For Immediate Release: 

January 23, 2024 

SPOKANE – Today, Washington Policy Center announced that Michael Baumgartner and Eleanor Baumgartner have been named its Eastern Washington Senior Advisors. In this role the couple will assist in leading the think tank’s efforts to promote market-based policy solutions that impact communities throughout Eastern Washington. 

“Eleanor and Michael are a powerful boost to WPC’s free market mission in Eastern Washington,” stated WPC CEO Michael Gallagher. “They are a dynamic duo that know Eastern Washington and have nearly 15 years of experience working for less government regulation and more individual freedom.” 

Michael Baumgartner currently serves as the Treasurer of Spokane County and was State Senator for the 6th Legislative District from 2010 to 2018. He previously served as Chair of the Senate Commerce, Labor & Sports Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. In 2018, Michael Baumgartner was named a “Champion of Freedom” by the Washington Policy Center for his work in the Senate.  

Eleanor Baumgartner is a former Bain & Company management consultant and Science Correspondent with the Mail on Sunday newspaper in the UK.  The couple first met in 2009 when they worked together as embedded advisors on a US State Department-funded counternarcotics team in Afghanistan.  

“I could always count on Washington Policy Center’s research experts to provide sound, fact-based solutions to assist my efforts to create smarter schools, more responsible budgets and a better business climate for small business in our state,” remarked Michael Baumgartner. “Eleanor and I are honored to support the organization’s outreach and policy work in Eastern Washington. Washington Policy Center’s work is more important than ever.” 

Washington Policy Center Board member Anne Cowles added, “As parents of a young family in Spokane, Eleanor and Michael care deeply about the future of our region. Eleanor, in particular, will bring her strong strategic and analytical skills, investigative journalism background, event management experience and clear communication skills to support WPC's essential work."

As Eastern Washington Senior Advisors, the Baumgartners will advocate for Eastern Washington policy priorities and lead local outreach and fundraising efforts.  

Kate Lampson, WPC Secretary and Director of Strategic Communications for Pasco-based Lampson International, expressed confidence in the selection of the Baumgartners, “As Eastern Washington Senior Advisors, the Baumgartners will advocate for Eastern Washington policy priorities and lead local outreach and fundraising efforts. We are so fortunate to have the two of them working with us and leading the way in Eastern Washington.”

Eleanor Baumgartner holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK.  Michael Baumgartner holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington State University and a Master’s degree from Harvard University, where he also served as a Teaching Fellow in Economics. 

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