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House Democratic Leadership
Rep. Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House
A life-long Washington resident, Rep. Chopp was first elected Co-Speaker
of the House in 1999 and Speaker in 2002. He was the executive director of a
non-profit community service organization that assists thousands of people
annually – he is now the president of that organization.
He is a 1975 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Washington, and lives in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood with his wife, Nancy Long. They have two children, Nate and Ellie.
Rep. Jeff Morris, Speaker Pro Tempore
Representative Jeff Morris is a fourth-generation native of
the San Juan Islands. He was elected to the State House of Representatives in
1996 where he serves as Chair of the House Committee on Technology, Energy, and
Communications.As CEO of Energy Horizon
LLC, Jeff directs the Pacific Northwest Economic Region’s bi-national aggregated
energy resource planning, as well as developing distributive generation energy
projects. He is a co-founder of Northwest Energy Angels, the first North
American angel investing group investing exclusively in new energy technologies.
Jeff also serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government
& Audit Review and the Rules Committee.
Rep. Jim Moeller, Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore
Jim Moeller is a Vancouver native, was educated at local
schools: George C. Marshall Elementary and McLoughlin Junior High. He went on to
Clark Community College and Washington State University, before doing graduate
study at Portland State University.
Elected in 1995 to Vancouver City Council, he was re-elected to a second term in 1999. In 2002, when veteran legislator Val Ogden retired, Moeller ran to succeed her in the state House of Representatives. He won the subsequent general election handily and took office in January 2003. He has since been re-elected twice.
Rep. Lynn Kessler, Majority Leader
Serving her ninth term in the Legislature, Rep. Kessler serves on the
Washington State Fine Arts Commission and the National Association of State
Arts Agencies (NASAA). She is a former small-business owner and executive
director of the United Way of Grays Harbor.
She and her husband Keith are the parents of four and the grandparents of Kyle, Ryan and Arita. They live in Hoquiam.
Democratic Caucus Chair - Rep. Dawn Morrell
Dawn has lived in Puyallup for 22 years with her husband Jim, a retired
Air Force pilot. After retirement, Jim received his teaching certificate
from Pacific Lutheran University and taught at Clover Park Technical College
for 10 years. He is now a math and science tutor. Dawn and Jim have been
married for 38 years and have two children and five grandchildren. Their two
children, Jereme and Jameson, attended Puyallup public schools and graduated
from Rogers High School. Dawn continues to work as a certified critical care
Registered Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup where she has worked
since 1985.
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Majority Whip
A community activist for more than 20 years, Rep. Santos has worked for
civil rights, women's rights, economic and social justice, affordable
housing, and quality public education. A graduate of Evergreen State College
and of Northeastern University, she has worked in the banking industry and
in senior management positions for several nonprofit organizations.
She and her husband, Bob, live in the Rainier Beach area of Seattle.
Rep. Zack Hudgins, Majority Floor Leader
Zack has been a member of the Legislature since December 2001. Before
serving in office Zack worked at Amazon.com as a project manager, as a
program manager at Excell Data Corporation on assignment at Microsoft, and
has led seminars on democracy in Iraq, the Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan with the
National Democratic Institute. Zack attended the University of Notre Dame in
South Bend, Indiana, and now lives in Tukwila. He is active in the Highlands
Community Association and the Greater Renton Chamber of Commerce and is also
a member of the SW King County Chamber of Commerce. Zack is focused on
creating jobs, reducing traffic congestion, improving education and making
health care more affordable.
Rep. Larry Springer, Majority Caucus Liaison
A lifelong resident of East King County, Rep. Springer is serving his
second term in the Legislature and previously served 11 years on the
Kirkland City Council, including four as Mayor. He earned his MS from the
University of Oregon and his BA from Western Washington University. He and
his wife, Penny, are owners of a retail wine shop and enjoy spending time
with their friends and family.
Rep. Deb Eddy, Caucus Vice-Chair
Deb and her husband have lived on the Eastside for more than 25 years. During that time, Deb worked with numerous organizations that have been
influential in the development of the eastside communities – Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods, Eastside Domestic Violence Program and Suburban
Cities Association. Deb also served six years on the Kirkland City Council including two years as Kirkland’s mayor. Deb holds degrees from
West Virginia University and the University of North Carolina. She has been married for 26 years to husband Jon. She has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, Deputy Majority Whip
A firefighter, paramedic and father, Rep. Van De Wege joined the
Legislature in 2007. Kevin earned fire administration and fire investigation
degrees from Edmonds Community College where he worked as a resident in Mill
Creek. He followed that with a paramedic certification from Northwest
Medical in Vancouver, WA. After becoming a paramedic, Kevin received a BA in
Social Science from Washington State University. He and his wife Jennifer, a
high school teacher, are raising their two children together in Sequim.
Rep. Tami Green, Assistant Majority Floor Leader
Tami and her family settled in the Northwest after her
husband completed his Air Force service in 1987. As a registered nurse, she
has worked with patients at the Western State Hospital
and the Child Study and Treatment Center. She has twenty-three years of
experience in direct care nursing and four years as a health care employee
representative. Tami is currently serving her third term in the Legislature. She
and her husband, Don, live in Lakewood, Washington. They have two grown children
and two grandchildren.
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