OLYMPIA— Newly appointed to fill the 46th Legislative District seat vacated by former Rep. Jessyn Farrell earlier this month, Rep. Javier Valdez (D-Seattle), is spending time in Olympia getting updated on budget negotiations and attending his first committee meeting.
“As the son and grandson of farmworkers and laborers, I am humbled and excited to serve the people of the 46th district and will work tirelessly to represent working families back home,” said Valdez, who received a unanimous vote from the Metropolitan King County Council and was administered the oath of office on June 12 by Judge Dean Lum. “I am eager to begin working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, especially now that a million Washington kids are relying on us to fully fund their education.”
The Moses Lake native has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in public administration from Baruch College, the City University of New York, as a participant in the National Urban Fellows program.
Valdez comes to the House of Representatives with a wealth of experience, including over 20 years with the City of Seattle, mostly at Seattle City Light where he led the utility’s women and minority business enterprise (WMBE) program, and more recently in the Office of Mayor Ed Murray as a special assistant on WMBE programming. A longtime leader in Washington’s Democratic Party, Valdez serves on the Washington State Democratic Executive Board, and is also former chair of both the 43rd and 46th District Democratic Party organizations. Valdez is also former President of the WA State Council of County and City Employees (AFSCME Council 2), Local 21C.
Last week Speaker Frank Chopp appointed Rep. Javier Valdez to three committees: Education, replacing Rep. Larry Springer; Judiciary, replacing Rep. Noel Frame; and Transportation.
The House Education Committee considers issues relating to kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) education.
The House Judiciary Committee considers a wide variety of subjects relating to civil and criminal law, including issues involving commercial law, torts, probate, guardianships, civil commitment, firearms, eminent domain, landlord/tenant law, Consumer Protection Act remedies and processes, and courts and judicial administration; as well as family law issues such as marriage, marriage dissolution, child support and adoption.
And the House Transportation Committee considers the transportation budget, revenue sources for transportation funding, and issues relating to transportation policy and transportation agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol.
The 46th Legislative District includes northeast Seattle, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore.