Gov. Gary Locke served as King County Executive, as Secretary of Commerce, and as Ambassador to China. Of course, he also served as a two-term Governor of Washington State, among other roles during his career in public service.

So, he has a unique perspective on our national politics and our state politics, and a well-respected approach to finding common ground amidst political challenges.

The 2019 elections created a mix of story lines and lessons. From local elections to statewide initiatives, this panel will review the implications of this year’s contests, and look to the potential impacts in 2020.

Heather Weiner: Consultant 

David Goldstein: Senior Fellow, Civic Ventures 

Sandeep Kaushik: Partner, Sound View Strategies

Linda Yang: Co-Chair, Washington Asians for Equality

While Washington State leads the nation in economic growth, trade wars, federal political uncertainty, and mixed economic performance nationally seem to point to an economic recession around the corner. This session will explore the challenges of policy making in a future state of economic contraction.

Sen. John Braun: Ranking member, Senate Ways and Means Committee

Zach Silk: President, Civic Ventures

J. Norwell Coquillard: Executive Director, Washington State China Relations Council

The changing demographics of the legislative community are increasingly reflective of the changing composition of Washington State’s community. This panel will explore the impact of these changes and highlight the differences they are making in state policy making.

Karen Besserman: Executive Director, Emerge Washington 

Luis Moscoso: Vice Chair, Latino Caucus, Washington State Democratic Party 

Bernal Baca: Executive Director, Centro Latino, Tacoma

Erin Jones (Moderator): Consultant, Erin Jones, LLC 

State and local government continues to work across a range of initiatives to improve and update services and responsiveness. This panel will discuss what we are learning about how best to modernize government and meet the demands of the information age.

Hon. Julie Anderson: Auditor, Pierce County

Brian Bonlender: Principal, Lodestar Strategic

Jennifer Robertson: Council Member, City of Bellevue

While the 2020 session will be a short 60-day run, the 2019 session showed considerable ambition for this legislature.  This group of lobbyists and government relations professionals will discuss the possible scope of the next legislature, and the possible topics teed up for conversation in 2020.

Nathan Gorton: Director, Government Relations, Washington State Realtors

Mellani McAleen: General Counsel, Washington State Association of Counties

Chris Bandoli: Owner, Bandoli Consulting 

With a pending debate on a possible capital gains tax in the state, this session will explore the legal, fiscal, and economic implications of such a tax. Come with your questions to what may be the most prominent issue of the 2020 session.

Paul Guppy: Vice President of Research, Washington Policy Center

Andy Nicholas: Senior Fellow, Washington Budget and Policy Center 

The mechanics and the consequences of the 2020 census are a once-in-a-decade point of discussion. Any effort to update or inform the policy discussion on these points are likely best addressed in next year’s legislature. So, this panel will talk through how things will work, and what it will mean for Washington State politics.

Tim Ceis: Former member, Washington State Redistricting commission

Vanesa Gutierrez: Community Relations Manager, Snohomish County

Heather Villanueva: Deputy Director, More Equitable Democracy

“It wasn’t like this when I was growing up.” It’s an all too common refrain as gun violence in schools increases across America. This panel will discuss the policy response to gun violence in schools and how best to keep Washington classrooms safe.

Sen. Lisa Wellman: Chair, Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

Derrick Wheeler-Smith: Director, Zero Youth Detention, King County

With strong majorities in both chambers, Democrats are looking to build on considerable legislative successes in the next session. Come with your questions to what is always a great panel and discussion with some of Olympia’s progressive leaders.

Sen. Claire Wilson: Majority Assistant Whip, Washington Senate Democrats

Rep. Larry Springer: Deputy Majority Leader, Washington House Democrats

For this session, we’ll sit down with some of the most impactful voices in Washington State politics in 2019. Tim Eyman developed and led the passage of I-976, which cut transportation funding. Kan Qiu was part of a coalition that overturned the legislature’s affirmative action policy late in the 2019 session. Former Bothell Mayor Joshua Freed is running for governor in 2020 and centering his platform around the homelessness crisis.

Tim Eyman: Sponsor, I-976 

Kan Qiu: Co-Chair, Washington Asians for Equality

Joshua Freed: Candidate for Governor, State of Washington

From the gig economy to a trade war, the the modern economy’s impact on labor and employment is as far reaching and as dynamic as it has ever been.  This panel of thought leaders and policy advocates will discuss these changes and look ahead to what might come.

