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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • MA, Northeastern University, 1988
  • BA, The Evergreen State College, 1985

Professional Experience

  • MA, Northeastern University, 1988
  • BA, The Evergreen State College, 1985
  • Gifts Manager, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, 1995-1997
  • Executive Policy Assistant, King County, 1994-1995
  • Advisor, Washington State Democrats, 1994
  • Executive Director, Institute for Global Security Studies, 1992-1993

Political Experience

  • MA, Northeastern University, 1988
  • BA, The Evergreen State College, 1985
  • Gifts Manager, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, 1995-1997
  • Executive Policy Assistant, King County, 1994-1995
  • Advisor, Washington State Democrats, 1994
  • Executive Director, Institute for Global Security Studies, 1992-1993
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, District 37 Position 1, 1998-present
  • Former Majority Whip, Washington State House of Representatives
  • Candidate, Washington State House of Representatives, District 37 Position 1, 2020
  • Assistant Democratic Whip, Washington State House of Representatives, 1999-2000

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Business and Financial Services Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Community Development and Housing Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Finance Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Health Disparities Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Former Member, Technology and Economic Development Committee, Washington State House of Representatives

Current Legislative Committees

Member, Capital Budget Committee

Member, Consumer Protection and Business Committee

Chair, Education Committee

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • MA, Northeastern University, 1988
  • BA, The Evergreen State College, 1985
  • Gifts Manager, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, 1995-1997
  • Executive Policy Assistant, King County, 1994-1995
  • Advisor, Washington State Democrats, 1994
  • Executive Director, Institute for Global Security Studies, 1992-1993
  • Representative, Washington State House of Representatives, District 37 Position 1, 1998-present
  • Former Majority Whip, Washington State House of Representatives
  • Candidate, Washington State House of Representatives, District 37 Position 1, 2020
  • Assistant Democratic Whip, Washington State House of Representatives, 1999-2000
  • Member, Advisory Board, KUOW 94.9 FM Public Radio, University of Washington, 1996-present
  • Member, Board of Trustees, Wing Luke Asian Museum, 1993-present
  • Member, Advisory Board, Japanese American National Museum, present
  • Member, Council for Pacific Asian Theology, present
  • Board Member, Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter, present
  • Member, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, present
  • Member, Seattle Community Council, United Way of King County, present
  • Member, Youth and Government Advisory Board, Youth Men's Christian Association (YMCA), present
  • Former Board Member, Boys and Girls Clubs of King County
  • Member, Washington State Investment Board, 2009-present
  • Board Member, Betheny United Church of Christ, 2002-2003
  • Board Member, Yuca Youth and Government, 2002-2003
  • Member, Board of Ambassadors, University of Washington Business and Economic Development Program, 1999-2002
  • Treasurer, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 1996-2001
  • Trustee, World Affairs Council, 1994-2000

Other Info

— Awards:

  • 2012 Recipient, Torch of Leadership Award, Association of Washington School Principals
  • 2011 Recipient, Community Service Award, the Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter
  • 2010 Honoree, 100 Pioneering Women, The Women's Center at the University of Washington
  • 2010 Recipient, Kip Tokuda Community Leadership Award, Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation
  • 2010 Recipient, Multicultural Excellence Award, Washington State Association for Multicultural Education
  • 2009 Recipient, DesJardins Youth Financial Education State Lawmaker Award,Credit Union National Association
  • 2009 Inaugural Recipient, Leadership and Vision Award, Junior Achievement of Washington
  • 2009 Delegate, International Programs and Women's Legislative Network Exchange (South Africa),National Conference of State Legislatures
  • 2007 Recipient, Community Award, Inter*Im Community Development Association
  • 2006 Recipient, Hate Free Zone Leadership in Justice and Government award
  • 2005 Recipient, TABOR 100 Crystal Eagle Leadership Award for Legislative Action
  • 2000 Recipient, Bernie Whitebear Award, United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
  • 1996, Honoree, Celebrating Women's Leadership, Washington State Women's Political Caucus
  • 1996, Honoree, Top 10 Contributors to the Asian American Community, Northwest Asian Weekly, Seattle WA
  • 1995, NGO Delegate, United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, China
  • 1993, Recipient, Martin Luther King, Jr. "Keeping the Dream Alive" Award, Seattle, WA

Policy Positions

Washington State Legislative Election 2004 National Political Awareness Test

Abortion

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding abortion.

1. Abortions should always be illegal.
- No Answer

2. Abortions should always be legal.
- X

3. Abortions should be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy.
- No Answer

4. Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape.
- No Answer

5. Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered.
- No Answer

6. Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions.
- No Answer

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, and Tax

State Budget: Indicate the funding levels (#1-6) you will support for the following general categories. Select one level per category.

1. Education (higher)
- Greatly Increase

2. Education (K-12)
- Greatly Increase

3. Environment
- Slightly Increase

4. Health care
- Greatly Increase

5. Law enforcement
- Greatly Increase

6. Transportation and highway infrastructure
- Greatly Increase

7. Welfare
- Greatly Increase

8. Other or expanded categories
- No Answer

State Taxes: Indicate the tax levels (#1-6) you will support. Select one level per tax.

