School Districts And College Students Are Being Held Hostage By Textbook Publishers
As the Deputy Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and as an elected School Board member in Tumwater, I’ve come to embrace a simple fact: the more you learn, the more you earn! The data is abundantly clear that higher levels of education result in higher income.
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A Letter of Support from the Greatest Generation
Dear Neighbors and friends,
Every once in a while you meet a person that inspires you; someone who embodies a genuine hope that, with enough hard work and commitment, we will see better days ahead. We have come to know such a person – Chris Reykdal, candidate for the State House of Representatives here more...
Dignity Lost
I want to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Smith of Tumwater. I promised to keep them anonymous but everything you read here is absolutely true. The 25 minutes I spent with them in their living room was moving to the point of tears.
Mrs. Smith was recently let go by the State more...
Our Civil and Moral Obligation
Overturning Proposition 8 moved us one step closer to civil justice!
Judge Walker’s decision to overturn Proposition 8 in California allows us an opportunity to move past the decade’s backlash against equality. The ruling was based on a very fundamental premise of law – equal rights with unequal protections. Judge Walker used the authority more...
Campaign Mail
Click below to see each of the mail pieces Chris Reykdal has sent to voters!
A Leader Willing To Make Bold Choices
A Letter from Jessica’s Grandpa
At my age (pushing 70), I have come to realize that government moves slowly. That's not a complaint, just an observation. Hence, since it's unlikely that many new laws, rules or opportunities will change the rest of my life, I have decided to give you my vote in the name of my more...
Sam Hunt Has Endorsed Our Campaign!
Today, long time State Representative Sam Hunt endorsed Tumwater School Board member Chris Reykdal in his campaign for the State Legislature. Hunt joins Representative Brendan Williams, over 50 elected officials and community leaders and over 20 organizations who have endorsed Reykdal’s candidacy.
“The 22nd District is fortunate to have four highly qualified Democratic candidates seeking more...
Williams endorses Reykdal as successor
The past two legislative sessions were the toughest we’ve seen locally.
With roughly $5 billion in cuts, we saw workers laid off or furloughed, compounded by huge cuts to K-12 schools, Evergreen and SPSCC, care at six local nursing homes, in-home service hours for meal and incontinence assistance, etc.
More should distinguish Democrats from Republicans than how more...
The Reykdal Plan To Fix Our Broken Tax System
Washington State has the most regressive tax system in the United States. Study after study places our state at the bottom for Tax Progressivity. We overtax the middle class, poor, and small businesses to the benefit of very wealthy individuals and corporations in our state.
After years and years of our failed tax policy more...
Creating Jobs And Cleaning Up Our Environment
We need to take serious steps in addressing the issues facing our environment. To reduce carbon emissions and lower our human output of greenhouse gasses, it is time to change the Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) culture of Washington State. Having spent three years on Senate Transportation Committee staff, I know the political forces more...
SEIU Locals Award Sole Endorsement To Our Campaign!
Yesterday, Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Locals 1199NW, 775NW, 925, and PSE-1948 (Public School Employees) jointly announced their endorsement of our campaign! They join a substantial list of labor unions, education organizations, elected officials, and community leaders who have endorsed our campaign in the past several months.
We've won the support of nearly every labor organization more...
A Letter From Olympia School Board President Frank Wilson
Dear friends, supporters, and educators,
In my role as Olympia School Board President, I am in a unique position to meet individuals who champion our K-12 public education system and advocate for student access to public institutions of higher education. One such champion is Chris Reykdal, candidate for retiring Representative Brendan more...
A Letter From State Representative Brendan Williams
Dear Friends,
For the past six years I have served as a Representative in the State Legislature from here in the 22nd district (Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater). Much of my time and energy has been focused on bringing progressive reform to this State, defending working families, including public employees, and fighting against power and privilege. more...
Educational Profiles in Courage
I’ve spent much of my adult life embedded in the pursuit of teaching, learning, and educational funding. As a college student, high school teacher, graduate student, college executive, and elected school board member, I've put my whole heart into public education. But it was two experiences – two profiles in courage, if you more...
Chris Reykdal endorsed by Rep. Brendan Williams
Last night, State Representative Brendan Williams endorsed Tumwater School Board member Chris Reykdal to succeed him in the State House of Representatives. Williams is leaving his 22nd District Seat after three terms.
“I promised to support the candidate labor supported,” stated Williams. “I wanted each candidate to be subjected to a vetting process, and not more...
