Re-elect Christine Kilduff, House of Representatives, LD 28

Christine Kilduff headshot
Christine Kilduff, candidate for the House of Representatives in the 28th LD.

WEA-PAC members endorse Democrat Christine Kilduff for re-election to the Washington House of Representatives, Position 2, in Legislative District 28. The 28th Legislative District is in Pierce County, and contains a bit of Tacoma, Washington, and the cities of Fircrest, Washington, University Place, Washington, Lakewood, Washington, Steilacoom, Washington, and DuPont, Washington. It also contains Ketron Island, Anderson and McNeil Island.

Christine Kilduff has spent her career in public service advocating on behalf of the people of our state. She is an attorney, and has more than two decades of experience as a litigator handling hundreds of court cases, including 18 years as a state assistant attorney general. She was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2014 and reelected in 2016.

Christine serves as Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Education, and Early Learning and Human Services Committees. She also serves on the Joint Committee for Veterans’ and Military Affairs and the Joint Legislative and Review Committee.

The granddaughter of four Irish immigrants who arrived in the United States with very little education and savings, Chris is a staunch believer in the power of public education and the many opportunities it provides our youngest citizens. This strongly held belief led to her two-time election to the University Place School Board where she served as Board President. During Chris’ tenure, the Board was twice recognized as a Board of Distinction by the statewide school board association, and in 2014 the Board was awarded its most prestigious honor, Washington State Board of the Year.

A fluent Spanish speaker, Christine double majored in Spanish and Italian literature at Boston College where she graduated summa cum laude and with Phi Beta Kappa honors. Immediately following college, she attended the Boston College Law School.

Chris has lived in beautiful University Place for almost 19 years. She  and her spouse and partner of 28 years, Colleen, have two daughters, Amelia and Julia, who attend the University Place schools.

We asked candidates: "If you had one minute to convince teachers and support staff to vote for you, what would you tell them?"

This is Christine's answer:

As a parent and former University Place School Board President, I am a staunch believer in the power of public education and the many opportunities it provides. I am a proud graduate of the public schools and am deeply grateful for how it transformed my own life. I have been an ally of public schools on the School Board and as a State Representative and have the track record to prove it.

I will continue to fight for equity in how our schools are funded, and advocate for a 21st-century school system that attracts and retains a high-quality teacher workforce and prepares students for their unique post-high-school pathway. I hope that I have earned your continued support so that we can continue to strengthen our school system, invest in teachers and staff, and build opportunities for every child across our state, together.

The above statement is taken from Christine Kilduff's 2018 application for WEA-PAC endorsement.

WEA members support Rep. Christine Kilduff

Christine Kilduff and Heather Yuckert
Rep. Christine Kilduff and WEA member Heather Yuckert.

"We need more pro-student, pro-union leaders like Rep. Kilduff and Mari Leavitt working with us in the Legislature."

Heather Yuckert, teacher and Steilacoom Education Association member