Tracey Eide is a small business owner and lifelong resident of South King County. Now serving her third term in the Senate, she was elected Majority Floor Leader, a top Senate leadership position in 2005. Tracey is a strong advocate for public safety and our public schools. She sponsored and worked for passage of \\\\\\\'Simple Majority for Schools\\\\\\\' school levy legislation and the graduated, or intermediate teen driver\\\\\\\'s license system now in place in Washington. Tracey also sponsored Washington\\\\\\\'s hands-free cell phone law as well as the legislation this year that makes it a primary offense. Tracey is another who, despite being in a swing district, took courageous yes votes for all of the major tax and budget bills. Her opponent, Tony Moore, is the current president of the Federal Way school board.

 www.re-elect-eide.com

Carol has extensive state and community leadership experience. She served as President of the Washington Education Association, spent eight years in Governor Booth Gardner’s administration, and was a member of Judith Billings’ cabinet in the office of State Superintendent for Public Instruction for four years. More recently, Carol has focused on community-wide improvements. She is the current director of Burst for Prosperity, an organization that works with community members to create income generating, sustainable economic opportunities. Among her priorities are creating living-wage jobs, improving education for all, increasing access to healthcare, improving fiscal accountability in state government and reducing traffic congestion by increasing transportation options and supporting telecommuting. Carol ran against outgoing incumbent Skip Priest for this seat in 2008 and lost by a slim margin. Her name awareness from that race, along with her strong experience and qualifications, should hold her in good stead. It’s a crowded primary with five challengers and will be a tough race. The only other woman in the race, the mayor of Milton, was recently endorsed by the Seattle Times.

 www.friendsofcarolgregory.com

Ruth Kagi is a small business owner and first elected to the legislature in 1999. She chairs the House Early Learning & Children\'s Services Committee and was named the 2010 Elected Official of the Year by the Foster Parent Assoc. of WA. Ruth\'s long history of community and public service includes serving as Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Washington. During her ten plus years in the legislature, she has focused on improving early learning and child care, strengthening foster care, and reforming the state\'s drug sentencing and truck safety laws. Ruth has two opponents but is expected to win re-election handily.

 

Cindy Ryu is a strong, experienced candidate. She has truly demonstrated her campaign promise of “Building Bridges, Delivering Results”. As Shoreline city councilmember and Shoreline Mayor, she helped build bridges among constituents to get the job done in a diverse city. Cindy is in touch with the varied priorities of her district including creating jobs and economic opportunity, protecting neighborhoods and the environment, and improving education. Cindy is the first Korean-American woman mayor in the country!

 www.cindyryu.com

Karen Keiser has been a Washington State Senator since 2001 and currently serves as the co-chair of the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee. She has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for improving the nation’s outdated, inefficient and fragmented health care system and in the legislature she chairs the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee. Before coming to the senate, she served in the state House from 1996 to 2001.

 www.karenkeiser.com

Tina Orwell is just finishing her first term representing the 33rd district, a seat she won with over 63% of the vote. A career social worker, affordable housing advocate, and leader in the Democratic Party, Tina has fought for improved services and responsive government for people throughout the Puget Sound. Tina did not draw an opponent and is running unapposed.

 www.electtinaorwall.com

Sharon was appointed to the House in November 2007 when Rep. Joe McDermott resigned to run for the open Senate seat. She was elected to a full term in 2008 with 100% of the vote. She is now running for the open Senate seat as Joe runs for the open King County Council position left vacant when Dow Constantine was elected King County Executive. During the past three sessions Sharon has worked on legislation to help our community college professors, reform payday lending, protect Maury Island from mining interests, and to ban credit scoring in insurance quotes. Sharon was the recipient of a 2009 Fuse \"Sizzle\" Award for her leadership in the legislature and efforts to clean up the lending industry water pollution. Sharon did not draw an opponent and is running unapposed.

 www.sharonnelson.org

First time candidate, Marcee Stone, is running a strong race for the open seat in the 34th district. She serves as Board President for Washington Public Campaigns and has been active in fighting for public campaign financing bills in the legislature. All three legislators from the 34th have signed on to these bills and the following is excerpted from the 34th District Democrats’ past platform, “We support limitations on individual and corporate contributions and on candidate spending, and public financing for elections for national office.” To that end, Marcee has pledged not to take contributions from corporations or PACs (including the NWPC Campaign Fund). She is running a strong race against two young men, one is the legislative aid to Rep. Sharon Nelson (seeking the open senate seat in that district). She recently won the sole endorsement of the 34th District Democrats.

