State Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, announced today that she is entering the race to succeed King County Councilmember Larry Phillips who informed the public that he is not running for re-election for King County Council District 4.

Kohl-Welles has served as state senator for the 36th Leg. District for the past 20 years. Prior to that she served in the state House of Representatives having succeeded Phillips when he won his election to the County Council in November, 1991.

"It's been an incredible privilege, honor and pleasure representing my constituents for the last 23 years in Olympia in what has been the most significant work of my career," Kohl-Welles said. "Throughout my legislative tenure, I have steadfastly striven to be accessible, responsive and effective. I've consistently worked collaboratively to achieve common-sense solutions on very challenging issues, while maintaining strong Democratic principles and values. I've fought for social justice and economic equity causes and have been a leader in advocating on behalf of the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable adults; victims of human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation of children, and domestic violence; medical marijuana reform; and for strategies addressing homelessness, affordable housing, and discrimination."

"On the King County Council, I’ll bring forth the same values and tackle the same issues, as well as income inequality, racial disproportionality in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, environmental sustainability, and transportation choices.

Kohl-Welles has been endorsed by King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, who currently represents the 4th Council District, as well as Councilmembers Rod Dembowski, Joe McDermott, and Dave Upthegrove. She also has been endorsed by her 36th Leg. District seatmates, Reps. Reuven Carlyle and Gael Tarleton, as well as all of the Democratic state Senators from King County.

"I thank Councilmember Phillips for his service, and wish him well in his retirement," Kohl-Welles said. “He’s been one of the most thoughtful and effective community and political leaders I’ve ever known. He will be sorely missed but his legacy and hard work will not be forgotten. I would be honored to continue his important work on the Council and on behalf of our constituents.

In addition to Sen. Kohl-Welles’ position as ranking member of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Jeanne sits on the Senate Ways & Means and Law & Justice committees.

She is the secretary and past chair of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee, co-chair of the Washington State Institute for Public Policy Board, and a member of the Joint Higher Education Committee, Joint Legislative Systems Committee, the Statewide Coordinating Committee on Sex Trafficking, and the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee, and the Committee on Advanced Tuition Payment. In addition, she’s a member of the Washington State Arts Commission and Public Stadium Authority Advisory Committee. She represents Washington on and is Vice Chair of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, and a member of the Education Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Jeanne holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of Education and M.A. in Sociology from UCLA and a B.A. and M.A. in Education from CSUN. She was an adjunct faculty member at U.W. 1985-2010 was the principal investigator on two federally funded research grants. She serves as an expert in Title IX lawsuits.

She also served as Assistant Dean/Coordinator of Women’s Programs at UC Irvine, Educational Equity Specialist for the U.S. Department of Education assisting school districts in implementing Title IX, and was a public school teacher.