19th District lawmaker’s leadership cited in ‘Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service’
OLYMPIA – An old proverb tells us that good deeds never go unpunished. But in fact, a coastal legislator has just recently been celebrated for his landmark deeds in advocating job-creation and business-retention in communities all over Washington.
State Rep. Dean Takko is a co-recipient of a 2010 Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service presented by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. Takko and an eastern Washington legislator were applauded this week for their strong support for the state’s Main Street Program.
“It’s a great honor to receive this award for work we’ve done advancing a program that has proved itself indispensable for downtown areas,” said Takko.
“The men and women involved in this pursuit have been especially important in the recent years of this terrible economic recession,” he pointed out. “Thanks to the Main Street Program, we’ve seen a great, much-needed increase in community involvement and volunteerism.”
Takko prime-sponsored a successful measure last year that helped keep the Main Street Program afloat. He said the organization has been responsible for bringing nearly 12,000 jobs and more than 3,700 new or expanded businesses to local Washington communities and neighborhoods.
“It’s remarkable that such a modest investment on the part of our state is having far-reaching results in terms of leveraging private investment,” noted Takko. “Clearly, the Main Street Program has proven its worth.”
Cle Elum Republican state Rep. Bill Hinkle joined Takko as a 2010 co-recipient of the sixth annual Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service.
According to the Washington Trust: “The award is presented annually to public figures demonstrating leadership on issues related to preserving and retaining Washington’s heritage and who understand the critical role our historic resources play in providing livable, sustainable communities statewide.”
Takko chairs the House Local Government Committee. He is also a member of the House Transportation Committee and the House Environment Committee.
A Democrat, he represents the 19th Legislative District, which includes all of Pacific and Wahkiakum counties, and parts of Cowlitz and Grays Harbor counties.