 www.marceefor34th.com

Eileen Cody represents Vashon Island, West Seattle and parts of Burien. She is a registered nurse and serves as chair of the House Health and Wellness Care Committee and has focused on health care policy, particularly prescription drug reform. She is a founding member and serves as treasurer of District 1199 NW/SEIU, Hospital & Health Care Employees Union.

 housedemocrats.wa.gov/cody

Jeanne Kohl-Welles has represented the 36th District in Seattle since 1994 after serving for three years in the House where she was Majority Whip. She chairs the Sen. Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee and sits on the Senate Ways & Means and Judiciary Committees. Jeanne has a long record of advocacy for women\'s rights. Before moving to Seattle she served as Assistant Dean for Women’s Programs at the University of California, Irvine, and Educational Equity Specialist for the U.S. Department of Education Region IX, assisting school districts in implementing Title IX. She taught sociology and women’s studies courses at California State University, Long Beach & Fullerton. She has served as President of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). She is an international speaker on women in politics and public policy and trafficking of human beings and has traveled to Cuba, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Niger, Sweden and the Baltics on official trips. Her legislation regulating international matchmaking organizations (mail-order bride protections) was the first enacted in the United States and served as a model for the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, enacted in 2005.

 

Mary Lou Dickerson became active in women’s issues during graduate school after participating in the women’s consciousness-raising movement. She joined Seattle NOW and became involved in the Washington ERA Coalition, ultimately serving as co-chair. She was elected to the State Legislature in 1994, her primary areas of interest are issues affecting children and families as well as the environment. She was one of the founders of Treehouse, an organization that aids foster children and families.

 

As a nurse, mother, foster mother, community leader and former Mayor, Judy Clibborn brings diverse experience to the legislature. Judy served 12 years on the Mercer Island Council, including four years as Mayor and two years as President of the Suburban Cities Association, an umbrella group representing cities throughout King County. She has served the 41st as a State Representative for the past six years including the last two as Chair of the House Transportation Committee. Throughout her career of public service, Judy built a track record as an effective, pragmatic leader who delivered real results for our community.

 judyclibborn.com

Marcie was elected in 2008 to represent the 41st district, including the cities of Bellevue, Beaux Arts, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Newcastle, and Renton. She is Vice Chair of the Education Committee and sits on the Education Appropriations Committee for K-12, Early Learning & Higher Education. The Governor and Speaker appointed Marcee to serve on the Quality Education Council which is leading the implementation of important reform and funding legislation for our children and public schools. As a freshman legislator, Marcee has earned high praise for her effectiveness.

 www.marciemaxwell.org

Phyllis Kenney, a small business owner and community relations consultant, was appointed to the legislature in 1997 and is now serving her seventh term. She chairs the House Committee on Community and Economic Development and Trade. Phyllis began her career as a community activist in the Yakima Valley and the Tri-Cities, where she was the cofounder of the Washington State Migrant Child Care Centers, the Educational Institute for Rural Families, and the Farm Workers Clinics. Through her legislative career, Kenney’s focus has been on economic development, quality and affordable health care, community safety, and compassion for the less fortunate.

 

Claudia Kauffman is the first Native American woman State Senator, she works as the charity fund and federal relations liaison for the Muckleshoot Tribe. Since her election in 2006, Claudia has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for early learning. She has sponsored and supported legislation to improve and expand early learning programs and services and improve funding. She currently serves as vice chair for early learning on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and is Assistant Majority Whip. Claudia takes service in the community seriously. She has been foster mother to ten foster children and advocates for foster children in the legislature. She has organized an annual dinner honoring veterans and recognizing their service, provides leadership training for women, and promotes civil engagement and participation. In 2009, she was given the Governor’s Award of Excellence for her lifetime of volunteering. Claudia faces a strong opponent in this swing district with Joe Fain, who has served as chief of staff for King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer.

