I have enormous faith in the people of Washington state. They can be tough on their elected officials, but that’s because they believe that we, as a state, can and will be better. I share that belief.
By the end of this term, I will have served 16 years in the Washington State House of Representatives. The House is an institution that I hold very dear to my heart, and I count many of my colleagues – on both sides of the aisle – among my friends.
We may not see eye to eye on some issues, but I believe all of us, Democrats and Republicans, come to Olympia with a true commitment to the people we represent and a true desire to make our One Washington a better place for all.
I thank my husband Larry and all my kids for their love and support, but also for putting up with my absence three or four months out of the year, for many years.
And lastly, I am grateful for the trust, partnership and support of North Seattle residents, for making my service in the House so tremendously rewarding. While I will be out of elective office in 2013 for the first time in 16 years, I hope to continue my involvement and find new opportunities to serve our community and our state.”
House Speaker Frank Chopp issued this
statement:
“To me, Phyllis’s
story is the embodiment of the American Dream. Born to migrant workers, she
spent her early years working in the fields. But she believed in the promise of
this country and in the value of education and look at what she achieved!
However, she
never forgot her roots. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the underrepresented
in our state, improving conditions for farm workers, fighting for educational
opportunities for lower-income students, and providing shelter for the
homeless.
We are going to
miss her.”
