NWPC-WA 2020 Heroines
| Phyllis Alexander | Nominated by Kathleen Petrich | My Fearless Field General |
| Jeanne M Archie | Nominated by Yanah G Cook |
Jeanne your stellar support on every level of my campaign made the journey an exciting adventure. I appreciate beyond words your dedication, consistency and inspiration! You are my Heroine. |
| Diane Bedwell | Nominated by Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski |
- Washington State Coordinated Campaign |
| Emily Carmichael | Nominated by King County Superior Court Judge Hillary Madsen | Emily was a first-time campaign manager who delivered in all areas from soliciting endorsements and fundraising to authoring emails and social posts. |
| Cathy Carruthers | Nominated by Pierce County Councilmember Jani Hitchen |
Cathy did not know me, but during our initial introductions, she extended a hand to support me as a first-time candidate. She organized others to make calls and write postcards and hand text people. She was there every week from primary to election day to help with phone calls and became my sign-waving coordinator. She brought a smile, energy and motivation. |
| Tiffany Chang | Nominated by Carolyn Ladd | Tiffany Chang was tireless, helpful, and encouraging during the campaign. She was a successful fundraiser -- which is particularly challenging with a judicial candidate who is not allowed to solicit funds. Best of all, Tiffany is a true believer in supporting women candidates. |
| Mary Fosse | Nominated by Washington State Representative Emily Wicks |
I could not have asked for a better friend, neighbor or campaign manager in 2020. Mary helped me adapt and show strength during a tense election season. She lightened my load and found ways we could volunteer and lead our community. She drafted materials, organized events and managed volunteers. And did all of this while raising a newborn, educating a four-year-old, serving on a commission, running a neighborhood board, and growing a community garden. She patiently dealt with “stressed Emily” and helped me find happiness through giggles, virtual game nights, wine and cursing the patriarchy. |
| Marguerite Greening | Nominated by San Juan County Commissioner Cindy Wolf |
Thank you for your sure and steady belief that this was the right thing to do and all the concrete ways you helped it happen. The re-bar on the campaign signs says it all. Your careful, thoughtful, thorough work was part of what made this campaign innovative and successful in the face of some very serious challenges. You are all about backbone! |
| Samantha Grad | Nominated by Suzanne Woodard |
Samantha is the ideal mentor, facilitator and political dynamo of the largest organized labor union in Washington State -UFCW21. She provides the drive and direction to effect change and make the work world better for workers in many different capacities at the state level. As a patient teacher, her behind-the-scenes networking dynamo provided steam and authenticity to this fledgling candidate and novice politician. Her vision and organizing was so on point, her belief in me was everything. Thank you, Samantha! |
| Makenzie Graham | Nominated by San Juan County Commissioner Cindy Wolf |
You are very, very good at what you do. At the moment I knew I needed to grow an extra head to think through the many things that needed doing, prioritize tasks, delegate projects and supervise results, you said yes. You even phone banked for me! You asked what I needed and embodied the calm, kind, confident persistence that made the last weeks of a very long campaign doable. You also craft words in a way I learned to trust very rapidly. Please accept my deep respect and support for whatever work you choose to do in the world. I am grateful. |
| Leah Griffin | Nominated by the NWPC-WA Board | Leah’s standout organizing, coalition building, and voter engagement helped power Referendum 90 to a spectacular win. Thanks to Leah and her work, Washington youth will have access to medically-accurate, comprehensive sex ed that includes LGBTQ+ youth and teaches affirmative consent. This is a truly historic win - Washington was the first state to vote on sex ed at the ballot and thanks to the Referendum 90 campaign, we sent a strong message for the rest of the country to follow. Thank you, Leah! |
| Linda Herbert | Nominated by Danielle Garbe Reser | In a district where campaign signs matter and provide visual momentum for a campaign, Linda led our efforts to distribute signs strategically and across a large geography. She managed the entire process and a large team of volunteers and proved her ingenuity, including with power tools, to get our large signs up in complicated places, whether on the side of a building or on a fence in a field. There was no campaign task that she was not willing to step up to do, and we would not have had the historic gains we did in this district without her help and leadership. |