 www.claudiaforsenate.com

As a lawyer, community activist, former mayor and public policy expert, Deb Eddy brings a wealth of non-partisan experience to the job of state representative. She was a founding board member and early volunteer for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, helped establish the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods, and in 1993 decided to run for Kirkland city council where she served six years as a councilmember, two as mayor. In 1999 Deb became the Director of Suburban Cities Association, representing 37 King County cities, and served as a senior fellow at the Cascadia Center for Regional Transportation

 debeddy.net

Donna brings needed experience to the bench. She spent more than 21 years as a trial lawyer and has 18 years of administrative and business experience. For the past four years, Donna has served as Judge pro-tem in the King County District and Municipal Courts and since 2000 has served as Judge pro-tem at the Municipal Court of Renton. This experience coupled with her reputation as being fair, knowledgeable and even-tempered has garnered her many endorsements and a rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the King County Bar Association, the Latina/o Bar Association, and the Q-Law Bar Association.

 www.DonnaTuckerforJudge.com

Last February, the King County Council unanimously appointed Marcine to the King County District Court, Shoreline Division. Her appointment to the district court was history-making - Marcine is currently serving as the first woman and the first Asian American to serve as a district court judge at the Shoreline District Court. This fall, she is seeking election to a full four-year term on the court in the newly created position. She has been rated “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the Washington Women Lawyers Bar Association. Chief Justice Barbara Madsen and Justices Mary Fairhurst and Susan Owens, of the State Supreme Court have also endorsed her. As the only woman serving on the Kind County District Court in Shoreline, it is vital that Judge Anderson wins this election.

 www.marcineanderson.com

Judge Judith Eiler is running to retain her position as judge in at King County District Court SW. Judge Eiler served at the Federal Way Division of the King County District Court from 1992-2002. Since 2003, Judith has served as a Judge in the King County District Court, Southwest Division. A resident of Federal way for the past 40 years, she is very active in the community. She has been a member of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, and a founding member and past president of the Federal Way Women’s Network. Since 2007, Judith has represented judges from the Northwest as an elected member of the Executive Committee of the American Bar Association’s Judicial Division for Special Court Judges.

 

Edsonya Charles is running to retain her post as Seattle Municipal Court Judge. Having served as a judge for five years, and an attorney for 10 before that, Edsonya has the experience to continue to serve in a fair and impartial manner. In 2008, the members of the Seattle Municipal Court Bench elected Judge Charles as Presiding Judge. She is running on a platform of insuring justice to “court clients and offenders; justice to actual and potential victims; and justice to the Community”.

 www.reelectjudgeedsonyacharles.com

Alongside her private practice, Karen Donahue has served as Judge Pro-Tem for 16 years, presiding over many cases within each of the specialty courts in the Seattle Municipal Court. Since 2007, Karen has devoted her professional life to her position as Pro-tem Judge. As Judge, Karen will work to make the Court more efficient and cost effective by reducing the amount of paper used, improving court technology, and using alternative ways of sentencing in cases that allow it. She received a rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified” by the Joint Asian Bar Association and “Very Good” by the Municipal League of King County. In the past 16 years as Judge Pro-Tem, Karen has earned a reputation as a fair, compassionate and well-reasoned judge, treating everyone who appears in her court with respect.

 www.karendonohueforjudge.com

Janet Seekins has worked in the office of Assessment and GIS for 29 years and has significantly more experience in the office than her opponents. She has had experience working in most areas of the Auditor\\\\\\\'s office and is currently a senior member of the residential team. As Clark County Assessor, Janet will treat each person coming into her office with honest, respect and fairness. Her main priority as Assessor will be “to provide all property owners with accurate, fair and equitable mass property appraisals using cost and time effective methods to accomplish the work”. Her office mates in the Assessors Office are behind her 100% and so are we!

 http://www.janetseekinsforassessor.org

Monica Stonier is a middle school teacher who is running for an open seat a swing district. Monica will be a strong voice in Olympia for education funding and her hands-on experience in this field will provide needed insight. Monica got involved in politics during the 2008 Presidential election and has stayed involved, connecting with her community as Secretary of the 17th District Democrats. As a first time candidate and woman under the age of 35, she will face some unique challenges, but we will be there to help and support!

 www.electmonicastonier.com

We first endorsed Julie Anderson when she first ran for Tacoma City Council where she served two terms as a councilmember and deputy Mayor. When Pat McCarthy became Pierce County\'s first woman County Executive and the Auditor\'s seat was open, Julie ran for the appointment but lost to Representative Jan Shabro. She challenged Shabro successfully in a 2009 special election and is now running for re-election. Julie has more than 20 years of service working as the executive director of the YWCA of Pierce County, as a small businesses owner, and political strategist of Planned Parenthood Votes! She has a long list of community involvement, including the NWPC-WA in Pierce County. As Auditor she has modernized procedures, created accountable transparent systems, and increased customer service.

