Rep Vicki Kraft listens as Rep Monica Stonier, right, answers questions as teachers, parents and public school supporters rally at a 2017 town hall with legislators at Roosevelt Elementary in Vancouver. Stonier has been elected to be serve as House deputy majority whip. (The Columbian files)
Washington state Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, was elected to a leadership position by members of the House Democratic Caucus on Monday.
Stonier will now serve as deputy majority whip, where she will be responsible for gauging the level of support for legislation, amendments and budgets, as well as which items are ready to be brought up for a full House vote.
Stonier said that the position opened up when state Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, left the Legislature last year. Stonier said she was elected to the position in a noncontested vote and sought the position because of what she said is the lack of women and people of color in leadership positions in her caucus.
“I just felt like it was really important to bring that perspective to where decisions get made,” she said.
Additionally, Stonier, who has two children, said that she also wants to make it easier for legislators with families at home. She also said that her caucus’s leadership is dominated by lawmakers from the Puget Sound area and wanted to bring a perspective from Southwest Washington.
According to a news release, Stonier said that she will seek to provide a strong voice for Southwest Washington as the lawmakers work “to provide more support for public schools, address the opioid crisis, reverse the homelessness trend, and improve treatment for those with mental illnesses.” The Democratic Party is in a better position to pursue its agenda, having regained full control of the Legislature for the first time since 2012.
Stonier is currently serving her first term representing the 49th Legislative District. She previously served one term in the 17th Legislative District and works in special services in Evergreen Public Schools.
In a news release, Majority Whip Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, praised Stonier for “her passion for improving public schools, fighting for women’s rights, and bringing more economic opportunities to her community.”
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
