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ABOUT
State Representative Gerry Pollet has worked on behalf of the public interest, standing up for our environment and consumers against powerful special interests, for his entire career.
Gerry is a UW School of Public Health faculty member and is widely recognized as one of our State’s leading voices to ensure Washington responds to COVID and other public health threats based on science and public health principles.
Gerry is a public interest lawyer (UW Law School), who started and directs the region’s largest citizens’ group, Heart of America Northwest, working for the cleanup of the nation’s most contaminated area, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He wrote and led the state ballot initiatives that stopped the federal government from using Hanford as a national radioactive waste dump and has worked to combat climate change for over 20 years.
Gerry has been honored 8 times as “legislator of the year” for his work to increase access to the opportunities of higher education, fully fund education and support students with disabilities, protect and expand openness in government and provide supports for local governments to meet the needs of all residents. He’s received national and regional honors for his environmental advocacy and community service.
Gerry serves on the board of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and is the Legislature’s leading advocate for openness. Gerry has an unsurpassed record of leadership and achievement for the 46th District and all Washington.
The Seattle Times editorial board recommends: Gerry Pollet for Legislative District 46, Position 1
June 17, 2024
Gerry Pollet (Courtesy of the campaign)
By The Seattle Times editorial board
Gerry Pollet has a long history as a public servant in Washington, as a flinty watchdog — for cleanup at the Hanford nuclear reservation in the state’s southeast corner over decades — and over the last dozen years as a state legislator advocating especially for special education funding, public health and housing.
As a member of the House education and Ways and Means committees, he continues to push for full funding of special education and to ensure that all children are attending schools that are safe from environmental hazards. Another priority is expanding the opportunities for post-high school education, and he serves on the Post-Secondary and Workforce Committee…
Another strength is that he eschews the backroom dealing that happens too often in a one-party government. He is among legislators who have signed a pledge never to invoke something called “legislative privilege.” House Democratic caucus leadership, in particular, advocates that lawmakers use this privilege to withhold documents from the public. The matter is being litigated.
He thinks the public has the right to know about their government’s machinations. Read more...
The Stranger - Endorsement for Nov 2024:
As Seattle’s school district threatens to shutter elementary schools, voters in the 46th Legislative District... should count themselves lucky to have a public education champion like State House Rep. Gerry Pollet on the ballot this year. In his last term, he raised the “unconscionable and unconstitutional” cap on education services funding for children with disabilities. He promises to eliminate the cap for good in his next term. To stave off school closures, he will propose a $1.1 billion increase to school budgets. He acknowledges that the sum won’t solve the problem entirely, as school funding relies heavily on local levy revenue. To help juice enrollment to keep those state dollars flowing, he said Seattle must increase affordable, family-sized housing density around public schools. And he’s not just saying that to the Stranger Election Control Board. In a six-page letter, he told Mayor Bruce Harrell that his comprehensive plan did not go far enough to promote affordable density.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Gerry's been a long-time advocate for abortion rights and reproductive healthcare in Washington. As a faculty member at the UW School of Public Health, he knows how important access to reproductive health care is for women in our state. He has served as volunteer legal counsel for NARAL-Washington (now Pro-Choice WA). Gerry has the sole endorsement of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates and Pro-Choice Washington. Gerry is the author and sponsor to make Washington the first state in the nation to provide 24/7 free access to emergency contraception on college campuses.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
We are losing affordable housing units far faster than we can build new housing. Long-time residents are being displaced, while young working parents can't afford to rent family units and buying is out of reach because new construction homes now cost what had been unthinkable amounts.
Gerry has been a leader to build permanent supportive housing, fund rapid rehousing, preventing displacement and to protect tenants. He is a sponsor of rent stabilization legislation and the prime sponsor to end preemption of Seattle and other cities adopting rent policies to meet local conditions. His record reflects years of dedication on housing.
QUALITY EDUCATION
Seattle and school districts across our state are in crisis. Gerry has been a leader to fully fund our children’s education. He has been a champion for smaller class sizes, paying living wages to our educators, investing in professional development, and increasing numbers of school nurses, guidance counselors and social workers.
Gerry has been recognized repeatedly as “the leading advocate” (KING5) for special education students in the Legislature. In 2023, the Legislature passed Gerry’s HB 1436 which included the largest-ever increase in funding for special education – the biggest driver of Seattle and other districts' financial crises.
In 2025, Gerry will be championing the state finally meeting its constitutional and moral obligations to fully-fund education, including special education.
Gerry is also a leader in expanding access to quality early education. He continues to pursue passage of the “Washington Promise” to ensure that every Washington resident can fulfill their career goals with postsecondary degree and career training.