| Delaney Hewitt | Nominated by Washington Supreme Court Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis | This was Delaney’s first campaign and she came in as a campaign manager for a statewide judicial campaign. At only 23, she was met with a bit of skepticism, but her energy and savvy were immediately evident. Delaney did incredible work. We had many, many volunteers who she organized and deployed beautifully. I had numerous people tell me how responsive she was to questions and needs, which I experienced as well. She organized hundreds of Zoom events, managed the tech issues we had, and kept a calm head throughout. She was a delight to work with and I am honored to nominate her. |
| Gabriela Hyre | Nominated by Thurston County Commissioner Carolina Mejia |
Gaby was a life-saver. She believed in me from the very beginning. Going above and beyond, giving her tears, blood and sweat to the campaign. Her dedication, but most importantly her friendship, kept us going strong and got us through the finish line. |
| Noelle Kappert | Nominated by Washington State Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins | Noelle worked day and night to make sure all three candidates in the 27th LD engaged with constituents and raised money to help other candidates. She was committed, creative and energetic. No matter how tired I was, talking to Noelle always re-energized me to keep working. Thanks Noelle! |
| Diane Keddy | Nominated by Danielle Garbe Reser | Diane was our campaign heroine for her enthusiastic and consistent support as a phone banking volunteer from April through November. She strengthened our democracy by engaging voters across the political spectrum and helped us earn more votes than any other Democratic campaign in LD 16 in the last decade. |
| Linda LaMar | Nominated by Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon | Whenever a hole appeared in the campaign, Linda stepped up to fill it--even though she had never worked on a political campaign before. She quickly became irreplaceable. She was our photographer and our graphic artist. She identified marketing needs. She designed, ordered, identified locations and installed signs. She put together mail pieces. She wrote and sent email blasts. She created our Instagram account, Dogs4Bacon2020. And because she’s a perfectionist, the image we projected to the voters was beautiful and professional. |
| Caitlin Leck | Nominated by San Juan County Commissioner Cindy Wolf |
You always saw the potential and understood why it had to be done. Thank you for holding up the mirror and the mission whenever my courage faltered. You keep showing me who I am and what we can accomplish together through the conscientious and compassionate work that we do as women in this world. You are a mighty leader. I walk in front to clear the blackberries and make the ground ready for the day we elect YOU to office. |
| Joni the Great Martin | Nominated by Kim Lehrman | The world needs strong women. Women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved. Women who live bravely, both tender and fierce. Women of indomitable will.” Joni exemplified this quote with her daily commitment to the campaign in her role as Volunteer Coordinator. With her unmatched passion for recruiting volunteers, she organized to share out the campaign’s message. A message of hope for a better Franklin County for all of our residents. A debt of gratitude is forever owed to Joni for her indomitable will during the entire six months of Kim for Franklin County campaign. - Kim for Franklin County |
| Alyson McGuire | Nominated by Lori Feagan | Through her extraordinary dedication to our community, and while serving many roles as campaign manager, the strength and integrity Alyson brought to this campaign will be felt in the 4th legislative district for years to come. |
| Catherine Minch | Nominated by Washington State Representative Vandana Slatter | I cannot remember an election where you were not there to support me to walk doors, or make phone calls. Thank you for being the one who without fanfare somehow materializes to help when it is most needed. Thank you for bringing your quiet fierceness to my campaign. And also for your singular focus on women’s rights to make decisions about their bodies, on their freedom to be leaders, and for equal justice. My family and I see you as extraordinary. Thank you for being my heroine & for inspiring me always. |
