Kevin Ranker

In just two short months, on January 10 th , I’ll be heading back to Olympia to start the 2010 legislative session, and we’ll have our work cut out for us. Just a year after tackling a $9 billion budget deficit – the largest in our state’s history - we’re faced with another...

Continue reading →

Sen. Kevin Ranker with Sam Buck Sr. at the ribbon cutting for the San Juan Home Trust acreage at Grover Street as part of the Buck annexation Sept. 12....

Continue reading →

From Skagit Valley College: The importance of educating the state's youngest children, along with support for working families, took center stage last Wednesday when Skagit/Islands Head Start hosted State Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, for a visit and tour at its Mount Vernon facility. During...

Continue reading →

OLYMPIA - As the Congress debates the details of President Obama's plan for reforming the health insurance policies, Sen. Kevin Ranker will host a town hall in Bellingham to hear from 40th District constituents and help inform residents about any potential changes in Washington. Ranker will be joined...

Continue reading →

OLYMPIA — Today, at the invitation of the White House Council for Environmental Quality, Sen. Kevin Ranker testified at the U.S. Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force hearing at the White House Conference Center. In his testimony Ranker, who is also a senior fellow at The Ocean Foundation, said the...

Continue reading →

ANACORTES - Area teachers got a chance to let lawmakers know what they think of state education reform plans during a recent meeting in Anacortes. Sen. Kevin Ranker with area educators in Anacortes ( Click for full size ) Sen. Kevin Ranker of San Juan Island joined two lawmakers who oversee the Senate...

Continue reading →

When I thought about the experiences and challenges I'd face as your state senator, I didn’t think that in my first year I'd find myself on the front lines of a fight that’s been brewing over the last 40 years. From the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York, to the protests last year in California...

Continue reading →

It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the county fair. Last week Rep. Jeff Morris and I went to the Skagit County Fair and the San Juan County Fair. At the Skagit County Fair I was honored to participate in the Welcoming Ceremony with Jeff Morris, Skagit County Commissioners and others. At the San Juan County Fair, I was asked to speak, again with Jeff Morris, at the Agricultural Tent regarding local agricultural issues and state policy. The presentation was followed by a great Q&A session where I learned more about several issues from local producer needs to issues with L&I. It was great to talk with all of the people that participated.

I also had a chance to check out some of the great things local farmers and gardeners are growing and raising in our community. From the 4H tent at the Skagit Fair to the incredible quilts at the San Juan Fair, to the remarkable produce at both, it was a great representation of our communities (I have to say that I particularly enjoyed the conversation and incredible pie - and ice cream) at the PTA Pie Booth at the San Juan Fair – I’m lucky this doesn’t happen more than once a year.

The fair is a great chance to highlight the work our farmers do, and an important showcase as well. A study prepared for the Washington State Department of Agriculture estimated nearly 8 million people attended local fairs across Washington in 2005, and the fairs create nearly $385 million in economic activity.

Fairs create jobs, and they serve as major centers of fundraising for non-profit organizations. When you help an organization at the fair, you’re also helping the community as a whole. The first agricultural fair in Washington was held in 1892, and we can only hope they’ll remain as important parts of our state’s economy for another century.

Sen. Kevin Ranker has scheduled the open house for his Anacortes district office for Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. - 2:00 pm. The office is located in the City of Anacortes Municipal Building at 904 6th St.

OLYMPIA – Following his first session in Olympia, Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, has hired a new legislative assistant, Ann Larson, and opened a district office in Anacortes.

“After a long 105-day session in Olympia, I was eager to get back home to the 40^th district and get to work for our constituents in our community,” Ranker said. “Our office in Anacortes, along with a soon-to-open office in Bellingham, will make sure our constituents have ample opportunity to get in touch with me as we move forward in helping people get back to work and helping our local economy recover.”

Ranker will also hold a public open house, Thursday July 23^rd from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Anacortes office, located within the City of Anacortes Municipal Building, at 904 6th St.

Prior to joining the Senate, Ranker served as a San Juan County Council member, and worked with Larson in her role as a department head and clerk to the County Council. Ranker noted that Larson’s diverse experience working with communities in the district and her significant background in policy and science uniquely qualify her to assist with the issues facing the 40^th district.

Ranker’s Anacortes office can be reached at (360) 899-5638 or via fax at (360) 899-5641. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Larson can also be reached at larson.ann@leg.wa.gov. A second district office will open later this summer in the Bellingham area.