State Government

Here’s where to keep an eye on the legislation introduced by our State Legislators.  To see how well our representatives are doing, following is a list of the bills introduced and/or voted upon during the legislative session.

The legislative session begins annually on the second Monday in January. In odd-numbered years, when the state budget is debated, the state legislature meets for 105 days, and in even-numbered years for 60 days. The governor of Washington, if necessary, may call legislators in for a special session for a 30-day period at any time in the year. Legislators also may call themselves into special session by a two-thirds vote by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.   ■ (Read more about the makeup of the Washington State Senate here) (Read more about the makeup of the Washington State Legislature here) (Read more about the Governor’s executive branch here) and a (history of the State Governors here)

General Information about the State of Washington – click here.

For information regarding the Washington State Legislature: www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx

For information on state government: www.access.wa.gov

For news about Olympia: The Olympian – The Olympia Report

Legislative Hotline – 1-800-562-6000

Descriptions of State Elected Offices

Do you know what they do?
Qualifications and responsibilities for state offices

State offices are typically up for election in even years. Offices up for election in odd years are most often a result of a vacancy, i.e., resignation or death while in office. If elected to one of these vacancies, the candidate would fill the position until the end of the regular term.

The following offices have different qualifications to run and serve, and varying responsibilities. One common qualification for all these elected offices is that a candidate must be a registered voter.

State executive offices

To run and serve in a state executive office, a candidate must be a registered voter of the state. State executive officers are elected to serve a four-year term.

Governor

The Governor is the chief executive officer of the state. The Governor makes appointments for hundreds of positions, including directors of state agencies. The Governor reports annually to the Legislature on affairs of the state and submits a budget recommendation. The Governor may veto (reject) legislation passed by the Legislature.

Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor is elected independently of the Governor. The Lieutenant Governor acts as Governor if the Governor is unable to perform the official duties of the office and is first in line of succession if the Office of the Governor becomes vacant. The Lieutenant Governor is the presiding officer of the state Senate.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State is the state’s chief elections officer, chief corporation officer, and oversees the state Archives and Library. Primary functions include certifying election results, filing and verifying initiatives and referenda, publishing the state voters’ pamphlet, registering and licensing corporations, limited partnerships and trademarks, registering charitable organizations, and collecting and preserving historical records of the state. The Secretary of State is second in line of succession for the Office of the Governor.

Treasurer

As the state’s fiscal officer, the state Treasurer’s principal duties are to manage and disperse all funds and accounts, be responsible for the safekeeping and interest on all state investments, account for and make payments of interest and principal on all state bonded indebtedness, and maintain a statewide revenue collection system for the purpose of expediting the deposit of state funds into the Treasury.

Auditor

Working with more than 2,600 state and local governments, the state Auditor conducts independent financial, accountability, and performance audits of all Washington state governments. The state Auditor conducts investigations of state employee whistleblower assertions about state agencies and also investigates reports of fraud, waste, and abuse received through its citizen hotline. Audit and investigation results are documented and reported to governments and the public.

Attorney General

The Attorney General serves as legal counsel to the Governor, members of the Legislature, state officials, and more than 230 state agencies, boards and commissions, colleges and universities. The office also represents the various administrative agencies and schools in court or administrative hearings. The Office of the Attorney General enforces consumer protection statutes and serves the public directly by providing information on consumer rights and fraudulent business practices.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Superintendent of Public Instruction is the only state executive office elected as a nonpartisan position.

As head of the state educational agency and chief executive officer of the state Board of Education, the Superintendent is responsible for the administration of the state kindergarten through twelfth grade education program. The regulatory duties of the office include certification of teaching personnel, approval and accreditation of programs, and apportionment of state and local funds. The Superintendent also provides assistance to school districts’ school improvement areas.

Commissioner of Public Lands

The Commissioner of Public Lands is the head of the Department of Natural Resources, overseeing the management of 5 million acres of forest, agricultural, range, tidal, and shore lands of the state. Subject to proprietary policies established by the Board of Natural Resources, the Commissioner is responsible for the exercise of all duties and functions of the department.

