Tis the Season to Celebrate! Join us for the YP Spokane Holiday Party on Wednesday, December 4th, from 6 PM to 8 PM at the SteamPlant! This festive gathering is the perfect opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry while connecting with fellow young professionals. Enjoy delicious food and drinks as you mingle and forge new connections.
We’re excited to feature a panel of local elected officials who will share insights on how to stay engaged with policies that affect you. This is a great chance to learn more about making your voice heard in our community! We can’t wait to see you there!
Guests are encouraged -- Register at the bottom of this page! If you have any questions, please contact vlucas@washingtonpolicy.org.
WHEN: Wednesday, December4th
TIME: 6pm-8pm
LOCATION: The SteamPlant Restaurant & Pub | Stacks Room
ADDRESS: 159 South Lincoln Spokane, WA 99201
TICKETS: Tickets are free for WPC, and YP members. Non-member tickets are $25/person.
*Food & Drinks are included
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Mike Padden, a resident of the Spokane Valley since 1978, represents the 4th Legislative District in the state Senate. Sen. Padden is the Republican leader of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. He also serves on the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee.
Sen. Padden was elected to the state House in 1980 and served as a citizen legislator for more than 14 years. He returned to the Legislature after election to the Senate in 2011. During his legislative career his many leadership roles have included House Majority Floor Leader and chair of the Law and Justice Committee.
In March 1995 he was appointed Spokane County District Court judge and won three additional terms through countywide elections. His willingness to listen and work with both sides served him well; his fellow judges twice elected him to be the court’s presiding judge, managing a budget of approximately $7.8 million and a staff of 150 employees. He retired from that position in January 2007.
In 2008, he was appointed to serve on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the Judicial Outreach Liaison overseeing therapeutic traffic safety issues in five states — Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Alaska.
Sen. Padden has earned the reputation of standing strong on principle – no higher taxes, smaller government, and defender of life. He is equally well-known for having a strong willingness to engage in the legislative process and has proven successful in forging coalitions to pass legislation, even when in the minority.
Sen. Padden is a graduate of Spokane’s Gonzaga University and earned his law degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law in 1974. He is active in his church, having served the past six years on the parish council, and is a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus. Sen. Padden has also served as a state commissioner for American Legion Baseball and is past president of the Spokane chapter. He is also an active volunteer for the Spokane Valley Meals on Wheels program.
Representative Suzanne Schmidt:
Representative Suzanne Schmidt is serving her second term in the Washington State Legislature representing the 4th Legislative District. Representative Schmidt has lived in the 4th Legislative District for nearly 30 years. As a long-time resident of the 4th Legislative District, her children and grandchildren have attended schools in the Central Valley School District.
After years of serving as the President/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractor representing businesses in areas such as unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, safety compliance, building codes, employee benefits and much more, Representative Schmidt felt she could help empower small businesses and workers to succeed by bringing her skills, abilities, knowledge, and professional experience to Olympia.
As the daughter of a small business owner, Representative Schmidt knows first-hand how hard it is to start a business and to stay in business. She continues to fight for free enterprise and to protect small businesses and workers from the overreaching, runaway government.
During Representative Schmidt’s first term in the legislature, she made a few significant accomplishments. She is especially proud to have been chosen by the Republican Caucus for two leadership positions. Caucus leadership selected her as one of the Minority Party Assistant Whips and the Ranking Member of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. This is a rare appointment for a freshman legislator to achieve.
Representative Schmidt also serves on the Transportation Committee, the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Development Committee and the Rules Committee. In addition she was recently appointed to the State Building Code Council.
Councilmember Jonathan Bingle:
City Councilman Jonathan Bingle is a dedicated public servant representing the first district of the City of Spokane. A Spokane native, Jonathan has deep roots in the community and a passion for fostering growth and opportunity within the city. Elected to the Spokane City Council, he has focused on enhancing public safety, supporting local businesses, and ensuring responsible fiscal management. Jonathan is a family man, active community member, pastor, business owner, and father of the 3 children he shares with his wife Christina.