 www.julieanderson.org

Marilyn Rasmussen is a legislative veteran running for state representative of the 2nd legislative district. Elected to the house in 1986 and then the senate in 1992, Marilyn has spent the last 25 years fighting for education reform, agriculture (local safe food supply), and veteran’s issues. She lost her Senate seat in 2008 and is now running to challenge Rep. Jim McCune. As a mother of 7 and grandmother of 19, she has made education and children’s issues her top priority in both the house and the senate. Having lived on a farm for 50 years, Marilyn continues to put agriculture on her top list of priorities. In the senate she served as the chair of the agriculture and rural economic developing committee whose main priorities were food safety, preserving the family farm and preserving agriculture lands. Marilyn Rasmussen is a hardworking, friendly, straight-talking candidate who will listen and take action!

 http://www.marilynrasmussen.com/

Dawn Morrell was elected to represent the 25th District in November of 2002 and was recently elected the House Majority Caucus Chair, making her Pierce County’s highest-ranking House member. Her legislative priorities include building a strong economy by investing in education, creating good paying jobs with benefits, and ensuring that affordable quality health care is accessible to every Washingtonian. She continues to work as a certified critical care Registered Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup where she has worked since 1984. Dawn was one of several legislators in tough, swing districts who took courageous votes for taxes and the budget this year. She faces three challengers so far, including one from within her own party, albeit a recent convert.

 http://dawnmorrell.org

Jeannie Darnielle has lived in the 27th Legislative District for over 30 years. She has served on the boards of the Breast Cancer Resource Center, City Club of Tacoma, Associated Ministries, Tacoma Community House and the Graduates of the American Leadership Forum, and others. She has worked as the Director of the Women\'s Resource Center at the YWCA, and as the Executive Director of the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. She is no stranger to taking on tough issues in her community and has served the citizens of the 27th district passionately since 2001. In the legislature, she works to increase education funding for all learners; expand health care for children, families, and persons who are disabled; develop a safe environment for children and adults to learn, grow, and thrive; safeguard civil liberties; and promote economic opportunities to create living-wage jobs that improve the well-being of families.

 http://jeanniedarneille.com

Laurie Jinkins is running for state house in the 27th legislative district. Laurie has had a very successful career in healthcare management and is currently the deputy director of the Tacoma-Pierce county health department managing 270 employees with a $38 million annual budget. Beyond her career she has a strong passion for helping out her community. She was co-chair of the R-71 (Everything But Marriage) campaign, and currently serves as the president of the Tacoma Community College board. If elected, she would be the only member of the legislature with a child in the public school system, and the only out lesbian.

 www.lauriejinkins.com

ami Green is running for re-election in Pierce County’s 28th District. Tami was elected to the legislature in 2004 and currently serves as assistant majority floor leader. Tami brings her extensive experience as a mother, grandmother, nurse, and community activist to the State Legislature to address vital issues such as health care, public schools, and family wage jobs. She faces a tough challenge this year from the well-funded president of the Lakewood Police Officers’ Guild.

 www.tamigreen.com

Connie is running for an open seat vacated by Steve Conway who is running to fill Senator Rosa Franklin’s seat. Rosa announced her retirement this year. Connie served two terms on the Tacoma City Council where she was chair of the public safety committee and the human services and education committee. Connie helped establish Housing first—a program designed to address the large homeless population in Tacoma by providing permanent housing. She also helped to establish Tacoma 360, an organization designed to better align and deliver social and support services to children. Connie’s legislative background as well as her support for local schools and education makes her a very qualified candidate and a great fit for the 29th legislative district!

 www.ladenburg.org

Having lived in Pierce County for over 20 years, she has seen the many changes and challenges that the county has faced. As a councilmember, she hopes to bring public opinion back into decision-making. Her main areas of focus are land use planning and ensuring a living wage for all Pierce County residents. Though she is a first time candidate, she has a great deal of community experience. We believe that her passion for her community and her past experience on many advisory boards make her an excellent candidate for county councilmember!

 http://www.chaseforcouncil.com:88/

Betty Ringlee is running for Pierce County Council District 7 as an experienced and committed candidate. A 30-year gig-harbor resident and a 10-year veteran of the Peninsula school board—Betty has her community’s best interest in mind. As councilwoman she plans to focus on quality of life issues, the implementation of the Key Peninsula community plan and finding a safe solution to State Route 302. Running against five opponents, Betty has some challenges ahead, but we are here to offer her support!

