Thinking of Our Children on Fantastic Friday
Dear Friends,
Earlier this week we held the official kickoff event for my re-election campaign! It warmed my heart to see all of your smiling faces together and I can’t tell you how honored I feel to have your continued support.
During my second term in Olympia, I have sponsored more than two hundred bills and worked tirelessly to bring positive change to all facets of life here in Washington. Together, we have continued our work protecting mother earth, made great strides in supporting our work force, created the first of its kind alert system for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, and so much more.
My work has always centered on bringing everyone to the table together, and through that I’ve consistently found productive paths forward that have helped our communities grow and thrive in responsible ways. Our path forward is one that we’ll walk side by side, working towards that common goal of creating the best country, the best state, and the best 40th LD that we can.
Thank you so much to everyone who came out this week to support my campaign kickoff! I look forward to seeing you all more on the campaign trail – keep an eye out for additional events we’ll be hosting ahead of the election!
Keep reading for more on this Fantastic Friday.
“Stay Safe, Stay Healthy”
Rep. Debra Lekanoff
School & Firearm Safety in Washington
We’ve talked a great deal in recent weeks about keeping our student safe and addressing firearm safety in Washington State. I’m proud to say that Washington state has some of the strongest firearm laws in the country, and there are so many great leaders who have lead the way for our caucus.
Thank you to Representatives Goodman, Johnson, Hansen, Peterson, and Senn for all of your incredible work!
As a mother, hunter, gun owner and Native American, I am honored to stand with my colleagues and constituents as we work to provide continued support and funding for programs that promote sensible gun safety laws and behavior health.
Additionally, last week Attorney General Bob Ferguson called on Washington to take steps and enact firearm legislation on two fronts: the ability to sue firearms manufacturers for damages and a ban on the sale of assault weapons.
Happy to support Attorney General Bob Ferguson!
No is the time to roll up our sleeves and do the difficult work to protect our children, our loved ones, and our neighbors. Together we can enact common sense legislation that will promote firearm safety and save countless lives, and I’m excited to mae that happen.
In case you missed it, I’d also like to reiterate something I shared in last week’s Fantastic Friday on the work we’re doing to keep our students safe.
HB 1216 – Concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety and student well-being.
During the interim between the 2018 and 2019 legislative sessions, much research took place concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety and student well-being.
Out of our research, HB 1216 was born and became law. During the 2022 legislative session, when the prototypical model was increased to add more school counselors, school psychologists, nurses and socio-emotional supports, we took another step forward to help our children continue to be safe and well in a very troubled world.
Many mass shooters are motivated by an angry suicidal approach to dealing with problems. We are doing a better job than ever in teaching school personnel suicide prevention skills. There is no way to promise that threat assessment will always work, but school employees in Washington State now are being trained on both “school safety” and “student well-being.”
We must ask ourselves about our priorities, and who we want to protect when a child is killed by gun violence. It is unacceptable to continue to allow the killing of our children. As a mother, a community member, and your lawmaker, I am committed to working with my colleagues to enact sensible gun laws here in Washington.
Washington Ranked Best State Economy!
Friends, these past few years have been difficult for all of us. Through the COVID-19 pandemic and the following restrictions on our businesses, we have all struggled in one way or another. I am constantly inspired by the outpouring of support we have shown for one another, and I am proud of how far we have come together.
Now, I’m please to tell you that a recent study has rated Washington’s economy the best state economy in the country!
The study compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia using 28 measures that compared states. Some of the metrics were exports, unemployment rates, fiscal health, entrepreneurial activity, and jobs in high tech industries.
Washington ranked as the top state overall, as well as ranking third in economic activity, seventh in economic health and second in innovation potential.
This is a testament to just how incredible this state is. All of our businesses and workers across the state contribute to our great economy, and I’m proud to be a part of this ongoing system that is always working to improve this place we all call home.
Well done, Washington!
Pressentin Park Reopen Today!
