Biography

As a working mom with two kids, Tana brings an important perspective to legislative issues. She consistently advocates for issues affecting busy families and seeks upstream solutions to address mental health, economic and environmental justice, and education equity.

As a state representative for the 41st Legislative District, Tana chairs the Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee. She’s also a member of the Appropriations Committee, and Innovation, Community & Economic Development, and Veterans Committees. She also serves as a member of the Joint Legislative & Executive Committee on Behavioral Health and is the co-founder of the Mom’s Caucus, a group of legislators (Moms and Dads!) who care deeply about ensuring our state’s families are supported and given every opportunity to thrive.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in education at Washington University in St. Louis and her master’s degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University, Tana worked for 15 years in government relations and communications in the private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors before her tenure on the Mercer Island City Council.

Tana serves as co-president of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, as well as on the board of Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue and the advisory board of the UW Master’s in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology program. She previously held board roles with Hopelink, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and the Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Foundation.

She lives with her husband, children and black lab on Mercer Island. During the off season, you can find Tana hiking on one of the numerous trails across the district or enjoying a good meal and glass of wine at one of the local restaurants.

Community Involvement:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Board Member
Joint Legislative and Executive Committee on Behavioral Health, Co-Chair
Blockchain Workgroup, member
State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and Their Families, Member
National Association of Jewish Legislators, co-president
Washington State Commission on Children in Foster Care, member
Hopelink, board member (2016-2022)
UW Master’s in Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology program, advisory board member
Hunt-Harvard Early Childhood Policy Academy, inaugural cohort participant
UC Berkeley’s Bold on Early Educator Compensation Learning Community, cohort participant
Family Treatment Court Program, executive board member
Washington State Mental Health Summit, former board member
Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Landscape Analysis Project, former advisory board member
NCSL Child Welfare Fellow, 2018-2019
NCSL Early Learning Fellow, 2016-2017
Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, former board member
Mercer Island Youth & Family Services Foundation, former board member
Island Park Elementary School PTA, former board member
Scouts, former den leader
St. Louis Coro Fellow ‘94
New York Coro Fellows Program, former alumni board president
National Breast Cancer Coalition, former board member

Honors and Awards:

Children’s Alliance, Champion for Children, 2023
Children’s Alliance, Champion for Children, 2022
Child Care Resources, Ruth Kagi Award for Excellence in Early Learning Advocacy, 2021
Women’s Commission, inaugural Marian Wright Edelman Award, 2021
Washington STEM, Legislator of the Year Award, 2021
Food Lifeline Legislative Award, 2019
Foster Parents Association of Washington State Shining Star, 2019
Reach Out and Read, Leader for Early Literacy, 2019
Washington Association for Children & Families, Child Advocate of the Year, 2019
NAMI Washington, Behavioral Health Champion, 2019
Agent of Change: 20 Remarkable Jewish Women of Washington State, Jewish Historical Society, 2018
Institute for Family Development, Child & Family Advocate Award, 2018
Save the Children Action Network, Champion for Children, 2018
Association of Washington Cities, City Champion Award, 2018
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, Champion for Children and Youth Award, 2018
Alliance of Eastside Agencies, Elected Official of the Year, 2017
American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Health Advocate Award, 2017
Community Employment Alliance, Employment First Champion, 2017
Community Residential Services Association, Supported Living Champion Award, 2017
Association of Washington Cities, City Champion Award, 2016
Community Employment Alliance, Outstanding Legislator, 2016
Early Learning Action Alliance, Crayon Award, 2016
The Arc of King County, Developmental Disabilities Advocate Award, 2016
Washington School Counselor Association, Advocacy All Star, 2016
Association of Washington Cities, City Champion Award, 2015
Community Employment Alliance, Outstanding Legislator, 2015
King County Family Coalition, Champion for Children, 2015