And one more candidate announced he'll be joining the already crowded field in the race for the open seat in the State House that is being vacated by the longtime Democratic incumbent Mary Lou Dickerson.
Brett Phillips, son of King County Councilman Larry Phillips, and sustainability manager at Seattle-based Unico Properties, announced his bid on Wednesday night.
“I’m the 4th generation of my family to call Seattle home and I know that the strength of our communities are rooted in the strength of our progressive values—from excellent schools to making sure we maintain a safety net for those most at risk. We need revenue solutions in Olympia so we can stop pitting education against human services during bad economic times,” said Phillips in his announcement. “We need outspoken leaders committed to the rights of women. We need strong Democrats willing to fight for our principles while never losing sight of the need to be effective problem solvers.”
Phillips, a green building and energy efficiency expert, has been promoting smart growth and reducing the carbon footprint of local commercial properties in his role as sustainability director for Unico Properties.
Alongside his commitment to environmental protection and development of clean energy technologies, Phillips will focus on education funding, support for the University of Washington, and protecting the rights of women and the vulnerable in Olympia.
“Throughout my professional career I have worked to forge innovative new partnerships between the public and private sectors,” said Phillips. “The slow recovery of our economy has highlighted the need for fresh ideas and new approaches to job growth. Washington has always been a world leader in innovation – we can build on that track record with new leaders focused on great K-12 and colleges fueling a strong economy that sustains our unique quality of life.”
Phillips previously served as a board member of the King County Conservation Voters, served on the Downtown Seattle Association’s transportation committee, has worked with Ron Sims on King County’s Global Warming Task Force. He is a member of President Obama’s Gen44 re-election committee and has a long history of community activism.
“Community service, grassroots organizing and engaging with my neighbors is something that has always been a passion of mine,” said Phillips. “I look forward to talking to people at their doorsteps and bringing new energy, fresh ideas and a forward looking approach to our state government.”
Learn more about Phillips at http://www.brettphillips.org.
