Tina Podlodowski
Chair of the Washington Democratic Party
In office
January 28, 2017 – January 28, 2023
Preceded byJaxon Ravens
Succeeded byShasti Conrad
Member of the Seattle City Council
Position 7
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded bySherry Harris
Succeeded byHeidi Wills
Personal details
Born (1960-08-26) August 26, 1960
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationUniversity of Hartford (BA)

Tina L. Podlodowski (born 1960) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the chair of the Washington State Democratic Party for three terms. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a member of the Seattle City Council and unsuccessfully ran for Secretary of State of Washington in 2016.

Career

Podlodowski graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Hartford.[1] After graduation she worked with a number of technology start-ups, finally coming to Microsoft in 1984, where she managed groups in product marketing, domestic and international sales, and eventually Microsoft's global training business. She managed 8 business hubs in the U.S and four in Europe and Asia. After leaving Microsoft in 1993, she was one of the principal investors in the purchase and renovation of Seattle's historic Paramount Theatre. She was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1995 with 65% of the vote.[2] She served on the council for one term, chairing Neighborhoods and Neighborhood Planning and the Public Safety, Health and Technology Committee. Podlodowski passed landmark legislation in consumer protection, civil rights and gender identity. She also shepherded the creation of the Office of Police Accountability. In 2004, she was named the executive director of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance,[3] a position that she held until 2007.[4] She also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound and as a practice manager for Porter Novelli. In 2014, she advised Ed Murray, the Mayor of Seattle, on issues of policing.

In January 2016, Podlodowski announced that she would run against Kim Wyman, the incumbent Secretary of State of Washington, in the 2016 election.[5] Wyman defeated Podlodowski with 55% of the vote in a bruising race, centered on access to the ballot, postage paid ballots, same-day, registration, and pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds.[6]

In January 2017, Podlodowski was elected to be the chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Jaxon Ravens.[7] Thanks to Podlodowski and the changes she made to the party, Washington Democrats increased their state House majority from two seats to 16 seats, and won back the state Senate majority, which they now hold by seven seats. She won every state wide office for Democrats, and two particularly difficult congressional races in WA CD districts 8 and 3. Podlodowski also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and chair of the DNC western states caucus as well as a member of the DNC executive committee. She did not run for another term in January 2023.[8]

Personal life

Podlodowski (right) in 2017 with New York Assemblyman and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee Michael Blake and King County Council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

Podlodowski is openly gay.[2][9] She is married and has three children.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Election Center". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Will gays and lesbians in 2016 shatter last 'glass ceiling' in state politics?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 23, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Seattle Gay News 12 Mar 2004, page 1". Newspapers.com. March 12, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Seattle Gay News 22 Jun 2007, page 52". Newspapers.com. June 22, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ Brunner, Jim (January 13, 2016). "Tina Podlodowski to challenge Secretary of State Kim Wyman". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Washington Secretary of State Results: Kim Wyman Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Washington Democrats opt for new leader". The News Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ "WA Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski stepping down". The Seattle Times. January 4, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ Paynter, Susan (December 12, 2006). "Two-mom families are moving beyond the hurtful barbs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
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