23rd LD Democrats Candidate Endorsement Ques onnaire Candidate Endorsement/Approval Ques onnaire Please complete this ques onnaire carefully and thoroughly. You may a ach your typed responses to the ques ons as necessary. It is important that you return the completed ques onnaire to the 23rd Legisla ve District Democrats Chairperson as soon as possible so that an interview can be scheduled at an Execu ve Board mee ng. We prefer that you submit the ques onnaire via email to [email protected]. PART A: (Part A of your completed ques onnaire will be made available to members prior to the vote to endorse or approve and to other interested individuals via our regular communica ons and our website only for candidates/issues endorsed or approved by the membership.) 1.Full name and home address. Tarra Simmons, 5910 Nora Street NW, Bremerton, WA. 98311 2.Office/Posi on sought. House of Representa ves, Washington State Legisla ve District 23, Posi on 1 3.Are you seeking endorsement or approval? Endorsement • Are you seeking any other endorsements? Yes No • If Yes, please list the endorsements you are seeking We are seeking endorsements from a variety of unions, environmental groups, poli cians and public figures, community groups, community members, etc. • Have you been endorsed by any other organiza on? Yes No • If Yes, please list the names of the organiza ons that have endorsed you
Alliance for Gun Responsibility Brotherhood of Locomo ve Engineers and Trainmen IAM District 751 Interna onal Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 77
Interna onal Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 5 and Local 1094 Ironworkers Local 86 Laborers Interna onal Union of North America Local 252 Na onal Women’s Poli cal Caucus Pacific Northwest Ironworkers Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe SEIU Healthcare Union, 1199 NW SEIU 775 South Puget Sound Carpenters, Local 129 Stonewall Democrats Suquamish Tribe Washington Conserva on Voters Washington Educa on Associa on Washington State Labor Council Washington State Nurses Associa on Washington State Progressive Caucus Women of Color in Poli cs
4.Official name and address of campaign. People for Tarra Simmons PO Box 774, Tracyton, WA. 98393 5.Campaign contact informa on (email, phone numbers, etc.) Erin Phillips, Campaign Manager, manager@elec arrasimmons.com, 206-388-8746 6.Elec on date(s) - Primary and/or General Elec on(s). Primary: August 4, 2020 and General: November 3, 2020 7.Is your race par san or non-par san? Par san 8.Poli cal party affilia on, history of par cipa on and membership. Democrat. I first joined the Kitsap County Democrats in 2016. I was an alternate delegate for Bernie Sanders. I have been a PCO - 2019, and I am on the 23rd LD E-Board. 9.Current and previous offices held. None 10.Current employer other than elected office, if any. Public Defender Associa on 11.Past work experience. -Director of the Civil Survival Project, Public Defender Associa on, Sep 2019 – Present -Skadden Legal Fellow, Public Defender Associa on, Sep 2017 - Aug 2019 -Execu ve Director, Civil Survival, Oct 2015 – Sep 2019 [2 year break for law school where I held several Legal Internships, including with Disability Rights Washington, American Civil Liber es Union of Washington, Northwest Jus ce Project, Public Defender Associa on, Columbia Legal Services, ] -Health Coach Consultant, Aetna, 2006 – 2011 -Registered Nurse Emergency Department, Mason General Hospital, Apr 2002 – May 2003 -Registered Nurse, Martha and Mary, Sep 2000 – Sep 2001 -Registered Nurse Emergency Department, Harrison Hospital, Sep 1999 – Sep 2000 12.Military experience. None 13.Educa onal background ● Sea le University School of Law Juris Doctor (J.D.)Law 2014 – 2017 ● Pacific Lutheran University Bachelor’s Degree, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 1997 – 2000 ● Olympic College Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) 1994 – 1997 ● Central Kitsap High School High School Diploma 1994
14.Affilia ons with clubs or other organiza ons. Community Leadership Coali on Alliance, Rights and Responsibili es Commi ee Member (Central Kitsap High School), Parent Teacher Associa on (Central Kitsap School District), Incarcerated Mothers Advocacy Project, Kitsap County Democrats (23rd LD PCO & Execu ve Board), Just Leadership USA, Skadden Founda on, Board Member for Economic Opportunity Ins tute 15.What major issues will be addressed in the office you are seeking? Briefly explain your posi ons on these issues? -An economy that benefits all of us, not just the super-rich -Clean air and water to ensure a healthier future for our kids and grandkids -Be er schools and access to opportunity -Quality, comprehensive healthcare -Civil rights & criminal jus ce reform 16.What experience do you have that is directly related to the office you are seeking? I am the co-founder of the Civil Survival Project, a nonprofit organiza on that provides legal and policy advocacy to help formerly incarcerated people be er reintegrate in their communi es. In 2016, I was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Washington State Reentry Council where I was elected by my peers as co-chair. He has also appointed me to the Public Defense Advisory Board, and I serve as an advisory board member to the Washington Supreme Court Gender and Jus ce Commission. I have also been appointed by the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib to the Washington State Sentencing Task Force. I have played a key role in advocacy efforts on behalf of my community, focusing on educa on, healthcare, and income equality. Most recently, my ac vism and leadership helped pass the New Hope Act, a bipar san piece of legisla on that streamlines the process for reintegra on a er incarcera on. In addi on to my work with the Civil Survival Project, I serve on the board of the Economic Opportunity Ins tute and volunteer with