EDUCATION:

High School: Graduated W.W. Samuell: Dallas, TX. 1963 / Excelled in History, Government, and Communications (Debate and Theatre)

Junior Colleges:

• Panola Junior College Carthage, TX. Attended 1963 / 1964 (Major: Political Science / Communications (Debate and Theatre)
•  Blinn Junior College Brenham, TX. Attended 1964 / 1965 (Major: Political Science / Communications (Debate and Theatre)
• University of TX. at Arlington 1965 /1966 (Major: Political Science / Communications (Debate and Theatre)

TRADES TRAINING:

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and National Electrical Contractors Association Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee 1970 to 1974 (I graduated in the Top 10% of my class.)

Supplemental Training:

• Evergreen State College: School for Union Organizers: 1987
• George Meany Labor College Silver Springs Maryland: Training for National Union State Wide Political Directors Election of 2002
• As the most Senior IBEW Union Organizer in the country I have received multiple types of trades-related training every year for nineteen years including extensive national and State labor law courses which gives me the ability to do most aspects of my work without the use of our attorneys.

UNION POSITIONS PRESENTLY HELD:

• Vice President of IBEW LU 191: Staff Business Development Director 9 NW Counties WA. State / Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee.
• Political Director of the Washington State Association of Electrical Workers/ representing all IBEW’S in WA State 2000, 2002. 2004, 2006
• President Snohomish County Labor Council 1996 to present
• Vice President of the Washington State Labor Council: Chairman of the WSLC Education, Training, and Apprentice Committee covering all unionized apprenticeship programs in Washington State.
• Executive Board member of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council/ representing the NW WA B&CTC

Appointed, Volunteer, and Other Elected Positions:

• Member of National, State, County and 21st. District Democratic party - Delegate to the 2000 Convention
• 1995 Snohomish County PUD Power Supply Citizen’s Advisory Committee
• 1995 Snohomish County Delegate to RTA appointed by County Executive Bob Drewel.
• 1999 to Present: Appointed to The Snohomish County Workforce Investment Board, Appointed by County Executive Bob Drewel /Reappointed by CE Aaron Reardon 2005
• 2001 to 2002 Appointed to Citizens Over-site Committee on Sound Transit appointed by County Executive Bob Drewel.
• 1999 to 2002 Mukilteo School District School to Work
• Charity Auctioneer since 1985

MILITARY BACKGROUND

• 1967 74 U. S. Navy Reserves
• 1967 69 Active Duty Viet Nam Combat Veteran

During my time in Viet Nam I became very aware that this war was very wrong and that we should get out ASAP. Because of this experience I have been very vocal about Iraq. I made it clear that I did not believe the President, because Iraq had no Air Force to protect WMD’S and he had no new armor to protect his solders from an invading American army. This was my position before we went in, and it is my belief that we should start a strategic withdrawal immediately.

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

Over the last nineteen years I have been involved in all aspects of working on, and helping fund political campaigns on Federal, State and local levels, primarily with the unions such as the IBEW, State and local Labor Council, and Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council and their affiliates.

With the Democratic Party, the candidates, and the party of the 21st legislative district, I have personally been responsible for making sure that our candidate’s and the district receive the necessary funds to win in many election cycles over my years as the PCO from Shelby precinct including this year. I have held the PCO position since 1995.

"Labor to Neighbor "

The political activity that I am most proud of is my direct involvement in helping to jump start the most politically powerful tool that labor has ever used in Washington State, and is now used throughout nation by all AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions and that is the “Labor to Neighbor Program.”

It was started because in 2001 we had the chance to take back the legislature. The Washington State Labor Council under the guidance of their political director began a House Calling Program on union members only in the 21st Legislative District to elect Brian Sullivan. We had been told that the republican incumbent could not be beat. During that campaign labor put over 800 people in the field registering and educating union members and their families as to why it was important to elect Brian.

It was Diane and I who set up the process every weekend for months. We doorbelled thousands during the election and the rest is history, we broke the tie in the House. I have since been responsible for coordinating the “Labor to Neighbor” program along with the fundraising for the IBEW State wide in 2002, 2004, and 2006.
 

LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE
I have been the author of many resolutions to all of the union joint organizations in the State, and I have worked many bills in Washington D.C., and Olympia, but my pride and joy is that I have been the author and co-author of four pieces of Legislation.

• 1989 I authored the bill that would force general contractors to list their sub-contractors at the opening of the bid on public works projects. The sponsor was Senator Rick Bender. It failed, but was later passed as the 24 hr. rule. It is now the one-hour rule. It’s still not good enough.
• 2000 Out of the resolution that spawned the bill Senator Binder sponsored was the anti bid-shopping law on all public works projects. It eventually passed, but had no teeth to enforce penalties, which was proven in a court case in 2000.
•  2001 I authored the bill that put penalties, and damages against bid-shoppers when convicted. Sponsored by Senator Georgia Gardner. I believe that this bill helped defeat her in her next election, and it is still being circumvented. The National Electrical Contractors Association has taken the language in this bill to Washington D. C. It is now the model for their national bill. The IBEW is in concurrence. I was invited as their guest to their convention in D.C. in May 2001.  
• 2007 Co-Author of H.B. 1428 dealing with Electrical apprenticeship and Trainee ratio to Journeymen, and also requiring that those trainees be required to take Continuing Education courses like journeymen. Sponsored by Alex Wood. The ratio part of the bill failed, but with persistence the continuing education portion was passed into law and was implemented this year. My union now teaches these classes to non-union trainees at a much lower fee than they have to pay anywhere else.

LOBBYING EXPERIENCE

I have been lobbying in Olympia and Washington D.C. for 19 years. During those years I received my training from some of the best labor lobbyists in this State and the IBEW in Washington D.C. Over those years I have been able to build close working relationships with countless Legislators, three Governors, two U.S. Senators, many Congressmen, and many local officials past and present. The relationships I have were built through political campaigns and my 42 years worth of ties to the Democratic Party as a Labor Democrat.

These relationships have made it possible for me to gain access to these people, and achieve many of my objectives over these years. I fully intend to use all of these relationships to keep achieving these goals. I expect support on bills from fellow Democrats which for the most part I know I will get, and through my years of lobbying I know that on certain issues I can count on cross isle support.