Today the Skagit County Board of Commissioners officially reopen Pressentin Park in Marblemount after it had been closed for the past year!
The park was closed as salmon habitat restoration and recreational improvements took place. Just this past fall, a half-mile channel was restored that reconnected the park to the Skagit River – and our local salmon population immediately celebrated by using the channel!
The new channel helping our salmon!
This has been an ongoing effort over the past decade between Skagit County Parks and Recreation and the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group who collaborated to assess, design, develop, and restore this important channel.
The reopening of Pressentin Park is a great step forward, and a tremendous example of how we can promote our recreation areas while protecting the natural world that makes this place so special. Thank you to all of the dedicated individuasl who have worked for so long on this important project!
If you’re in the area – stop by and check out Pressentin Park when you get the chance!
Supporting Key Races
As we’ve discussed, a draft of an upcoming decision from the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade leaked to Politico, and while this is not the final decision or the official decision of the court, it is a scary and heartbreaking development for our country.
For nearly fifty years Roe v. Wade has protected a woman’s right to choose at a federal level, and what this draft decision would do is delegate that authority to the states instead – where we have already seen a concerted attack on reproductive rights and many states are poised to act the moment Roe is overturned.
Now, as we come up on an incredibly important election, it’s more important than ever that we support candidates that are ready to fight for reproductive rights. I want to take a moment and highlight a few of the key races coming up in our elections this November – races that need your support to maintain our majority in Olympia.
If you are able, please consider donating to these campaigns and lending them your support – I’m proud to stand by them, and will always defend the reproductive rights of all Washingtonians.
Emily Randall for State Senate in the 26th LD
Sharon Shewmake for State Senate in the 42nd LD
Dave Paul for the State Legislature in the 10th LD
Brandy Donaghy for the State Legislature in the 44th LD
A COVID-19 Update
As we look to the future beyond COVID-19, we must also keep in mind that the novel coronavirus remains persistent and present. I want to take a moment today to make sure that you have up to date information on where Washington stands.
Right now, I’m proud to report that, as of a month ago, 81.8% of Washingtonians have received at least one vaccine dose, and 74.4% are fully vaccinated. This is great news! Getting vaccinated is the most effective way for you to protect yourself and those around you.
Along with our vaccinations, getting your booster shot is important to stay protected! Anyone 12 and older is eligible for their first booster shot once they are six months out from their initial vaccination, and anyone over the age of 50 is eligible for the second booster shot as well.
Click the image for the most up to date information!
Unfortunately, our COVID-19 case rates are rising in Washington – across the state we are seeing 224 cases per 100,000 people, and most counties are seeing over 100 cases per 100,000 people.
While we have reached a point of relative normalcy amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we must remember the simple truths we learned in early 2020 – if you’re feeling sick, mask up and stay home! Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and do whatever you can to protect those around you.
Doing your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 remains important, and I am so grateful for the continued efforts we are all making to protect one another.
Endorsment Shoutouts!
Working on your behalf in Olympia has been the pleasure of a lifetime these past four years, and it’s been an honor to work alongside so many great individuals and organizations as I’ve worked to represent you and the interests of the 40th LD.
Now I’m pleased to thank a number of great organizations who have endorsed my second re-election campaign!
Thank you so much to Planned Parenthood, the Washington Council of Police & Sherrifs, and the Washington State Nurses Association for endorsing my campaign!
Excited to run to continue as your voice in Olympia!
Representing you in Olympia these past four years has been such an incredible honor. I have loved getting to know each and every one of you, and it is always my goal to listen to each of you as we continue working to create a place our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be proud to call home.
It’s with that in mind that I ask you to stand with my campaign – I would love to include your name on my list of endorsements as I run for re-election this year. If you’d like to endorse my campaign, click here – it will only take a minute!
The 40th LD is an incredible place, and I am proud to have you behind me as I run for re-election to continue as your voice in Olympia.
