Anthony Kalchik
In 1989 Anthony and his family immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union. Leaving his life as a welder, construction builder, and as a coal miner behind, he escaped the oppressive Communist Government and came to the U.S.A. to start a new life and experience the “American Dream.” Anthony, his wife Maria, and their five children came here with only five suitcases and $250.00 in cash. Upon arrival to the United States, without any knowledge of the English language and realizing the importance of it, Anthony hit the books. Six months later, he was able to speak well enough to find his first job as a welder. He wanted the ultimate dream; “to be his own boss.” So he started a furniture fabrication business and later switched to the Real Estate field. Anthony Kalchik became a Realtor working in the greater south King County area. Ten years later, he opened his own Real Estate Firm by the name of A. Kalchik Realty. In less than two years, he had close to 30 agents working with him and is living the true and ever so existing AMERICAN DREAM! In 2006 Anthony decide to run for the State House of Representatives, he want to ensure that this dream stays alive and the citizens of the 30th District remain prosperous. He had always been a leader both in the Ukrainian/Russian communities, as well as the Federal Way area and is a member of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce. He had also participated in various community activities including serving as a speaker for the Chamber of Commerce's Advancing Leadership class, and also spoke at an event put on by the Federal Way diversity commission and Highline Community College. Anthony now wants to go work for the 30th district citizen by representing them and to create a better life. He wants to improve education, us he understands that, after the bread, it is second most important wealth that we can have. He wants to insure safer environment for children by accepting one strike law for child [...] offenders. He wants to insure small business friendly State Government, secure more jobs, better medical and affordable housing for all.
The 2006 election came and past, and Anthony Kalchik was defeated by incumbent Rep. Mark Miloscia with Anthony obtaining 35% and Miloscia 65%. He watched his loss on a large screen in a hotel in Bellevue, but knew that it wasn't over. He would still fight for for the very same issues that made his decision to run in the first place, and a tragedy of a lifetime in his family, Anthony Kalchik began his journey as a champion in making harsher punishments for [...] offenders.
Rumers surfaced in early 2007 that Anthony was going to run for an open seat in the Federal Way City Council, but nothing ever came of those speculations. (Federal Way Mirror)
It was July 4th, 2007, Independance Day, where most people were having fun, enjoying the fireworks and spending time with family. That was the day that Anthony's niece, Zina Linnik was abducted by a convicted [...] offender and was raped and murdered. That is when Anthony started pressing the Legislature to create tougher penalties on child [...] offenders. He contacted colleague and friend Rep. Skip Priest (R-30th District) and Rep. Priest instantly jumped on board. Governor Christene Gregoire also vowed to look into the matter and created her own taskforce on [...] offender sentencing.
He currently serves as the family spokesman for Zina Linnik's family, as well as an advocate in the Ukrainian/Russian community focusing on public policy, civic engagement, Civil Rights, and justice and has joined Franciscan Fellowship, an organization of business leaders who help support the Franciscan Health Foundation.
As to whether or not he will run again in 2008, it is unclear.