the Central Kitsap School District to support policies that end the school to prison pipeline. I recently received Sen. Pa y Murray’s Golden Tennis Shoe Award and the “Woman of Achievement” award from YWCA Kitsap County. In conclusion, I have been working in Olympia for years, alongside elected officials who have endorsed me for this posi on. My strong rela onships and experience will in no doubt aid in my ability to enact laws that center my economic, environmental, educa onal, and healthcare policy priori es. 17.Do you have any management training or experience? If so, please elaborate. I am the Director of the Civil Survival Project, where I lead a staff of seven. I have been responsible for fundraising, opera ons, and management of this start-up non-profit organiza on. 18.Why are you seeking this office? What do you hope to achieve and what qualifica ons do you have toward that goal? I’m running because I’ve seen and experienced firsthand the challenges people in our community face and am dedicated to crea ng a more just world where everyone – regardless of age, race, religion or economic status – can thrive. Healthcare: As a former nurse, I know how broken our healthcare system is. As one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, I believe we have a responsibility to reduce costs and increase access to quality healthcare, so no one has to worry about ge ng the care they need. I will work to improve access to behavioral healthcare including mental health and treatment for substance use disorder and always hold the line for women’s reproduc ve healthcare. Educa on: I recognized early on that educa on was my pathway out of poverty. I will fight for quality K-12 schools, early childhood educa on and expanded access to higher educa on, including job training and appren ceship programs, so every student is well-prepared for the jobs needed most today. Economy: Our system is rigged to benefit those at the top, at the expense of the rest of us. I will fight to create be er paying jobs with benefits, more affordable housing and tax reform that ensures those at the top pay their fair share for the services we all depend on. Climate: Climate change is one of the biggest threats to our community. I know we must lead on this issue as a state. I support efforts that address climate change through an environmental jus ce lens, ensuring people most impacted receive needed investments to ensure clean air and water. I am an effec ve, progressive fighter with a proven track record of finding solu ons to systemic challenges. I bring much needed lived experience to Olympia and to the fight for jus ce and equity for everyone. I lead in fundraising, grassroots support and have received prominent endorsements from key progressive leaders in Washington, including outgoing LD 23 State Rep. Sherry Appleton. It is my life’s work to use these experiences and the network that I’ve cul vated to open up opportuni es and ensure everyone in our community has the chance to thrive. So far, we have secured the following endorsements, as well as over 230 community endorsements. Elected Officials: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal WA Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib WA Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz State Senator Chris ne Rolfes (LD 23) State Senator Claire Wilson (LD 30) State Senator Emily Randall (LD 26) State Senator Jeannie Darneille (LD 27) State Senator Joe Nguyen (LD 34) State Senator Karen Kaiser (LD 33) State Senator Mona Das (LD 47) State Senator Pa y Kuderer (LD 48) State Representa ve Beth Doglio (LD 22) State Representa ve Drew Hansen (LD 23) State Representa ve Jesse Johnson (LD 30) Larry Seaquist, Former State Representa ve (LD 26) & USN Captain (Re red) State Representa ve Lauren Davis (LD 32) State Representa ve Laurie Dolan (LD 22) State Representa ve Laurie Jinkins (LD 27) State Representa ve Mary Helen Roberts (LD 21), Re red State Representa ve Melanie Morgan (LD 29) State Representa ve Michael Chapman (LD 24) State Representa ve My-Linh Thai (LD 41) State Representa ve Nicole Macri (LD 43) State Representa ve Noel Frame (LD 36) State Representa ve Roger Goodman (LD 45) State Representa ve Sherry Appleton (LD 23) State Representa ve Strom Peterson (LD 21) State Representa ve Tana Senn (LD 41) State Representa ve Timm Ormsby (LD 3) State Representa ve Tina Orwall (LD 33) Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson Bainbridge Island Mayor, Leslie Schneider Bainbridge Island Deputy Mayor Rasham Nassar Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Jay Roof, Re red King County Prosecu ng A orney Dan Sa erberg Kitsap County Prosecu ng A orney Chad Enright Kitsap County Treasurer, Meredith Green Kitsap County Commissioner, Charlo e Garrido Bainbridge Island City Councilmember Kol Medina Bainbridge Island City Councilmember Ma Tirman Poulsbo City Councilmember, Ed Stern Sammy Mabe, Suquamish Tribal Council Member Organiza onal Endorsements
Alliance for Gun Responsibility Brotherhood of Locomo ve Engineers and Trainmen IAM District 751 Interna onal Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 77
Interna onal Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 5 and Local 1094 Ironworkers Local 86 Laborers Interna onal Union of North America Local 252 Na onal Women’s Poli cal Caucus Pacific Northwest Ironworkers Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe SEIU Healthcare Union, 1199 NW SEIU 775 South Puget Sound Carpenters, Local 129 Stonewall Democrats Suquamish Tribe Washington Conserva on Voters Washington Educa on Associa on Washington State Labor Council Washington State Nurses Associa on Washington State Progressive Caucus Women of Color in Poli cs
24.Do you or a campaign officer have experience comple ng required reports to the Washington Public Disclosure Commission? Yes, we use the services of Blue Wave Poli cal Partners, LLC.