Lawmakers to discuss dollars for schools at forum
January 15, 2013
The public can hear from top education and budget leaders in the Legislature about the funding challenges facing public schools Jan. 22 at a League of Education Voters forum.
Steve Litzow
Ross Hunter
The organization, a statewide education advocacy group, invited a Democrat, state Rep. Ross Hunter, and a Republican, state Sen. Steve Litzow, to discuss competing visions for education funding in Washington.
Residents can listen to the Eastside lawmakers — Litzow is a Mercer Island resident; Hunter hails from Medina — at the King County Library System Administration Building.
The incoming Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee chairman, Litzow, represents Issaquah and other communities in the 41st Legislative District, a suburban swath between lakes Washington and Sammamish.
Issaquah legislators receive key commitee assignments
December 26, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Dec. 26, 2012
Local lawmakers received or retained influential committee assignments — and the ability to shape state policy on education, transportation and other priorities — in the next legislative session.
Recent changes in how the state Senate operates changed prospective roles for local legislators. Though Democrats claim more members in the Senate, Republicans announced a plan in early December to instead put a bipartisan caucus in place to run the chamber.
With help from Sens. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, and Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, Republicans received a 25-24 majority. Under the proposal, Tom is poised to serve as majority leader and oust Democrats’ chosen majority leader, Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle. (Until redistricting last year, Tom, a former Republican, represented some Issaquah neighborhoods.)
House candidates in 41st Legislative District focus on education, economy
October 9, 2012
The candidates in the 41st Legislative District race for a state House of Representatives seat cast the contest as a choice between experience in business or experience in government.
Tim Eaves
Marcie Maxwell
Voters elected the incumbent, Renton Democrat Marcie Maxwell, in 2008 and again in 2010. Republican Tim Eaves, a political newcomer and a longtime Issaquah resident, decided to challenge Maxwell days before the candidate-filing period closed in May.
Both candidates said education is the top priority among the 41st District electorate, and Maxwell and Eaves often field questions about education policy as they canvass the district.
Eaves, who owns a small business in Lynnwood, said he sees a link between education and the economy.
State legislators earn bipartisan honor
August 21, 2012
Local current and former legislators earned recognition Aug. 16 for efforts to legalize charter schools in Washington.
State Reps. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, and Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland; state Sens. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, and Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island; former state Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley; and other lawmakers earned the bipartisan recognition from the Washington Policy Center.
The nonpartisan public policy research organization honored legislators with the 2012 Champion of Freedom Award.
“We are honored to recognize these legislative champions of charter schools in our state who helped make the case to reform education and put the issue before our state’s citizens this fall,” Washington Policy Center President Dann Mead Smith said in a statement.
Issaquah legislators earn bipartisan honor for charter school efforts
August 19, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Aug. 19, 2012
Local current and former legislators earned recognition Aug. 16 for efforts to legalize charter schools in Washington.
State Reps. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, and Deb Eddy, D-Kirkland; state Sens. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, and Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island; former state Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley; and other lawmakers earned the bipartisan recognition from the Washington Policy Center.
The nonpartisan public policy research organization honored legislators with the 2012 Champion of Freedom Award.
“We are honored to recognize these legislative champions of charter schools in our state who helped make the case to reform education and put the issue before our state’s citizens this fall,” Washington Policy Center President Dann Mead Smith said in a statement.
Issaquah legislators top list for missed votes
May 1, 2012
Local legislators missed the most votes in the Legislature during the 2012 regular and special sessions.
Issaquah legislators top list on missed votes tally
April 24, 2012
NEW — 3 p.m. April 24, 2012
Local legislators missed the most votes in the Legislature during the 2012 regular and special sessions.
Glenn Anderson
The information, released Tuesday in a report from the nonpartisan organization WashingtonVotes.org, ranks state Rep. Glenn Anderson at the top for both chambers, followed by state Sen. Cheryl Pflug and state Rep. Jay Rodne.
Anderson missed 95 votes to top the list for Senate and House of Representatives members. Pflug did not participate in 64 votes and Rodne did not participate in 62.
The lawmakers represent Issaquah and the 5th Legislative District.
Legislator Deb Eddy, Issaquah representative, announces retirement
March 13, 2012
State Rep. Deb Eddy, a Kirkland Democrat representing Issaquah neighborhoods along Lake Sammamish, has announced plans to retire from the House of Representatives.
Deb Eddy
In a statement issued March 7, the former Kirkland mayor said she does not intend to run for re- election to the 48th Legislative District seat. The district is poised to lose Issaquah due to redistricting.
“When recruited, I promised to serve for six years, and I’ve fulfilled that commitment,” Eddy said in a statement. “It’s time to move on and find out what the next chapter of my life will look like.”
Washington State Redistricting Commission members shifted the 48th District elsewhere in the recent reshuffling. (Remaining Issaquah neighborhoods fall inside the 5th and 41st legislative districts.)
The realigned political maps go into effect for the November election.
In 2006, and again in 2008 and 2010, Eddy cruised to election and re-election against Republican opponents.
Deb Eddy, Issaquah representative in Olympia, announces retirement
March 9, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. March 9, 2012
State Rep. Deb Eddy, a Kirkland Democrat representing Issaquah neighborhoods along Lake Sammamish, announced plans to retire from the House of Representatives.
Deb Eddy
In a statement issued Wednesday, the former Kirkland mayor said she does not intend to run for re-election to the 48th Legislative District seat. The district is poised to lose Issaquah due to redistricting.
“When recruited, I promised to serve for six years, and I’ve fulfilled that commitment,” Eddy said in a statement. “It’s time to move on and find out what the next chapter of my life will look like.”
Washington State Redistricting Commission members shifted the 48th District elsewhere in the recent reshuffling. (Remaining Issaquah neighborhoods fall inside the 5th and 41st legislative districts.)
Governor signs same-sex marriage bill with local legislators’ support
February 14, 2012
Issaquah legislators joined Gov. Chris Gregoire to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington — a decision supporters hailed as an “historic” milestone.
Gov. Chris Gregoire
The governor, a Democrat, signed the legislation Feb. 13 as local state Sen. Cheryl Pflug and other supporters looked on from the packed State Reception Room at the Capitol.
The landmark legislation put Washington among the half-dozen states and Washington, D.C., to allow same-sex marriage, but the measure could face a challenge on the November ballot before any weddings occur.
“It is a day historians will mark as a milestone for equal rights — a day when we did what was right, we did what was just, and we did what was fair,” Gregoire said. “We stood up for equality and we did it together — Republicans and Democrats, gay and straight, young and old, and a variety of religious faiths. I’m proud of who and what we are in this state.”
The legislation cleared the state House of Representatives in a 55-43 decision Feb. 8 — the last hurdle before the measure reached the governor. Republican Glenn Anderson joined local Democrats in the House to approve a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage.
