Debra Lekanoff
Debra Lekanoff | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 40th district | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2019 Serving with Alex Ramel | |
| Preceded by | Kristine Lytton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 26, 1971 Yakutat, Alaska, U.S.[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
Debra E. Lekanoff (born February 26, 1971) is a Democratic member of the Washington Legislature representing the State's 40th House district for position 1. She is a member of the Tlingit tribe and was credited with being the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives.[2][3] However, Lois Stratton was actually the first female tribal member to serve in the Washington House of Representatives, starting her first term in 1979,[4][5] making Lekanoff the second female tribal member to serve in this position.
Career
[edit]Lekanoff won the election on 6 November 2018 from the platform of Democratic Party. She secured sixty-seven percent of the vote while her closest rival Republican Michael Petrish secured thirty-three percent.[6]
Lekanoff was the head sponsor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's and People's Alert System, the first nationwide alert system for missing Indigenous people in the United States (House Bill 1725). On 31 March 2022, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed six bills into law, two of which focus on helping missing Indigenous people that will take effect June 9.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Lekanoff is a member of the Aleut and Tlingit tribe[8] of Washington State.
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Alex Ramel | 7,684 | 19.13 | |
| Democratic | Debra Lekanoff | 11,323 | 28.19 | |
| Republican | Michael Petrish | 8,446 | 21.03 | |
| Republican | Daniel Miller | 2,686 | 6.69 | |
| Democratic | Rud Browne | 7,394 | 18.41 | |
| Democratic | Tom Pasma | 2,629 | 6.55 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Debra Lekanoff | 48,153 | 67.02 | |
| Republican | Michael Petrish | 23,692 | 32.98 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Resolutions Introduced in 3 States to Designate 2019 as International Year of the Salmon". Alaska Native News. April 11, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "Representative-Elect Debra Lekanoff receives House committee assignments". The Press Pool. December 18, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "Lekanoff Sworn-In as First Native American Woman to Serve in House" (Press release). Olympia, Washington. Washington State House Democrats. January 15, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ Epperly, Emma (September 15, 2020). "'Kindness, respect and compassion': Longtime state legislator Lois Stratton dies at 93". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "House Class Photos 1981". Washington State Legislature. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Election Results - Election Results 2018". The New York Times. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ "State's missing Indigenous people alert system will be first in the US". KIRO 7 News Seattle. March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
- ^ "Tlingit", Wikipedia, May 10, 2022, retrieved June 6, 2022
External links
[edit] | This article about a member of the Washington House of Representatives is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 21st-century Alaska Native people
- Democratic Party members of the Washington House of Representatives
- 21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature
- Living people
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Alaska Native women
- Women state legislators in Washington (state)
- 1971 births
- Native American state legislators in Washington (state)
- Tlingit women
- 21st-century Native American women
- 21st-century Native American politicians
- Members of the Washington House of Representatives stubs