State Representative Mary Fosse is the proud mother of two, wife of a veteran, daughter of a single mother, a survivor, and a former small business owner with over a decade of community advocacy experience. She is well-known as a dedicated public servant and proponent of the rights of workers, families, and our most vulnerable. Even before joining the legislature, Rep. Fosse’s volunteer work secured nearly $5.5 million for an environmental justice cleanup project for the historically underserved Delta Neighborhood in Everett.
Representative Fosse brings a vital and unique perspective to the legislative community. Having experienced the trauma of poverty and homelessness as a child, her top priorities include affordable housing, addressing homelessness issues, supporting workers and families, and establishing safe and resilient communities. Rep. Fosse is steadfast in her commitment to advocating for policies that always put people first.
During her first two years in Olympia, Rep. Fosse’s legislative accomplishments include:
- Addressing gaps in unemployment insurance to help families meet care obligations.
- Removing racist terms from state unemployment law.
- Collective bargaining rights for Academic Student Employees.
- Expanding the Working Connections Child Care program to first-year apprentices.
- Promoting building decarbonization to address climate change.
- Funding a workgroup and study to assess the education and workforce needs of the electrical transmission industry to meet our population and climate goals.
- Promoting construction-related training and pathways to apprenticeships in state correctional facilities.
- Improving funding and access to childcare.
- Protecting a worker’s right to choose not to participate in forced meetings in the workplace about political, religious, or anti-union agendas without fear of retaliation.
Mary advocated for funding in the 2023-25 biennial budgets that includes investments for Compass Health Broadway Behavioral Health Services, electrification of the Port of Everett, salmon recovery in Tulalip, early learning facilities, the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program, and cleaning contaminated soils and sites in district.
In the 2024 supplemental budgets, her priorities included securing funding to improve access to childcare with nonstandard hours for working families, addressing dire building conditions in the Marysville School District, and utilizing Climate Commitment Act funding to uplift communities most impacted by climate change.
Fosse currently serves on the Everett City Council, and is a former Everett Districting Commissioner, Council of Neighborhoods Representative, and legislative staffer in the state House. She previously owned a small carnivorous plant nursery and spent a decade teaching at local libraries, schools and other events. Rep. Fosse enjoys spending quality time with her family and loved ones, tending to her expansive garden, and volunteering with a variety of local organizations.
Accomplishments:
- Assistant Majority Whip, House Democratic Caucus (2023 – Present)
- Appointed to the Correction Industries Advisory Committee (2023)
- Appointed to the Aerospace Workforce Council (2023)
- Mike Sells Labor Champion Award, (Snohomish and Island County Labor Council, 2022)
- Elected Official of the Year, (Snohomish County Democrats, 2022)
- Conservation Leader of the Year, (Snohomish Conservation District, 2020)