| Courtney Normand | Nominated by Leah Griffin | Courtney and Liezl co-managed an incredible campaign that secured the endorsement of hundreds of organizations. They led an entirely volunteer-run coalition to fight misinformation to ensure that all students in Washington have access to medically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive sexual health education. - Safe and Healthy Youth WA |
| Teri Nomura | Nominated by the NWPC-WA Board | A friend and neighbor to Heidi since she was 12, Teri stepped up to chair Heidi’s campaign. She is a veteran campaign leader and provided the experienced vision and clarity the campaign needed to navigate to a win. At every turn of the crank Teri knew what the best use of campaign resources was and made decisive recommendations. Fundamentally, she steered us to a win. - Heidi Eisenhour for County Commissioner, Jefferson County |
| Orcas Women’s Coalition | Nominated by San Juan County Commissioner Cindy Wolf |
For the hundreds of conversations, the letters, the material and moral support, thank you. We have a seat at the table. |
| Rachel Padgett | Nominated by Washington State Representative Liz Berry | Rachel started this journey with me from the very beginning. She helped me organize my contacts for fundraising and together we reached unimaginable goals. I leaned on Rachel’s strategic advice daily and her friendship when times were tough. We also laughed a lot during hours of call time. There is no one I would rather have by my side running for office as a first-time candidate during a global pandemic than Rachel. Thank you for believing in me. |
| Sharon Parker | Nominated by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland | As one of my most dedicated volunteers, Sharon spent hours reaching out to voters in my district and advocating more me. I am honored to have earned her support and thankful for all the time and effort she put in to helped me get elected. |
| Liezl Rebugio | Nominated by Leah Griffin | Courtney and Liezl co-managed an incredible campaign that secured the endorsement of hundreds of organizations. They led an entirely volunteer-run coalition to fight misinformation to ensure that all students in Washington have access to medically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive sexual health education. - Safe and Healthy Youth WA |
| Michele Rodriguez | Nominated by San Juan County Commissioner Cindy Wolf |
You know you are the brains and breadth of the operation. Thank you for your strategic support and for swimming with me through all the rough waters. Together we felt it, thought it through and figured it out. You always picked up the phone and when I was at my wits’ end, you let me borrow your wits. You are my Dolphin Twin and together we rise and dive and rise again! A good team is always more powerful than the sum of its parts. Let me know where you need me, always. |
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Olivia Sarriugarte |
Nominated by Jessi Murray | Olivia was the glue that kept our campaign together. Whatever needed to happen, happened because of her. |
| Sarah Soulliere | Nominated by Washington State Representative Sharon Shewmake |
For always showing grace, for being able to pivot, and for being willing to figure it out. |
| Emma Spickard | Nominated by Washington State Representative Liz Berry | Emma jumped in to run my campaign during the height of COVID-19. She was thoughtful and strategic, an eager learner and deftly managed all aspects of the campaign with grace and intelligence. I trusted her implicitly. There was no challenge that Emma wouldn’t tackle, including handling some big personalities. I am so proud of the leader Emma proved herself to be and cannot wait to see what she accomplishes in the years to come. Your future is truly limitless. |
| Hong Ta | Nominated by State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos | Hong was completely unflappable and maintained a positive “can do” attitude in spite of every curve ball thrown by COVID campaigning. I especially appreciated her patience in teaching this “old dog” new ways to stay in communication through social media. I am confident that Hong will change the world . . . she has already begun! |
| Alexis Turla & The Persist PAC Team | Nominated by Samantha Casne and the NWPC-WA Board | Alexis and her team at Persist PAC did incredible work this cycle. Their bold leadership helped elevate Black women candidates running for office. It is well past time that Black women are at the decision table and Persist PAC ensured that these candidates got the time, resources and attention they deserved. Her work highlights what’s possible when we support black women running for office. |
| Lauren Walker Lee | Nominated by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland | Lauren is a friend and dedicated volunteer who spent hours reaching out to voters. I am honored and thankful for her support throughout my campaign. |