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Jamie Pedersen

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About Me

My name is Jamie Pedersen. I live on Capitol Hill with my partner Eric, who is a high school assistant principal. I am running for the state House of Representatives in the 43rd District and would like your support.
For the last ten years, I have been working to win marriage equality for same-sex couples. In 1995, most people thought that was a pipe dream. But the injustice was real and so I got to work. For years, I spoke to community, civic, and church groups. I led teams of lawyers in firms and nonprofits across the state to develop legal arguments. And I worked to build coalitions of labor and business organizations, churches and synagogues, minority bar associations, legislators, and even Republicans and Libertarians, to support marriage equality. I served seven years on the national board of Lambda Legal, which fights for gay and lesbian civil rights, including two as co-chair, and became Lambdas lead volunteer lawyer on the case now just decided by our state Supreme Court.
With the court deciding not to respect and recognize same-sex relationships, the next battle for marriage equality will be fought in the state legislature. I decided to run because I want to be part of that conversation. I believe I can make a unique contribution through my knowledge of the issue, my legal training, and my skill at bringing people together.
My law practice regularly requires me to help resolve similarly complex problems. Five years ago, I was called on to help save PacMed Clinics on Beacon Hill, the former U.S. Public Health Hospital that serves over 12,000 military retirees, immigrants, and people who cannot afford to pay for specialty medical care. I helped to reorganize the medical practice and move it into a nonprofit corporation. Today it is thriving. It has grown and added new services while more than doubling the amount of charity medical care it provides.
I helped to resolve a similar crisis at the community lunch program hosted by my church, Central Lutheran on Capitol Hill. That program had been feeding several hundred people a week since 1981. With budget cuts after September 11, the funding and staff support from Lutheran Community Services disappeared. I helped to set up a nonprofit that included some people from our church, many from other churches, and many others who were not religious at all to take over the lunch. Now the program is stronger than ever and continues to serve everyone who comes a good, hot lunch.
I grew up in Puyallup, the son of public school teachers and the grandson of oyster farmers and dairy farmers, who instilled the values of public service and hard work in me. I worked at McDonalds for five years to help put myself through Yale. I am an Eagle Scout and a lawyer who does not shy from difficult problems, but builds teams to solve them. I believe that I can put those skills to work for you to make sure that everyone has access to affordable health care; that our children and youth enjoy a top-notch education from pre-kindergarten through the university level; and that we build a public transit system to move people efficiently while protecting our environment. I look forward to meeting and talking with you while I am out doorbelling in your precinct and hope to win your support.
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My Interests

Becoming your Washington State House Representative in the 43rd District! Fighting for: Gay Rights, Quality Education, Affordable Healthcare, and Comprehenisve Transportation Solutions. Listening to your concerns and visions for the 43rd District.

I'd like to meet:

Voters in the 43rd District of Seattle! If you live in Capitol Hill, the U-District, Madison Park, Ravenna, Wallingford, Downtown, Fremont, Eastlake, and/or Greenlake — I'm your guy. Drop me a line and let me know what's up. I look forward to it.

Music:

Rufus Wainwright, U2, Indigo Girls

Movies:

The Color Purple, Another Country, The Lion King

Television:

The West Wing, Six Feet Under, The Wonder Years

Books:

The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Anna Karenina, Gilead, Portrait of a Lady, The Hours

Heroes:

Jon Nelson, Jim Ellis, Evan Wolfson, Chris Keff, Lisa Stone

My Blog

Vote for Jamie Pedersen on September 19th!

Polls open at 7 AM!Jamie Pedersen is the standout in a race crowded with six quality candidates. The race will be won by just a few hundred votes, so every vote counts.Find your polling place here.Cli...
Posted by Jamie Pedersen on Wed, 13 Sep 2006 08:11:00 PST

GREAT EVENT THIS WEEKEND!

Join our Winning Team: March in PRIDE this weekend! I need 100 volunteers. Help staff the campaign booth at Seattle Center, march in the parade on Broadway Saturday night, or bring the whole family to...
Posted by Jamie Pedersen on Thu, 22 Jun 2006 09:14:00 PST