We were lucky enough to get an hour with Rep. Laurie Jinkins, the speaker-designate of the Washington state House of Representatives a week after she was elected to her new role. She’ll be the first woman speaker, she’s a from Tacoma, and she knows how to get stuff done in the Capitol. Goes without saying that Grit City — and the Democratic party in Washington — are pretty excited.
We talked about what the new gig means, how she might differ from her predecessor (current House speaker Frank Chopp), how her sense of humor has helped her build relationships across the aisle, and the direction a few key issues might take in the next year.
Links
WA’s first female House speaker loves a good joke
Washington’s first woman speaker of the House tells The News Tribune about her life
Capitol Happy Hour: Welcome to special session. (What is that?)