Lew McMurran: Co-Manager, Future of Work Task Force

Adam Glickman: Secretary Treasurer, SEIU   

Rep. Gina Mosbrucker: Ranking member, House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee  

The challenges of housing insecurity are beginning to impact the ballot box, drawing policy responses from the federal, state and local level. This session will explore possible solutions that draw upon a multi-sector collaboration.

Rep. Andrew Barkis: Member, House Housing, Community Development & Veterans Committee

Rep. Nicole Macri: Vice Chair, House Health Care & Wellness Committee

Trudy Soucoup: CEO, Homes First 

What might we expect from the 2020 legislature?  Will we see a significant “lift” in terms of legislation? Will new political contention arise as a result of an election year? Can we expect everyone to get out of town on time?

This panel of legislative leaders will speak to these questions and take some from our audience as they look ahead to next year’s convening.

Sen. John Braun:  Ranking member, Senate Ways and Means Committee

Rep. JT Wilcox: Minority Leader, House of Representatives 

Sen. David Frockt: Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means Committee

Rep. Jake Fey: Chair, House Transportation Committee 

Some of Olympia’s most thoughtful and influential Republican legislators will join this panel to discuss the next legislative session, the politics of 2020, and their vision for the State of Washington.

Sen. Lynda Wilson: Ranking member, Senate Financial Institutions, Economic Development & Trade Committee

Rep. Paul Harris: Republican Caucus Chair, Washington State House of Representatives

Rep. Joe Schmick: Ranking Minority Member, House Health Care & Wellness Committee

Rep. Drew Stokesbary: Ranking Minority Member, House Appropriations Committee

Transportation funding in Washington State is fraught with both political and policy challenges. That is increasingly the case following the passage of I-976. This session will discuss the future of infrastructure funding at both the state and local levels.

Rep. Jake Fey: Chair, House Transportation Committee

Hon. Josh Kerns: County Commissioner, Spokane County

Sen. Phil Fortunato: Member, Senate Transportation Committee  

Young people are starting to change the dynamics of elections in Washington State, voting later in the cycle and generally for more progressive candidates. What can we learn from this increasingly level of engagement? This panel will take up the topic.

Abigail Doerr: Former Candidate, King County Council  

Stu Elway: Publisher, The Elway Poll

Amy Wasser: Interim Executive Director, Washington Bus

The 2019 session was perhaps the most ambitious session on climate ever, with significant consequences for implementation. Yet, tremendous work remains. This session will talk through where the climate policy discussion may be heading next.

Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon: Chair, House Environment & Energy Committee 

George Caan: Executive Director, WPUDA

Cliff Mass: Professor, Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington

With significant changes to both the rules and the calendar in the 2020 Democratic nomination process, next year’s nomination process may produce some surprise results. This panel will discuss the mechanics, the process, and the possible consequences for 2020.

Will Casey: Communications Director, Washington State Democratic Central Committee

Monisha Harrell: Chair, Equal Rights Washington

Peter Jackson: Former Editorial Page Editor, Everett Herald

Where services are closest to the citizens, it’s increasingly difficult to fund local government. This will be particularly true when the next recession strikes.  This session will take up the unique challenges of financing local governments and discuss policy solutions to support them.

Sen. Dean Takko: Chair, Senate Local Government Committee

Rep. Vicki Kraft: Ranking Minority Member, House Local Government Committee

Candice Bock: Director of Government Relations, Association of Washington Cities 

One of the greatest economic and policy challenges of recent years is increasing inequality in the state. That is often particularly true when comparing urban and rural Washington. This session will discuss the challenges, and suggest policy options to mitigate them.

Rep. Bill Ramos: Member, House Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee 

Madeline Moore: Co-Founder, Rethinking Rural 

Rep. Mary Dye: Member, House Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee 

Hon. John Blom: Council Member, Clark County Council  

As technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, where do concerns about privacy begin to generate a public policy response? This session will explore where federal and state policy makers are working with tech companies to build a regulatory framework.

Rep. Matt Boehnke: Assistant Ranking Minority Member, House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee

Laura Ruderman: CEO, Tech Alliance 

Rep. Zach Hudgins: Chair, House Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee 

Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib serves as the President of the Washington State Senate, and serves as the Acting Governor when Gov. Inslee is away from the state.

As a former legislator, Habib was recognized as a progressive voice, championing legislation ranging from paid sick leave to privacy protections and civil rights.

This conversation will feature Lt. Gov. Habib’s policy prescription for higher education, his work on economic development, and his thoughts on the 2020 legislative session.