 

Claire Sussman is running for District Court Judge, position #2, in Pierce County. She was endorsed by the Tacoma Pierce county bar association and given a rating of “exceptionally well qualified”. Having served for six years as deputy prosecutor , and Pro-Tem judge for Pierce county for the past seven years, she has proven to be a legal professional who holds offenders accountable for their actions and protects victims. With a deeply rooted belief in equal access to the courts and a firm but fair approach to the administration of justice, Judge Sussman will be an excellent and needed addition to the Peirce Country district court.

 http://clairesussmanforjudge.org/

Judge Elizabeth Verhey is running for re-election as Judge in the Tacoma Municipal Court. She has served as Judge in the Tacoma Municipal Court since 1995, and has acted as Judge Pro-Tem in the Pierce County Superior Court since 2003. Within her community, Judge Verhey is active in the Children’s Home Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters of King & Pierce County, and American Association of University Women.

 

After 19 years in the Thurston County treasurer’s office, starting in 1986 as a cashier and ending up, in 2005, as chief deputy treasurer, Shawn was appointed as Treasurer in May. She is running in her first election to retain that seat, previously held by Robin Hunt, who resigned for a private sector job. Shawn brings her department experience, and 12 years of community banking experience, to the office.

 http://www.electshawnmyers.com/

Betty Gould has been the Thurston County Clerk since 1991 and has served as President of the Washington State Association of County Clerks for four terms and legislative chair for several years. Betty\'s passion and priority is providing access to justice and she has created programs to ensure that the poor and the uneducated who cannot afford attorneys have easy access to the information they need to navigate the justice system successfully. Betty is a visionary who has installed systems to provide online access to information and increase the efficiency of the Clerk\'s office through tough budget cuts. She brings a very personal touch to the office and the needs of citizens who enter the office. Betty did not draw a challenger in this race.

 

Thurston County Sheriff Lt. Debbie Mealy is running for an open seat to be the county\'s first female sheriff. She currently works as the deputy director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien and has worked as a patrol officer, a patrol sergeant and a training sergeant. Debbie is also active with the Thurston County Drug Court, Crisis Intervention Team, and the Vulnerable Adult Task Force. Also in the race is Thurston County sheriff’s deputy John Snaza.

 www.debbiemealyforsheriff.com | debbiemealy@gmail.com

Karen Valenzuela has held elected office for 10 years. She served 9 years on the Tumwater City Council and as a Planning Commissioner for three years. A public health professional by trade, Karen is uniquely well qualified to serve in the county commission’s role as the Board of Health. She was appointed to the Commission by Governor Gregoire in February 2009 and hit the ground running. After helping to re-balance the 2009 budget by reorganizing and streamlining county government and making deep staff and program cuts, she helped establish visionary goals to frame development of the 2010 budget. Karen is now running to keep her seat on this (only) all-woman County Commission!

 http://www.karenvalenzuela.com

Judi Hoefling is running to fill an open legislative seat in the 22nd district. This is a crowded race with five challengers; Judi is the only woman in the race. She is currently serving her third term on the Tumwater City Council. In her capacity as councilmember, she is the chair of the public safety committee and a member of the Thurston County Law and Justice Committee. She is currently the Director of Community Relations for Behavioral Health Resources—an organization working to create dignified and accessible care and housing for the chronically homeless mentally ill. Her experience in working closely with community members from all walks of life, coupled with her educational background in organizational management make her a highly qualified candidate for this seat.

 www.votejudi.com

Kalo Wilcox is running, unopposed at this point, to replace retiring Judge Susan Dubuisson. She is the president elect of the Thurston County Bar Association and currently serves as a Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Olympia. She has been a Pro Tem District Court Judge since the year 2000. Her area of focus and expertise is prosecuting domestic violence crimes and has trained police officers and other prosecuting attorneys in the dynamics of DV and the investigation of DV crimes. Kalo did not draw an opponent in this race.

