State Representative Skip Priest announced this week that he will seek his fourth term as 30th District Representative.

The candidate is inviting the public to a campaign kickoff celebration Sunday, May 18, from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Federal Way Courtyard Marriott located at 31910 Gateway Center Blvd. South in Federal Way.

"My number one priority as a legislator is to make our area a better place for the families who work and live here," said Representative Priest, noting that much remains to be done in Olympia. "If reelected I will continue to strive to improve our public education system and ensure adequate and equitable funding, protect our local environment, make our neighborhoods safer, and safeguard taxpayer dollars."

In the last legislative session, Representative Priest continued his leadership in education and public safety.

At the request of the Zina Linnik family he championed important revisions to the state's sex offender monitoring and tracking laws.

He also played a critical role in developing and passing comprehensive auto theft legislation. In education, he authored and sponsored major education legislation addressing school funding equity, replacing the math WASL with an improved math test, and strengthening the state's commitment to career and technical education.

As a result of these and other efforts, the statewide grassroots citizen action group, Fuse, recently recognized him as one of the six most effective legislators in the state.

He has also received a number of other awards and recognitions as a state legislator including: The Friends of the Hylebos Golden Hip Boot Award; The League of Education Voters Education Champion Award; The Washington Association of Career and Technical Education Legislator of the Year Award in 2005, 2006, and 2007; The National Federation of Small Business Guardian of Small Business Award; The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance House Hero Award; and the Domestic Abuse Women's Network Making a Difference Award in 2006.

The King County Municipal League has rated him "Outstanding" in 2002, 2004, and 2006

Rep. Skip Priest represents the 30th District, which includes Federal Way, Pacific, Algona, parts of Milton, Des Moines, Auburn, and Unincorporated King County.

Representative Priest currently serves as the Ranking Member of the House Education Committee, The Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Education and is a Member of the Appropriations Committee.

Among other legislative assignments, he also serves on the Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force, The Legislative Work Group on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, and as a Trustee of the Life Sciences Discovery Fund.

Representative Priest's community activities include serving as a Board Member of the South King County Multi-Service Center, Board Member of the Pacific Harbors Council, B.S.A., Advisory Board Member of the Friends of the Hylebos and Advancing Leadership programs, and member of the Federal Way School District's Construction Oversight Committee.