Posted on Oct 30, 2022
Tribal representation in the Washington State Legislature could quadruple this November
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Currently, there is just one Native American serving in the Washington state Legislature. Debra Lekanoff, whose Indian name is “Xixch’I See,” is a member of a Tlingit tribe in Southeast Alaska.
She represents District 40, Position 1, which includes the San Juan Islands, and is running against a write-in candidate this fall.
And, after the elections on Nov. 8, Lekanoff might not be the only Native voice in the statehouse.
A handful of Indigenous candidates are running for legislative seats this fall, one in the state Senate and three, including Lekanoff, in the House.
Lekanoff, like all the candidates KUOW interviewed for this story, said her job is to represent her entire district. Nevertheless, she also said having Native lawmakers in the room in Olympia is important, pointing to some of the many bills that she’s championed, including one to create a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, and another to ban Native American mascots in public schools.
“It's a lonely time. No one clearly understands the angle you are coming from in different areas of policy and lawmaking, and in bringing in a Native American voice,” Lekanoff said. More voices with more perspectives that reflect the diversity of the Native community are also needed, Lekanoff said.
She represents District 40, Position 1, which includes the San Juan Islands, and is running against a write-in candidate this fall.
And, after the elections on Nov. 8, Lekanoff might not be the only Native voice in the statehouse.
A handful of Indigenous candidates are running for legislative seats this fall, one in the state Senate and three, including Lekanoff, in the House.
Lekanoff, like all the candidates KUOW interviewed for this story, said her job is to represent her entire district. Nevertheless, she also said having Native lawmakers in the room in Olympia is important, pointing to some of the many bills that she’s championed, including one to create a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, and another to ban Native American mascots in public schools.
“It's a lonely time. No one clearly understands the angle you are coming from in different areas of policy and lawmaking, and in bringing in a Native American voice,” Lekanoff said. More voices with more perspectives that reflect the diversity of the Native community are also needed, Lekanoff said.
Tribal representation in the Washington State Legislature could quadruple this November
Posted from kuow.org
Native Americans
Voting
Elections
State of Washington
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."They're with me in Olympia," he said. "I visit with them when I'm not in session.”
As it turns out, the Yakama Nation has endorsed both Corry and Contreras. The Yakama did not respond to KUOW's request for comment on that dual endorsement, which came as a disappointment to Contreras.
One possible factor: Corry looks more likely to win based on the August primary results that put him 37 percentage points ahead of Contreras.
“If someone is going to win, it’s better not to poke a stick in their eye,” said Washington state political consultant Ron Dotzauer, who added that he is not familiar with this specific race.
A fourth Native candidate running this year is Claudia Kauffman of the Nez Perce Tribe. She's running for the Senate seat in the 47th district in the Tacoma area, which she previously held. Her opponent, Republican Bill Boyce, was the first Black councilman to serve on the Kent City Council.
Now it's up to voters in the 14th and the other legislative districts to decide."
..."They're with me in Olympia," he said. "I visit with them when I'm not in session.”
As it turns out, the Yakama Nation has endorsed both Corry and Contreras. The Yakama did not respond to KUOW's request for comment on that dual endorsement, which came as a disappointment to Contreras.
One possible factor: Corry looks more likely to win based on the August primary results that put him 37 percentage points ahead of Contreras.
“If someone is going to win, it’s better not to poke a stick in their eye,” said Washington state political consultant Ron Dotzauer, who added that he is not familiar with this specific race.
A fourth Native candidate running this year is Claudia Kauffman of the Nez Perce Tribe. She's running for the Senate seat in the 47th district in the Tacoma area, which she previously held. Her opponent, Republican Bill Boyce, was the first Black councilman to serve on the Kent City Council.
Now it's up to voters in the 14th and the other legislative districts to decide."
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