About Chris
I was born and raised in Snohomish Washington, and am the youngest of eight kids in a family that struggled to make ends meet. I was able to succeed and go on to college largely due to elected leaders who made tough choices on issues that weren’t politically popular – government assistance, food stamps, and state funded college grants. These programs gave me the chance to escape a childhood of poverty.
I have worked hard in my first term in the State Legislature to preserve those same kinds of opportunities for kids across our state.
I attended Washington State University, where I met my wife Kim. At WSU, I served for three years as the President of the College Democrats. Kim and I were both classroom teachers before attending graduate school together at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. After graduate school, we returned to Washington State, where I went to work for the State Senate.
In my “day job” I work to create opportunities for learners of all ages by ensuring that we have one of the most robust and successful community and technical college systems in the nation. And as a former school board member, I know that we need a seamless education system from early learning to graduate degree programs to ensure that our citizens have access to the best education, the best jobs, and the greatest opportunity to achieve self actualization.
As a former Tumwater City Planning Commissioner, I also understand the importance of careful planning that strikes a balance between necessary growth and environmental protection. Kim and I live in Tumwater with our two wonderful children, 8 year old Carter and 6 Year old Kennedy.
I want to keep serving our district to enhance school funding, restore programs for vulnerable citizens, and help create a sustainable, clean energy economy. To achieve our highest aspirations, we need to take political risks, and that means addressing our outdated and regressive tax code head on. I’m ready for this fight and I hope to earn your support along the way.
-Chris