November 6, 2024 4:06 pm

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How wealthy is your elected official? Looking at politicians’ worth amidst 14% wage increases

Washington state-level lawmakers are set to receive up to a 14.7 percent wage increase following the proposed 2025/26 salary schedule adopted by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials on October 10. The final vote is scheduled for February 5, 2025.

elected salaries

Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck is advocating for the higher pay stating that current state legislature pay is not consistent with their growing responsibilities, the Washington State Standard reports.

Proposed 2025-26 salary schedule by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.

State legislators annual pay will increase from $61,997 in 2024 to $66,411 in 2025 and $71,127 the following year—a 14.73 percent wage increase over two years.

Washington’s nine executives – governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, treasurer and commissioner – will also get a 3% cost of living adjustment next July and another 1% in 2026. Judges will also be getting 4% increases next summer with an additional 3% the following year.

“The members of the Legislature are the board of directors of our 8 million-person state and the entire state workforce,” said Heck. “Simply put, state legislator pay is not commensurate with the magnitude of their responsibilities and the time demands.”

State law maker salaries are decided by a salary commission that was voter-approved in 1987 to put an end to politicians determining their own pay. This commission, although funded by the state, works independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The commission is made up by 17 unpaid volunteer commissioners—a mixture of residents of Washington’s 10 congressional districts as well as business owners, labor unions, higher education staff, and legal and human resource professionals—who determine salary changes every two years.

The commission admitted raising salaries of state lawmakers would undoubtedly stir some commotion from the public. To address this, they plan to Over the next four months, commissioners will gather public comment at in-person and virtual hearings scheduled for November 14, in Port Angeles, December 11, and in Vancouver, January 8.

The Lynnwood Times took a look at the Financial Disclosure Statements of each state elected official in Snohomish County. Note that we did not factor in spouse or registered domestic partner income/assets nor debt which would portray a more accurate net worth. Many of the elected officials have additional sources of income besides that of their State Legislature income. Those that reported income only from the State Legislature, also reported significant spousal income.

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 1

Representative Davina Duer

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Representative$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – EmploymentHave Works LLC$0 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateBothell Home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBoeing Employees Credit Union$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – LifeNew York Life$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Stocks and bondsNew York Life$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Roth IRANew York Life$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – IRANew York Life$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset- RetirementDept. of Retirement Systems$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – StockCharles Schwab$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – PersonalKensho Clean Power ETF$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – PersonalInvesco MSCI Sustainable Future$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – PersonalClean Edge Green Energy Index$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – PersonalVanguard Growth Index Fund$0.00 to $29,999.00

Representative Shelley Kloba

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBECU$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Roll over IRACharles Schwab$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Brokerage AccountCharles Schwab$0 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateKenmore Home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00

Senator Derek Stanford

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – EmploymentPeopletech$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateBothell Home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountWells Fargo$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBank of America$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – 401KVoya Financial$60,000 to $99,999.00
Asset – IRAWells Fargo$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – 401KPrinciple$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – QQQQQQ$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – StockKeeper AI$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – PERSDept. of Retirement Services$30,000.00 to $59,999.00

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 21

Senator Marko Liias

Asset TypeSourceValue
Asset – Real EstatePlot of Land$750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Asset – RetirementWA State Department of Retirement$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Income – EmploymentSnohomish County$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Income – EmploymentWashington State Senate$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Mutual FundBetterment LLC$0.00 to $29,999.00

Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self

Asset TypeSourceValue
Asset – Real EstateMukilteo Home$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – RetirementWA State Dept. of Retirement Services$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State House of Representatives$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – EmploymentEverett School District$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – EmploymentSpain Abroad$0.00 to $29,999.00

Representative Strom Peterson

Asset TypeSourceValue
Asset – Real EstateEdmonds Home 1more than $1 million
Asset – RetirementJohn Hancock Life$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Stock/investmentVarious stocksup to $29,000 (20), up to $200,000
Asset – Stock/investmentWells Fargomore than $1 million
Asset – Bank AccountChase Bank$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Certificate of DepositWashington Federal$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Income – EmploymentMAM Consulting$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State House of Representatives$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Income – EmploymentSnohomish County Government$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Income – InheritanceTrust$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – RentalRental Property$0.00 to $29,999.00

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 32

Representative Lauren Davis

Asset TypeSourceValue
Asset – Bank AccountsBank of America$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – PersonalGE – General Electric$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – RetirementCharles Schwab$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA Recovery Alliance$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State House of Representatives$30,000.00 to $59,999.00

Senator Jesse Salomon

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – Spouse EmploymentWithin Reach$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Income – EmploymentState Senator$30,000.00 to $59,000.00
Asset – Bank AccountSchwab$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – LifeMet Life$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Boat InsuranceSafeco$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Home owners insuranceAmerica Family Insurance$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Rollover IRASchwab$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Roth IRASchwab$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – PERS 2WA Dept of Retirement Systems$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – 457BWA Dept. of Retirement Systems$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – 529 Education Savings PlanUtah Educational Savings Plan$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Managed PortfolioSchwab$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Community PropertySchwab$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Real EstateShoreline home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00