Insurance Commissioner

The Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates insurance companies doing business in Washington, licenses agents and brokers, reviews policies and rates, examines the operations and finances of insurers, and handles inquiries and complaints from the public.

State legislative offices

To run and serve as a state Legislator, a candidate must be a registered voter of the legislative district from which he or she is elected.

State Senator

A senator’s term is four years. The Senate is made up of 49 members, one from each legislative district in the state. One-half the membership of the Senate is up for election each even-numbered year.

The Senate’s only exclusive duty is to confirm appointments made by the governor. During legislative sessions, the Legislature is called upon to enact or reject legislation affecting public policy in the state, provide for the levy and collection of taxes and other revenue to support state government and assist local government, and appropriate funds for these purposes.

State Representative

A representative’s term is two years. The House is made up of 98 members, two from each legislative district in the state. The total membership of the House is up for election each even-numbered year.

During legislative sessions, the Legislature is called upon to enact or reject legislation affecting public policy in the state, provide for the levy and collection of taxes and other revenue to support state government and assist local government, and appropriate funds for these purposes.

State judicial offices

Judges in Washington are selected in nonpartisan elections. Unlike state candidates, judicial candidates do not identify a political party preference. Judicial candidates must be in good standing to practice law in the state, and are prohibited from making misleading or untruthful comments, or statements that appear to commit them on legal issues likely to come before them in court.

Supreme Court Justice

To run and serve as a Supreme Court Justice, a candidate must be a registered voter of the state. Nine justices sit on the state Supreme Court, each serving six-year terms. Three justices are up for election every two years and are voted on statewide.

The Supreme Court hears appeals and decides on cases from the Court of Appeals and other lower courts.

Court of Appeals Judge

A total of 22 judges serve the court in three, multicounty divisions headquartered in Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. Each division is broken up into three districts. A candidates must be a registered voter of the district from which he or she is elected. Court of Appeals Judges serve six-year terms.

Courts of Appeals hear and decide on most of the appeals that come up from the superior courts.

Superior Court Judge

Superior Courts are organized by county into 31 judicial districts. A candidates must be a registered voter of the district from which he or she is elected. Superior Court Judges serve four-year terms.

Superior Courts hear felony criminal cases, civil matters, divorces, juvenile cases, and appeals from lower-level courts.

(from https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/descriptionsofelectedoffices.aspx)

Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) (D)
State Senator, District 24
Hometown: Sequim, WA
Contact Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (Sequim) (D) .

How Kevin is voting:  Washington Votes Kevin Van de Wege Voting Record.

Bill Introduction and Voting Record
Missed Votes

Legislative information Center (Bill Room): 360-786-7573 – www.leg.wa.gov

Legislative Hotline: 800-562-6000

During session: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. M-F

During interim: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F

SENATORS: Copy and paste into the “To:” line:
andy.billig@leg.wa.gov; john.braun@leg.wa.gov; sharon.brown@leg.wa.gov; reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov; annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov; steve.conway@leg.wa.gov; j.darneille@leg.wa.gov; mona.das@leg.wa.gov; manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov; perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov; doug.ericksen@leg.wa.gov; phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov; david.frockt@leg.wa.gov; chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov; bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov; brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov; steve.hobbs@leg.wa.gov; jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov; jim.honeyford@leg.wa.gov; sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov; karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov; curtis.king@leg.wa.gov; patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov; marko.liias@leg.wa.gov; liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov; jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov; mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov; ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov; joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov; twina.nobles@leg.wa.gov; mike.padden@leg.wa.gov; jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov; emily.randall@leg.wa.gov; ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov; june.robinson@leg.wa.gov; christine.rolfes@leg.wa.gov; Rebecca.Saldana@Leg.wa.gov; jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov; mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov; timothy.sheldon@leg.wa.gov; shelly.short@leg.wa.gov; derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov; kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov; keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov; judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov; lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov; claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov; jeff.wilson@leg.wa.gov; lynda.wilson@leg.wa.gov; ltgov@ltgov.wa.gov;