Kathleen Drew (D) - Candidate for WA Secretary of State - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Political Party: Democratic
Education: B.A. University of Ohio - Political Science
Spouse: Steven Drew, Thurston County Assessor
Religion: Raised Catholic
Date of Birth: October 23rd, 1960

Background:
Kathleen Drew has over 25 years experience as a results-oriented, effective public service manager for the people of Washington State. Known for being impartial and fair, she authored the State's Ethics in Public Service Law, which has governed actions of state employees and elected officials for nearly 20 years. In every arena she has worked, Kathleen's groundbreaking achievements have been models for other states and communities.

As a strong supporter of education, Kathleen Drew helped build the University of Washington Bothell campus into the vital institution it is today – the largest branch campus in the state. She also secured funding to start its Computing and Software Systems program.

Kathleen is known for streamlining government, reducing duplication and improving services to Washington residents. During her six years as a state policy advisor, Kathleen helped create incentives for electric cars and infrastructure and worked to reduce energy and resource use by state agencies. She also worked with three west coast Governors to develop and implement a national model agreement on ocean health. As a state senator, Kathleen Drew started the first program to mark hatchery salmon to ensure recreational fishing opportunities.

As a volunteer and board member, Kathleen Drew raised funds to build transitional homes for foster youth. She chaired the citizens' group who identified what schools were needed for a rapidly growing Issaquah School District. As a member of the Olympia Kiwanis, she started a capitol campus organic vegetable garden for the hungry. This year the garden produced over 10,000 pounds of produce for the Thurston County Food Bank.

Kathleen and her husband Steven Drew, Thurston County Assessor, have been married for 27 years. Together they enjoy camping in the Northwest and boating and crabbing on Puget Sound. Kathleen graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Ohio University in 1981 with a BA in political science.

Please describe your top 5 priorities if elected Secretary Of State:

Ensure impartial and fair elections

Actively work to increase voter registration and voter turnout. Ensure that all counties are in compliance with state and federal voting laws. Oppose efforts to suppress or discourage any groups or individuals from voting.


Streamline services

Create one common portal where businesses can conduct transactions with state government in order to both create greater efficiency for business transactions and establish a more searchable database for greater transparency. Improve ability to use electronic signatures in conducting business with state agencies. Speed up the transferring of documents to digital archives to save money and increase access. Share federal library responsibilities between state library and university libraries.

Increase community and civic engagement

Highlight and celebrate culture and heritage of communities in our state. Provide assistance to small charitable organizations to reduce workload of volunteers. Develop opportunities to help non-profits increase volunteerism in our local communities. Vigorously protect the private information of victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.


Support legislation to increase voter access
 

Support the Washington State Voting Rights Act to equalize the playing field in communities with significant minority populations. Allow 16 and 17 year old voters to pre-register to vote at the time when they apply for their first driver's license. Begin same-day voter registration to allow all eligible voters to register to vote up to election day.


Send all registered voters a printed statewide primary election guide.

Ensure all voters in the state receive candidate information ahead of the primary election. Achieve parity of information so that voters in less populous counties receive the same amount of information as those in larger counties. Previously sponsored legislation to mandate a primary voter's guide.