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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • Attended, Elliot Fellow Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives
  • Attended, Fellow at Senior Government Seminar, Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University
  • Graduated, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • MSJ, Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, 1973
  • BA, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1969

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Elliot Fellow Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives
  • Attended, Fellow at Senior Government Seminar, Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University
  • Graduated, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • MSJ, Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, 1973
  • BA, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1969
  • Communications Director, Washington State Labor Council, 1981-2006
  • Reporter, KSTW-TV, 1979-1981
  • Reporter, KMGH-TV, 1975-1978
  • Reporter, KGW-TV, 1972-1975

Political Experience

  • Attended, Elliot Fellow Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives
  • Attended, Fellow at Senior Government Seminar, Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University
  • Graduated, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • MSJ, Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, 1973
  • BA, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1969
  • Communications Director, Washington State Labor Council, 1981-2006
  • Reporter, KSTW-TV, 1979-1981
  • Reporter, KMGH-TV, 1975-1978
  • Reporter, KGW-TV, 1972-1975
  • President Pro Tempore, Washington State Senate, 2018-present
  • Senator, Washington State Senate, District 33, 2001-present
  • Candidate, Washington State Senate, District 33, 2018
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, 1996-2001
  • Precinct Committee Officer, 33rd District, 1988-1995

Former Committees/Caucuses

Co-Chair, Rules Committee, Washington State Senate, present

Former Ranking Minority Member, Commerce, Labor, and Sports Committee, Washington State Senate

Former Member, Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Committee, Washington State Senate

Former Member, Health Care Committee, Washington State Senate

Former Member, Joint Committee on Aging and Disability, Washington State Senate

Vice Chair, Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, Washington State Senate

Former Member, Legislative-Executive Workfirst Oversight Committee, Washington State Senate

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Health and Long Term Care Committee

Member, Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues

Member, Joint Select Committee on Health Care Oversight

Chair, Labor and Commerce Committee

Vice Chair, Rules Committee

Member, Ways and Means Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Elliot Fellow Flemming Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives
  • Attended, Fellow at Senior Government Seminar, Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University
  • Graduated, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • MSJ, Journalism, University of California, Berkeley, 1973
  • BA, Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 1969
  • Communications Director, Washington State Labor Council, 1981-2006
  • Reporter, KSTW-TV, 1979-1981
  • Reporter, KMGH-TV, 1975-1978
  • Reporter, KGW-TV, 1972-1975
  • President Pro Tempore, Washington State Senate, 2018-present
  • Senator, Washington State Senate, District 33, 2001-present
  • Candidate, Washington State Senate, District 33, 2018
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, 1996-2001
  • Precinct Committee Officer, 33rd District, 1988-1995
  • Member, Economic Opportunity Institute Board of Directors, 2005-present
  • Member, Judson Park Retirement Community Board, 1981-present
  • Member, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, present
  • Member, Evergreen Democratic Club, present
  • Member, Grace Lutheran Church, present
  • Member, Highline Branch, American Association of University Women, present
  • Member, Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, present
  • Member, Thirty-Third District Democrats, present
  • Member, Ways and Means Committee, Washington State Senate, present
  • Member, Federal Way Public Academy Parent Teacher Student Association
  • Former Member, Federal Way Public Academy Parent-Teacher-Student Association
  • Member, Highline Community College Board of Trustees
  • Former Member, Mount Rainier High School Parent Teacher Student Association
  • Member, Mount Rainier Parent Teacher Student Association
  • Member, Office and Professional Employees International Union 8
  • Former Member, Woodmont Parent Teacher Association
  • Member, Woodmont Parent Teacher Association
  • Member, Washington Coalition for Open Government Board, 1994-2002
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Highline Community College, 1994-2000
  • President and Member, Executive Board, Western Labor Communications Association, 1986-1989
  • Board Member, International Labor Communications Association, 1986-1988

Other Info

— Awards:

  • 2010 WA Conservation Voters Good Green Deed Award; 2009 Progressive States Network State Leader Award; 2009 Children's Alliance Champions for Children Award; 2009 WA State Nurses Association Legislator of the Year; 2009 WA State School Retiree's Association Legislative Excellence Award; 2008 Lifelong Aids Alliance Legislator of the Year; 2008 "Friend of SPEEA" Award- IFPTE Local 2001; 2008 NAVOS Mental Health Leadership Award; 2007 Center for Policy Alternatives Legislator of the Year; 2007 Center for Policy Alternatives Arthur S. Flemming Leadership Award; 2007 WA Health Care Association Legislator of the Year; 2007 WA Community Health Centers Health Care Champion; 2007 WA Ambulatory Surgeon's Legislator of the Year; 2006 WA State Chiropractors Association William Day Senate Award; 2006 WA State Residential Care Council Legislator of the Year; 2006 SEIU Legislator of the Year; 2004 Domestic Abuse Women's Network (DAWN) Leadership Award; 2004 WA Assn. for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) Policy Maker of the Year; 2004 Center for Women Policy Studies' National Honor Roll of State Legislators

Policy Positions

Washington State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Washington's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Our state revenues are currently healthy and do not require any major reductions in funding for state employees or health care benefits of Medicaid recipients. We can balance out budget without large cuts.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Washington?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Spending on education and training is a good investment for future economic growth. Creating strong transportation and infrastructure is another good investment for economic growth.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Washington?
- No

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Washington high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Do you support increasing funding for the state education budget?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Washington's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Washington's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Washington state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My focus in the legislature is to sponsor and support measures that will improve the economic security of working families. With wages stagnant, the increasing cost of health care, child care, retirement and transportation is creating economic and emotional stress on our hard-working families. Health care and education are key components of economic security, but fair wage and labor policies are needed too.

State Bills
Speeches