Representative Cindy Ryu

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Income – RentalEdmonds Rental Property$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Real EstateKing County Homemore than $1 million
Asset – Real EstateEdmonds Homemore than $1 million
Asset – Bank AccountPacific Premier Bank$299,999.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountEast West Bank$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Credit UnionSeattle Credit Union$0 to $29,999.00
Asset – Stocks and BondsVanguard$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Vanguard S&P 500Personal$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountUS Bank$0.00 to $29,999.00

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 38

Representative Julio Cortes

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentCity of Everett$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Income – EmploymentZebra Technologies$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Real EstateMukilteo Home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Asset – Roth IRA stockVanguard$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – StockMission Square$60,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – StockPERS$60,000.00 to $59,999.00

Representative Mary Fosse

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – RentRental property$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentCity of Everett (Council member)$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – RentRental property$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateEverett home 1$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Real EstateEverett home 2$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Real EstateEverett home 3$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBECU$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – RetirementDept. of Retirement Services$0.00 to $29,999.00

Senator June Robinson

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – EmploymentKing County (Public Health Program Manager)$0.00 to $29,999.00
Assets – stocks bondsSagePoint Financial$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Assets – stocks bondsDept. of Retirement Services$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Assets – Real EstateEverett home$500,000.00 to $749,999.00

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 39

Representative Carolyn Eslick

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – Social SecuritySocial Security Administration$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – RV RentalOutdoorsy Rental$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – RentalRoom for Rent$0.00 to $29,999.00
Assets –  stocks and bondsTIAA$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateShelton home$200,000.00 to $499,999.00

Representative Sam Low

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentSnohomish County (Council member)$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBECU$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – MsftMicrosoft$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Campaign AccountUnion Bank$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – IRA, stocksInteractive Brokers LLC.$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Campaign AccountUS Bank$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Bank Account1st Security Bank of WA$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – stocksTD Ameritrade$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksCharles Schwab$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateLake Stevens home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Asset – Real EstateSnohomish home$200,000.00 to $499,999.00

Senator Keith Wagoner

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – Military retirementDefense Finance and Accounting$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – Rental homeOak Harbor property$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – Rental homeMount Vernon property$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Real EstateOak Harbor home$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Real EstateMount Vernon home$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Real EstateSedro-Woolley home$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountNavy Federal Credit Union$300,000.00 to $699,999.00
Asset – Whole LifeNavy Mutual Aid Association$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – RetirementWashington DRS PERS 2$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Mutual FundFriends Provident International$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – Federal Retirement fundFederal Thrift Savings Plan$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stockSchwab$0.00 to $29,999.00

Elected Salaries: Legislative District 44

Representative April Berg

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Real EstateSnohomish County homemore than $1 million
Asset – Real EstateEverett home$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBoeing Credit Union$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – IRAEdward Jonesmore than $1 million
Asset – stocksMorgan Stanley$60,000.00 to $99,999.00

Representative Brandy Donaghy

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – Veterans DisabilityDept. of Treasury$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentWA State Legislature$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Real EstateEverett home$500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountBECU$0.00 to $29,999.00

Senator John Lovick

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA State Senate$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Income – RetirementWashington State Patrol$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Income – Social SecuritySocial Security Administration$0.00 to $29,99.00
Income – DisabilityDept. of Veterans Affairs$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountWA State Employees Credit Union$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – RetirementNationwide Retirement Solutions$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – 529 AccountCollege Savings Account$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Real EstateMill Creek home$750,000.00 to $999,999.00

Elected Salaries: Washington State Secretary of State

Steve Hobbs

Asset TypeSourceValue
Income – EmploymentWA Army National Guard$0.00 to $29,999.00
Income – EmploymentSecretary of State$100,000.00 to $199,999.00
Asset – Real EstateLake Stevens home$200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Asset – stocksDisney$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksGames Workshop$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksGeneral Electric$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksOmega Healthcare$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksT-Mobile$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksAnaly Capital Management$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksWarner Bros. Discovery$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksArbor Reality Trust$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksInternational Paper$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – stocksMain Street Capital Corp.$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – Treasury securities and savings bondsU.S. Treasury$30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountWells Fargo$60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Asset – Bank AccountUSAA$0.00 to $29,999.00
Asset – contribution planThrift Savings Plan$0.00 to $29,999.00

One Response

  1. The point is that normal people can’t do the job of a legislator if it doesn’t pay a living wage so only those who have other wealth can do it. For a government by us and for us, we need to offer fair pay. I don’t want an otherwise rich person who doesn’t know my struggles making laws that don’t work for me.

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