 

Mary Helen has been active in county politics and various organizations including the United Way. She is committed to improving the quality of life for everyone. For eight years she served as a member of the Edmonds Community College Board of Trustees, and she is a co-founder and former Chair of the Children’s Campaign Fund. As a small business owner, Mary Helen was involved in importing Asian folk art. Among her priorities in the legislature are making sure we have the best possible education system, creating a well-educated, technology-focused workforce to keep and attract employers offering good-paying jobs; improving our transportation infrastructure to make it safer and easier to walk, bike or drive to our destination; and assuring safe communities through a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

 

ean Berkey was appointed then elected to the Senate in 2004. She served in the House of Representatives from 2001-2003. She is chair of the Senate Financial Institutions Housing and Insurance Committee and a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. Jean advocates for government accountability, affordable health care, education, and issues important to seniors. Jean\'s bill helping families impacted by the mortgage crisis was the first bill to pass the Legislature this year. The Bill focuses on public awareness through statewide consumer education and outreach programs and provides free financial counseling assistance for borrowers at risk of foreclosure and first-time home buyers. Jean has a strong challenge from inside her party.

 jeanberkey.com

Eleanor Walters is an established presence in her district through participation in various activities such as the City Diversity Council, the Hwy 2 Coalition and the Mental Health Advisory Board. She is also an active member of numerous organizations such as Emily’s list, the 39th Legislative District Democrats, NARAL and Women to Women International. These activities give her a unique perspective on the issues of importance to the 39th district. As state representative, Eleanor will work to protect the wetlands, watersheds, and farmlands implicit in the success of the 39th district. Eleanor will be an effective advocate for her community in the legislature by listening and acting!

 www.eleanorwalters.com

Lillian Kaufer is running against incumbent Democratic Senator Steve Hobbs, and Republican Dave Schmidt, for this senate seat in the 44th district in Snohomish County. Lillian ran against Hobbs for this seat in 2006 and lost in a very close primary. She is running this time with the strong support of Labor in recognition of her effective community organizing against Walmart and anti-Hobbs sentiment. Lillian is an active participant in the community and believes to get things done you have to be involved. Her past and current involvement include the NWPC-WA in Snohomish County, Girl Scout leader, advocating for foster children by giving them a voice in court appearing as a Guardian ad Litem, and fighting family wage jobs with benefits in our community.

 http://lilliankaufer.net/

Stephanie is seeking the appointment to an open seat on the Council. Currently serving as the Vice President of the Lynnwood city council, Stephanie is a life-long resident of Snohomish County and well versed in the challenges facing the County. The district PCOs made her their overwhelming choice for appointment with a vote of 33-11. The decision now rests with the county councilmembers. There has not been a woman elected to the Snohomish County Council in nearly 10 years—we are proud to support Stephanie as a strong woman candidate who will change that unfortunate statistic!

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Wright-for-Snohomish-County-Council-Dist-3/141410482551943#!/pages/Stephanie-Wright-for-Snohomish-County-Council-Dist-3/141410482551943?v=info

Barbara Madsen is running unopposed to retain her seat on the bench. Last year she was elected by her colleagues to serve as the 55th Chief Justice. She was elected as the third woman to serve on the Washington Supreme Court in 1992, and she was re-elected in 1998 and 2004. After completing law school, Justice Madsen worked as a public defender in King and Snohomish counties, she joined the Seattle City Attorney’s Office in 1982, and was appointed Special Prosecutor in 1984. Mayor Charles Royer appointed Justice Madsen in 1988 to the Seattle Municipal Court bench. She developed the child abuse component of the Family Violence Project. Later, while serving on the Seattle Municipal Court bench, she began working toward the development of a Domestic Violence Coordinating Committee to comprehensively address violence in the family. As the Presiding Judge, Justice Madsen increased opportunities for women and attorneys of color to receive appointments as pro tem judges. She encouraged and increased diversity among the court employee population. Justice Madsen’s commitment to equal justice continues today in her role as the chair of the Washington State Gender and Justice Commission.

