What Makes Her Tick
My first speech as a legislator was to a group of advocates for gun responsibility. We’ve made so much progress in our state through the legislature and the ballot box.
It all started with a road safety issue in my neighborhood. Sadly, our City Council at the time seemed more concerned about slowing traffic down by 30 seconds than the health and safety of their residents. So I got involved. Long story short, I was proud to serve on the Mercer Island City Council before becoming a state legislator. (And yes, we did fix the road.)
I’ve been proud to represent Mercer Island, Newcastle, Bellevue, Beaux Arts Village, Issaquah, and Sammamish in the Washington State House of Representatives since 2013. I currently chair the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee and serve on the Appropriations and the Innovation, Community & Economic Development and Veterans Committees as well.
I currently serve as the co-President of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue and the UW’s Masters in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology Program. I previously served on the boards of Hopelink, the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Island Park PTA, Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation and more.
My Family
We have lived on Mercer Island for over 15 years. My husband and I met in college at Washington University in St. Louis where I received by bachelor degree in Education. I then went on to earn my Master in Public Policy and Administration from Columbia University. My husband, Kevin, primarily works in the marketing industry. We have two beautiful and talented (and much more grown up)
children and a big, black lab named Buddy.
Awards and Recognitions
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, 2021
Women’s Commission, Inaugural Marian Wright Edelman Award, 2021
Washington STEM, Legislator of the Year, 2021
Early Learning Action Alliance, Golden Crayon Award, 2021
Community Employment Alliance, 2021
Washington Childcare Centers Association, Early Learning Champion, 2021
Children’s Campaign Fund, Champion for Early Learning & Childcare, 2021
NAMI Washington, Behavioral Health Champion, 2019
Food Lifeline Legislative Award, 2019
Foster Parents Association of Washington State Shining Star, 2019
Reach Out and Read, Leader for Early Literacy, 2019
The WA Association for Children & Families, Child Advocate of the Year, 2019
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
Washington State Jewish Historical Society, Agents of Change Recipient, 2017
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
Children’s Campaign Fund, Champion for Children Award, 2014
