By Evan Smith
New Democratic 21st District State Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self has been assigned to positions on the House committee on early learning and human services, the environment committee and the transportation committee.
Ortiz-Self took the seat last week that had been vacated by Marko Liias, who moved from the House to the Senate to replace retired Sen. Paull Shin.
Ortiz-Self, a counselor at North Middle School in Everett, said this about her appointment to the committee on early learning and human services:
“A quality education starting at a young age is the solution to so many of the social problems we face. Equal opportunity at the American dream is something I believe in very strongly and early learning programs are essential for us to help achieve that goal.”
About her appointment to the environment committee, Ortiz-Self said that, as a mother of three, she is committed to a sustainable future for generations to come.
“Preserving the natural beauty of our state and ensuring our air and water are pristine is entirely in our hands,” Ortiz-Self said after taking her new position in Olympia. “We can’t simply rely on hope. It’s up to us to put responsible environmental management policies in place now.”
On her appointment to the transportation committee, Ortiz-Self said that transportation is a pivotal issue for the people of Snohomish County.
“Economic growth in our area depends on moving people, goods, and services more efficiently,” she said. “We won’t attract businesses that create family-wage jobs unless we find true solutions to our transportation problems.”
Ortiz-Self said that she is honored to serve on the three House committees.
“I am looking forward to working on improving the lives of families in my district and across the state,” added Ortiz-Self, whose 21st Legislative District includes most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood, all of Mukilteo and part of south Everett.
Ortiz-Self continues as co-chairwoman of the Legislators’ Educational Opportunity Gap Statewide Committee, and is a member of the Washington Commission of Hispanic Affairs, the State of Washington’s Achievement Accountability Education Workgroup and the Discipline Task Force.