 

As both a professor at Western Washington University in land use and natural resources, as well as the chair of the Whatcom county planning commission, Jean has the experience to deal with the difficult land use planning problems prevalent in Whatcom County. As county councilmember, Jean would facilitate bypassing partisan division that plagues Whatcom County and has led to expensive litigation. Jean has the experience to address the unique problems in Whatcom County!

 http://www.voteforjean.com/

Carol Moser is running for state representative in the 8thth legislative district in the Tri-Cities area. Carol was a soccer mom who took issue with the lack of sports fields in her community and got appointed to the Richland Parks Commission. From there she was selected to fill a vacancy on the City Council won re-election three times. She served as Mayor Pro-Tem for four years under two mayors, and participated in more than 20 boards and committees during her 10-year tenure on the council. In 2006, Governor Gregoire appointed Carol to the Washington State Transportation Commission as an Eastern Washington representative, and in 2007, was selected by the Commission and appointed by the governor to chair the Aviation Planning Council.

 www.carolmoser.com

Louise Chadez is running for state representative for the 3rd district in Spokane. Louise has been an advocate for her community for over 20 years. As representative, she will work to improve educational outcomes in her community, protect small businesses and create more jobs. She will also use her over 30 years of experience in the social services field to maintain and deepen the safety net for elders and the most vulnerable sector of the community. In 2001 she spearheaded the 1% initiative in the city of Spokane, increasing the Human services funding to 1% of the budget. The 3rd district in the poorest county in the state and faces some unique challenges. Louise’s experience in education and social services gives her the experience to move people out of poverty and address the issues most salient in the 3rd district.

 http://louisechadez.com/louisechadez.com/Home.html

Sherry Appleton, a former two-term Poulsbo City Council member, was elected to the legislature in 2004 and is currently vice-chair of the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee, as well as a member of the House Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, and Health Care & Human Services Appropriations committees. Sherry is a charter member of Legislators’ Leadership Council on HIV/AIDS at the Center for Women’s Policy Studies in Washington, D.C. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Association of Washington Cities, on the Northwest Women’s Law Center Legislative Committee, as PAC chair of the NARAL PAC, board member of NARAL, and vice-chair of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington State. During the 2009-10 legislative session, she was instrumental in restoring funding for the Frances Haddon Morgan Center and the Poulsbo Marine Science Center; for family planning clinics throughout the state; and for life-saving digital mammography services for low-income women.

 Sherryappleton.com

In addition to being Representative for the 23rd District, Christine is a wife and mother of two school-aged daughters. Prior to being elected to the State Legislature in 2006, Christine was twice elected to the Bainbridge Island City Council and was the first Council Chair to serve two consecutive terms (2000-2005). Among her accomplishments in the legislature are improving access to mental health services, healthcare and prescription drugs; investing in higher education options to increase local employment opportunities; providing new funding to support local economic development efforts; and working to help restore the health of Puget Sound and Hood Canal which are vital to our regional economy and quality of life.

 www.ElectChristine.com

Kris Lytton is currently serving her second term as President of the Anacortes School Board where she continues to lead her school district to more efficiency and better student scores. Last year Kris was awarded the Washington Association of School Administrators Community Leadership Award, and this year she helped pass the school levy by a 76% margin. Prior to entering public service, Kris spent several years in the private sector working in the financial and accounting departments of Shell Oil Company and Citicorp Executive Development Center. At Citicorp she was a Senior Financial Analyst and later, the Operations Manager. She knows about being accountable, and she understands the bottom line. Kris is dedicated to her community having served as Vice-President of Anacortes Schools Foundation, Board member of the Anacortes Senior College Board and President and Legislative Chair of the Anacortes PTA. She was also active in the Red Cross and the Anacortes Museum Foundation.

 www.krislytton.com

Suzan DelBene is the kind of leader we need in Congress to take on our tough economic problems. A technology executive and software entrepreneur for over 20 years, she knows firsthand the need for critical investments in the new technologies and industries for America to succeed in the 21st Century. She will bring small-business accountability to Washington: making sure that successful programs work better, and those that aren’t working end, so that taxpayers have confidence that their hard earned dollars are being spent wisely. She is a consultant to public and private sector companies and is a strategic adviser to Global Partnerships, a non-profit focused on supporting micro-finance and sustainable solutions that serve those in poverty in Latin America.

 delbeneforcongress.com

In her first tough race since winning office as a \"mom in tennis shoes\" in 1992, Senator Murray is facing Republican governor nominee Dino Rossi, who according to Cook Report changed the race from \'lean D\' to \'a tossup\'. Recent polling shows Murray and Rossi within four points. Rossi, who is not Pro-Choice, has run twice against Governor Gregoire and lost closely in both attempts, once that ended in months of close recounts. Since being elected as the first woman to represent the state of Washington, Senator Murray has been a champion for women and their families.

 pattymurray.com