A Mother's Day moment to remember
On Mother’s day this year, my son Carter (age 6) gave Kim and I a great reminder of why I am in this race.
Kim awoke Mother’s day morning to an amazing gift. Propped near our bedside was an envelope with a hand drawn arrow written upon it, skillfully placed so that the arrow pointed back more...
State Labor Council Endorses Chris Reykdal
This Saturday, delegates to the Washington State Labor Council’s COPE (Committee on Political Education) Convention gathered in Seattle to consider endorsements in this year’s Legislative, Congressional, and statewide elections. In the race for the open house seat in the 22nd Legislative District, COPE delegates gave their sole endorsement to Tumwater School Board member Chris Reykdal.
“I’m more...
Fire Fighters Stand With Reykdal
Last night, 22nd District House Candidate Chris Reykdal received the endorsement of all four locals of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) in the 22nd District. These IAFF Locals join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 751 and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 612 in their support of more...
Thank a teacher!
With the incredible support I am getting from teachers, I would like to take a moment to express my deep gratitude to Washington State teachers and teachers right here in our district. Were it not for your commitment and sacrifices and those of your predecessors, I would not be the person that I am today. more...
Porch Side Chat "Bring Real Courage"
Recently I met Wendy; she's the coolest grandma I've met in a long time. We talked for 15 minutes in her living room and it was very clear to me that Wendy doesn't expect miracles from her government, but she is demanding that our Democratic Party elect leaders who will bring real courage to more...
People’s initiative 1077
As you know, I have made tax reform a critical theme in my race for the State House of Representatives. Yesterday, the progressive community announced a bold initiative aimed at addressing our regressive tax system. This pivotal initiative includes a decrease of the state property tax by 20%, a move that will significantly help senior more...
Education, our paramount duty
The State of Washington must live up to its paramount constitutional duty to make ample provision for the education of all Washington children. This was affirmed in February by a King County Court.
I was born and raised in Washington and educated in our public schools; I went to a public university; I then taught more...
We need tax reform
The Legislature has ended its 30-day special session. This was truly one of the most difficult sessions in our State’s history. In the end, the Legislature pieced together a temporary budget fix using fund shifts, budget cuts, a growing dependence on federal funds, and a handful of very regressive taxes and fees. more...
State Employees wrongly targeted in state fiscal crisis
House Members headed down the wrong path recently by passing State
Employee furlough bill ESSB 6503. Too often the hard working State Employees that provide critical and necessary services are the first to fall victim to budget cuts in what amounts to little more than political grandstanding. Be it retirement, heath benefits, or compensation, State Employees more...
Machinists Endorse!
This International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 751 announced their endorsement of my candidacy at our kick-off this past Saturday. The endorsement is the first made by IAM Local 751 this election season, as well as the first major labor endorsement made in this campaign.
I was touched by the thoughts shared more...
Over 30 Leaders Endorse!
Today, over 30 leaders – from State Legislators to local elected officials to community activists – came out in support of our campaign. I’m humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support I’ve received to date in this campaign. Our community is rich with leaders who work hard at improving our quality of life; it’s truly more...
Doorbelling Around The District
I’ve begun doorbelling in the past few days in order to hear from all of you about the issues your families are facing. What I’ve heard is a lot of worry – worry about losing jobs, worry about not being able to send kids to college, and worry about rising tax rates and cuts in more...
Join Us At Our Campaign Kick Off!
I hope you all can join us for our official Campaign Kick Off later this month!
We'll be holding the kick off on Saturday, March 27th at 3:30 p.m. at the New Market Skills Center, which is located at 7299 New Market Street SW in Tumwater.
RSVP to chris4rep@gmail.com if you plan on attending! The more...
Watching The State Budget
In my current position, I spend a tremendous amount of time watching our legislators draft the state budget. It is undoubtedly true that in these tough economic times, our elected officials are forced to make many tough choices, and to truly prioritize the things that matter the most to Washington State’s families.
I’m running for more...
No more cuts for higher ed!
I work as the Deputy Executive Director of the State Board of Community & Technical Colleges. I have worked on numerous higher education funding issues over the years, and I have helped to draft critical pieces of legislation that focus on higher education access to low income students. Much of what we have accomplished more...
Why I Am Running
I can’t tell you the number of times that I have been asked when I’m finally going to run for office. I first got the questions in college while serving as the president of the College Democrats. The comments of support have only grown over the years and I am absolutely proud to more...