Pam Roach
Pam Roach | |
---|---|
President pro tempore of the Washington Senate | |
Assumed office January 12, 2015 | |
Preceded by | Tim Sheldon |
Member of the Washington Senate from the 31st district | |
Assumed office January 14, 1991 | |
Preceded by | Frank Warnke |
Personal details | |
Born |
San Diego, California, U.S. | April 26, 1948
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Jim Roach |
Children | 5 |
Residence | Sumner, Washington |
Alma mater |
Brigham Young University, Utah |
Religion | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) |
Website |
Party website Senate website |
Pamela Roach (born April 26, 1948) is an American Republican politician and a Washington State Senator representing the 31st Legislative District.[1]
Personal life and education
Senator Roach received a Bachelor's degree in History from Brigham Young University in 1970, and received a teaching certificate the next year.
Senator Roach and her husband, Jim, have been married for 33 years. They have five grown children, one of whom (Dan Roach) is now chair of the Pierce County Council.[2]
Senator Roach is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).[3][4]
Elected office
Roach was elected to the senate in 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 Her current term expires January 2019.
In 2010 fellow Senate Republicans banned her from the Senate Caucus after colleagues told her she had repeatedly mistreated staff and should get counseling to manage her anger. Republicans barred her from the caucus room, though she could still vote on the Senate Floor.[5][6]
Despite Roach's attempts at appeal, the disciplinary sanctions against Roach were maintained for almost two years, until they were abruptly lifted in February 2012, when the Senate Republican leadership wrote a letter to Sen. Roach inviting her back into the Republican caucus.[7] Not long after Roach was invited into the Senate Republican caucus, Senate Republicans- joining with three Democrats- utilized an obscure procedural motion to wrest control of the budget writing process from the Democratic caucus and pass their own budget.[8] However, in Roach's absence, even with the votes of the three Democrats, the Republicans would still come up one vote short of being able to pass their budget on the floor of the Senate. In one interview, Roach said, "I was the 25th vote (for the GOP), and my caucus finally did the right thing." Her return to the caucus room prompted Mike Hoover, a GOP staffer who had been verbally abused by Roach in the past, to sue the Washington State Senate for $1.75 million for creating a hostile workplace by readmitting Roach back into the caucus room.[7] In September 2012, the Washington State Senate reaffirmed their sanctions against Senator Roach.[9]
In August 2015, Roach announced she is planning to run for the county council for Pierce County, Washington in 2016.[10]
Standing committees (2013-14)
- Government Operations(Chair), Tribal Relations and Elections
- Judiciary
Civic activities
- Director, Reading Tree Advisory Board
- Board member, Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation
- Member: Rotary International of Sumner
- State Farm Bureau; Boy Scouts of America (Guardian Member); Founding member, Lake Tapps Task Force
- Sons of Italy
- Past Member: Auburn Food Bank Board of Directors
- Auburn Chamber of Commerce
- Local Council, Boy Scouts of America
- Soos Creek Action Response
Special committees
Current:
- “Sunshine” Committee (Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee), 2011–present;
- Statewide Coordinating Committee on Sex Trafficking, 2014–present;
- Joint Select Committee for Veterans and Military Affairs, 2001–present (Co-Chair);
- Election Administration and Certification Board, 2007–present;
- State Building Code Council, 1991–95, 2014–present;
- Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 2001–present.
Former:
- Governor’s Juvenile Issues Task Force, 1991;
- Special Legislative Task Force for the Juvenile Justice Act, 1994;
- Caring For Washington Individuals with Autism Task Force, 2005–08;
- Puget Sound Action Team Council, 1999-2006; Statute Law Committee, 1994-2001;
- Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2005–11;
- Economic Development Finance Authority, 2000–03;
- Governor’s Council on Substance Abuse, 2006–10; Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation, 1998-2008.
- Sentencing Guidelines Commission
SRC - Senator Pam Roach Biography].[11] 2014
Awards
Roach was awarded Legislator of the Year by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, 1996,1997,1998,1999 R
Roach received the Key Award from the WA Coalition for Open Government.[12]
Awards & Honors:
NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award 2013-14; 2011–12; 2003-2008;1993-2000; Washington Association of County Auditors for outstanding work on election issues, 2004; Friend of the taxpayer award, Citizens for a Sound Economy, 2002; Washington State Veterans Legislative Coalition Outstanding Service Award, 2000; Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 690 Recognition Award, 2000; Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs Legislator of the Year, 1995-1999; Pierce County DUI/Traffic Safety Award, 1999; Washington State Dept. of Veterans Affairs Legislator of the Year, 1998; Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Assoc. President’s Award, 1998; Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Appreciation Award, 1997; Valley Cities Counseling & Consultation Certificate of Appreciation, 1997; Washington State Law Enforcement Association Sentinel Award, 1996; Defender of Justice Award, 1996; Washington Retail Association Recognition Award, 1996; Auburn Area Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award, 1995; King County Outdoor Sports Council Legislator of the Year Award, 1993; Washington State Dietetic Association Public Policy Maker Award, 1992; Foster Care Joint Conference Committee Appreciation Award, 1991.
References
- ↑ "National Write Your Congressman -- Sen. Pamela Roach (R-Washington) biography". Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ "Pierce County, WA - Official Website - District 1". Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ "Pam Roach Fires Away", Seattle PI. Retrieved on March 22, 2009.
- ↑ Seattle Times Aug. 30, 2012
- ↑ "GOP caucus bans state Sen. Pam Roach, tells her to get anger counseling", Seattle Times. Retrieved on January 29, 2010.
- ↑ "Seattle News and Events - Investigation Reveals Sen. Pam Roach Is "Crazy," "Unhinged"". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- 1 2 http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2017906943_roach05m.html
- ↑ "BUDGET COUP UPDATE: GOP Seizes Control of Senate, Passes Their Own Budget, Special Session Looms". 2 March 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ Sinclair Broadcast Group. "Senate claim settlement keeps sanctions against GOP's Roach". KOMO. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ Santos, Melissa (August 31, 2015). "Pam Roach, controversial GOP state senator, running for Pierce County Council". The News Tribune.
- ↑ "About Me". Pam Roach. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ Chan, April (December 3, 2011). "Sen. Pam Roach Awarded for Government Transparency Efforts". Enumclaw Patch.