Friends and neighbors,
I believe it is critical that you know what your elected officials and government are doing. Without openness, there is no accountability. Without accountability, we don’t have a healthy and functioning democracy.
On October 5th, the Washington Newspaper Publishers honored my commitment and longstanding efforts for open government, transparency and accountability with this year’s Freedom’s Light Award.
Over the course of my legislative career, I have continually fought for increased transparency, including:
- Sponsoring legislation and advocating for elected officials at all state and local levels, including legislators, to be trained in their duties to be accountable to the public under the Public Records and Open Public Meetings Acts.
- Authoring our state law giving you, the public, the right to comment at all public meetings.
- Pursuing a 25-year teaching career, educating community group leaders, attorneys and law students on how to use the Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act to hold government officials accountable.
- Being the first – and at times only – legislator to post calendars online so constituents and reporters know who I spend my time meeting with.
- Being one of only eight legislators who have pledged to never claim “legislative privilege” to hide records from disclosure to the press or you.
My commitment to government transparency began in my youth. As a teenager, I assisted my father in reviewing thousands of pages obtained under freedom of information / public records laws to expose the corrupt self-dealings of local political party leaders and elected officials. Those public officials used every opportunity to prevent the disclosure of public records.
That is why I was so honored to receive the Freedom’s Light Award from the Washington Newspaper Publishers on October 5th. Find out more by clicking on the graphic below.
I remain committed to open, accountable, and responsive government and will continue to advocate on behalf of everyone who wants our legislative process to be more transparent.
Reducing microplastics
An op-ed by Annapoorani Lingeshwaran, a student at Lakeside High School, was recently featured in the Seattle Times about the need to reduce microplastics in our environment. Her evidence-based solution is to require filters on washing machines so plastic particles from synthetic clothing get filtered out before getting into our marine environment and public water supply.
Annapoorani Lingeshwaran
Read the op-ed here: WA should require microplastics filters on new washing machines.
These are the ideas that our young people are coming up with, and we should listen. I am working with Annapoorani and environmental advocates on a bill this session to get filters into new washing machines. Stay tuned for more information.
Tell me your opinion
Part of open and responsive government is listening to the people it represents. That is why I want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out this survey about your legislative priorities. I will use this to help me prioritize my work in the 2026 legislative session. Just click on the button below.
As always, it is my honor to serve our communities and those who continue to fight for open, transparent, responsive, and accountable governments. Please, reach out if you have any other thoughts, suggestions, or questions.
Thank you,
Rep. Gerry Pollet