Biography

Christine represents the 23rd Legislative District, including the Kitsap County communities of Hansville, Kingston, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Keyport, Silverdale, and most of East Bremerton.

First elected in 2006, Christine hit the ground running in Olympia, serving as Vice-Chair of the Select Committee on Puget Sound and currently as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Ecology and Parks.  She has become a go-to legislator on the House Transportation committee for ferry issues. She was appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Joint Transportation Committee's Ferry Work Group and was one of the lead organizers of the 2007 Ferry Summit. She is also involved in oversight and development of state business promotion and economic initiatives on the Community, Economic Development, and Trade Committee.

Twice elected to the Bainbridge Island City Council (2000-2005), Christine was the first Council Chair to serve consecutive terms in that position. While on the Council, Christine worked on many issues including finance, economic development, public works, land-use, transportation, community relations and public safety.

Prior to holding elected office, Christine worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) counseling Northwest businesses and organizations on humanitarian assistance and commercial opportunities overseas.  She also worked at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia managing environmental and economic development projects for USAID.

In the early ‘90’s, Christine worked as an open space program coordinator and watershed planner with the Kitsap County Department of Community Development.  Christine received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington.

Christine lives on Bainbridge Island with her husband Leonard and their two school-aged daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:

Ecology and Parks - Vice-Chair

Select Committee on Environmental Health

Transportation

Education Appropriations

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES:

Invest in education and increase accountability in our schools.

Find ways to lower health care costs for both families and businesses.

Work to attract and retain new jobs to our region.

Keeping the ferries affordable and accountable

Increase accountability in our government to make sure our tax dollars are being spent wisely and efficiently.