forums and interviews but focuses on his priorities and values in overarching terms.

Smith, who represents the 10th District, has been involved in a wide range of issues during her 10 years in office, from ferries to schools to mental health to earth abundant materials. She hasn’t been afraid to support or even sponsor bills on subjects not always supported by conservatives.

Smith, for example, co-sponsored a net neutrality bill that was a first in the nation, a position contrary to that of the Trump administration. She worked to protect online data privacy. She created the first solar recycling bill in the nation, championed forest health and helped to get funding to remove derelict nets from Puget Sound.

Smith is a proponent of bipartisanship.

“We can lead the country,” she said, “if we don’t care about who gets credit and we work together as a team.”

McMullen is a true-blue Democrat. He argues that more investment needs to be made in education. He called lawmakers’ response to the McCleary decision as “a good first step,” even though more than half of the state budget now goes to education. He said more funding is especially needed for special needs students and paraeducators. He believes teachers are still leaving for higher-paying jobs, even after the rush of teacher raises across the state.

McMullen opposes charter schools, supports a capital gains tax and is in favor of common-sense gun control. He believes in the Growth Management Act, “smart growth” and more investment in transportation.

McMullen said he supports raising the minimum wage to help working families.

“On $1,700 or $1,800 a month, it’s virtually impossible to raise a family,” he said at a forum.

Smith said one of her top priorities going forward is to continue her work improving the “safety net” for people suffering from mental health problems.

“It’s an issue that has touched every family I know, including my own,” she said.

Smith didn’t vote on a secretive bill that would have exempted state lawmakers from the Open Public Records Act — which was later vetoed by the governor — because of a family emergency. But she said she probably would have voted for it in order to protect sensitive information she receives from constituents.

McMullen, on the other side, said he was opposed to the bill and believes strongly in government openness and transparency.

Before Smith became a state representative, she served on the South Whidbey School Board and was a special assistant to former Congressman Jack Metcalf. Smith is active in her church and dedicates time to mentoring young people, to whom she’s opened her “heart and home.”

Smith currently is the ranking minority member of the Technology and Economic Development Committee and is assistant ranking member on the Capital Budget Committee.

McMullen works for the Boeing Company as a firefighter/EMT. He retired from the Air Force and Air Force Reserves after 26 years as a fire battalion chief. He was on the Mount Vernon City Council for eight years and volunteers with YMCA Children’s Programs and Boy Scouts of America. He is also active in his church.