POULSBO — After considering a new position, State Representative Beverly Woods of Poulsbo has decided to seek re-election in her 23rd District Position 2 seat.

Woods, a Republican who was elected to the position in 2000 after earlier being appointed to a vacant seat, announced Thursday that she will once again vie for her place in the House.

“I love what I do,” Woods said about her motivation for her announcement. “I love helping people in my district, whether it’s individual people or through legislation.”

Woods said she waited until after the 2004 legislative session ended March 11 to make her decision about filing. Though she knew she’d be running, she wanted to talk over her choices with her family and loyal supporters.

“I was definitely planning to run again but the question was whether I’d run for (Sen. Betti Sheldon’s) open Senate seat or for the House of Representatives,” Woods commented. “I finally decided on the House. I have seniority in the House. I’m in leadership and I’m in a position to formulate the agendas and work the agenda in a way that could help my constituents.”

Tracyton resident Terry Ducheane has also announced his intention to run for the Position 2 seat.

Duchean previously faced off with Woods for the office and was defeated in the 2002 primaries, where he lost to Democrat Sherry Appleton by a 3-1 margin of votes.

Woods took 52 percent in the primary and went on to beat Appleton in November by a 4 percent margin.

Woods said besides helping voters understand new state primary system, the biggest issues she sees in the November election are the economy, health care and transportation.

Creating more job security for those who have jobs and more opportunities for those who don’t is the key to lifting the state’s economy, Woods contends.

“We’ve taken some tiny steps forward in that arena but there are more steps to take to make the environment more business friendly,” she commented.

Besides being another major issue with voters, Woods said fostering a health care system that is more accessible is one of the steps that could help the economy and job market flourish. Woods, who owns a small business in Poulsbo with her husband Jim, said small business owners are those especially suffering trying to provide health care for themselves and their employees.

“I think we have a health care crisis,” Woods said.

Transportation issues, especially those near and dear to Kitsap County residents is another a hot-button topic for the representative. She commented that securing more funding for ferries and highways for the Peninsula will be important to her during her next term if she’s re-elected.

“Transportation is always an issue in Kitsap County,” Woods said.