Biography

Sam represents the 22nd District - the cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, and unincorporated northern Thurston County, including the communities of Cooper Point, Boston Harbor, and Johnson Point. He is Chair of the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee and also serves on the Education Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.

Sam has worked as Director of Legislative Affairs, for the Department of Information Services, as a public school teacher in Pasco and Montesano, as Governor Booth Gardner's Special Assistant for K-12 Education, as Staff Director for the Washington State Senate Majority Leader, and on the staff of the United States Senate Appropriations Committee under Senator Warren G. Magnuson. He is a former member of the North Thurston Public School Board of Directors and the Pasco City Council.

His community activities include the Olympia Kiwanis Club, the North Thurston Education Foundation Board of Trustees, the K-20 Education Network Board, and President of the South Sound Cougar Club (WSU). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy, Washington Chapter, the Thurston County Community Drug Court Foundation Board of Directors, and the Washington State Historical Society Board of Trustees.

He received his degree and teaching certificate from Washington State University, and took post-graduate studies at Washington State University and the University of Oregon.

Sam and his wife Charlene have lived in Olympia for more than 25 years. They have two grown children, Hillary and Nathan..

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:
State Government and Tribal Affairs, Chair

Education

Ways and Means