Elect Bill Ramos, House of Representatives, LD 5

Bill Ramos headshot
Bill Ramos, candidate for House in the 5th Legislative District

WEA-PAC members endorse Democrat Bill Ramos for election to the Washington House of Representatives, Position 1, in Legislative District 5.  The 5th legislative district includes the cities of Snoqualmie, Carnation and North Bend, as well as parts of Issaquah, Renton, Maple Valley and Black Diamond.

Bill Ramos was first elected to the Issaquah City Council in 2015 after serving on Issaquah’s Economic Vitality Commission, the Planning and Policy Commission, and on the Issaquah Human Service Commission.

Bill Ramos is currently a small business owner. His company, The Common Good, is an Issaquah-based consulting firm specializing in developing transportation and public transit projects. Ramos also owned his own dance business, Dance All Night, from 1996-2013 in North Bend, Snoqualmie and Preston, teaching Ballroom, Salsa, Swing and Latin dancing.  He is a member of the Issaquah Rotary and the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce.

From 2005 to 2013, Ramos worked for the US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration as a Community Planner. Previously, he was stationed with the US Forest Service in North Bend, Washington. During this time, Bill served as Director of Timber Management, Director of Recreation and Public Services, and the Director of Ecosystem Management .

He and his wife, Sarah Perry, live in downtown Issaquah. They have two children, both graduates of the Issaquah School District.

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 Bill's answer:

 
Bill Ramos standing with two WEA members
Bill Ramos, candidate for the House in the 5th LD, visits with WEA members Catherine Boys and Nate Ziemkowski at WEA Headquarters in Federal Way.

I truly believe the kids are our future, and we must give every child the knowledge and opportunity to be successful. I like the quote “Education is expensive but ignorance costs more.” If we do not educate all our kids, our society will fail. My two kids graduated from Issaquah Public Schools and our family will always be grateful to the many teachers who left an imprint on their lives.

I am an avid union supporter. Unions have made our economy strong with well paid, secure jobs. Having been a union member, voluntarily in the Federal Employees Union, and being raised by a Teamster member, I understand what that means in a visceral sense. As a child, I boycotted grapes to support the United Farm Workers Union in California.

I worked in a Federal Civil Rights Office as an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist. During that time, I worked very closely with the union, because we were stronger together in getting resolution with management and helping employees get fair and equal treatment, whether it was a civil rights issue or a workplace issue. I am proud to stand with our brothers and sisters across the labor movement.

The power of a strong education, of a great teacher, and of the movement that holds together workers in the fight for fairness – these are the things I know in my bones. I hope to have your support while I bring that passion to Olympia.

The above statement is taken from Bill Ramos' 2018 WEA-PAC questionnaire​.

See the mailer we sent WEA Members in LD 5.

Primary Mail LD 5 a

Primary Mail LD 5 b