1. Alcohol taxes
- Maintain Status

2. Capital gains taxes
- Maintain Status

3. Cigarette taxes
- Greatly Increase

4. Corporate taxes
- Greatly Increase

5. Estate taxes
- Maintain Status

6. Gasoline taxes
- Slightly Increase

7. Property taxes
- Maintain Status

8. Sales taxes
- Greatly Decrease

9. Vehicle taxes
- Slightly Increase

10. Other or expanded categories
- Greatly Increase

11. Should Internet sales be taxed?
- Yes

12. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance and Government Reform

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding campaign finance and government reform.

1. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Washington governors?
- No

2. Do you support limiting the number of terms for Washington state senators and representatives?
- No

Do you support limiting the following types of contributions to state legislative and gubernatorial candidates?

1. Individual
- Yes

2. PAC
- Yes

3. Corporate
- Yes

4. Political Parties
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
- Yes

6. Do you support imposing spending limits on state level political campaigns?
- Undecided

7. Do you support adopting statewide standards for counting, verifying, and ensuring accuracy of votes?
- Yes

8. Do you support prohibiting the reporting of media exit polling results until all polling locations in Washington are closed?
- Yes

9. Do you support a separate party primary system?
- No

10. Do you support a Top Two primary stystem?
- No

11. Do you support a ban on indoor smoking in public places?
- Undecided

12. Do you support a ban on indoor smoking in areas with children (e.g. family restaurants)?
- Yes

13. Should Washington recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?
- Yes

14. Should Washington restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?
- No

15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding crime.

1. Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- No Answer

2. Support the death penalty in Washington.
- No Answer

3. Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
- X

4. End parole for repeat violent offenders.
- X

5. Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- X

6. Decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
- X

7. Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
- No Answer

8. Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.
- No Answer

9. Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
- X

10. Increase funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent and to respond to terrorist attacks.
- No Answer

11. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

1. Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- No Answer

2. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any public school.
- No Answer

3. Provide parents with state-funded vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.
- No Answer

4. Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
- X

5. Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- X

6. Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- No Answer

7. Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
- No Answer

8. Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- No Answer

9. Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- X

10. Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- X

11. Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.
- X

12. Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
- X

13. Support abstinence-only sexual education programs.
- No Answer

14. Support a one-cent increase in the state sales tax to increase aid to education.
- No Answer

15. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Employment and Affirmative Action

Employment: Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding employment.

1. Increase funding for state job-training programs that re-train displaced workers and teach skills needed in today's job market.
- X

2. Reduce state government regulations on the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion.
- No Answer

3. Provide low interest loans and tax credits for starting, expanding, or relocating businesses.
- No Answer

4. Provide tax credits for businesses that provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- No Answer

5. Increase state funds to provide child care for children in low-income working families.
- X

6. Include sexual orientation in Washington's anti-discrimination laws.
- X

7. Increase the state minimum wage.
- No Answer

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

1. Public employment
- Yes

2. State college and university admissions
- Yes

3. State contracting
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment and Energy

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding the environment and energy.

1. Promote increased use of alternative fuel technology.
- X

2. Support increased production of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil).
- No Answer

3. Use state funds to clean up former industrial and commercial sites that are contaminated, unused, or abandoned.
- X

4. Support funding for open space preservation.
- X

5. Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.
- X

6. Loosen Washington's "use-it-or-lose-it" (relinquishment) water laws.
- No Answer

7. Support deadlines for setting and achieving stream flow targets needed to sustain fish runs.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

1. Maintain and strengthen the enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- X

2. Ease state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

3. Repeal state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
- No Answer

4. Allow citizens to carry concealed guns.
- No Answer

5. Require manufacturers to provide child-safety locks on guns.
- X

6. Require background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows.
- X

7. Require a license for gun possession.
- X

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

1. Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.
- X

2. Transfer more existing Medicaid recipients into managed care programs.
- No Answer

3. Limit the amount of punitive damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.
- No Answer

4. Support patients' right to sue their HMOs.
- X

5. Support patients' right to appeal to an administrative board of specialists when services are denied.
- X

6. Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.
- No Answer

7. Legalize physician assisted suicide in Washington.
- X

8. Allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.
- X

9. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Welfare and Poverty

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding welfare and poverty.

1. Support increased work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients.
- No Answer

2. Increase funding for employment and job training programs for welfare recipients.
- X

3. Increase access to public transportation for welfare recipients who work.
- X

4. Limit benefits given to recipients if they have additional children while on welfare.
- No Answer

5. Redirect welfare funding to faith-based and community-based private organizations.
- No Answer

6. Use federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds to extend health and child care subsidies to the working poor.
- X

7. Support marriage promotion programs for welfare recipients.
- No Answer

8. Eliminate government-funded welfare programs.
- No Answer

9. Other or expanded principles
- X

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 75 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My legislative priorities are full funding for public education and affordable healthcare for all. Our quality of life depends on: 1) developing educated and highly-skilled civic leaders and workers; and 2) supporting the physical, mental and emotional health of all Washingtonians. Additional funding for all levels of education - from early childhood through college - and for universal healthcare would be secured by restructuring the existing tax system and implementing a graduated personal and corporate income tax.

State Bills