LAKE STEVENS — Ida Keeley, a proven leader in public service with over 25 years of experience, today announced her candidacy for the open seat in the Washington State House of Representatives in the 39th Legislative District.
Keeley, who lives in Lake Stevens, is running as an Independent Democrat, reflecting her longtime commitment to put people over party with an uncompromising commitment to community safety and keeping the government accessible and accountable to the hardworking families of Snohomish County. A first-time candidate, Keeley is running on a platform centered on youth and victim advocacy, investing in communities, addressing the high costs of living, and building safer communities for every family in Washington State.
Keeley’s path to this work is deeply personal. She spent her childhood moving between maternal relatives in an unstable home environment, an experience that shaped her understanding of what vulnerable children and families truly need. It was that lived experience that drew her to child welfare and juvenile justice, driven by a desire to help others navigate systems she once experienced herself, and tried to change those systems from within.
“For over 25 years, I’ve advocated for the safety of kids first and helping families in general at the local, county, and state level,” said Keeley. “I’ve seen what happens when we let politics get in the way of helping people get the support, guidance, and education they deserve. I’m excited to go to Olympia and bring real expertise and personal experience to help every child thrive, and help struggling families in challenging times.”
That combination of lived experience, professional expertise, and community voice is central to Keeley’s vision for her work in Olympia. As an administrator at both county and state levels, she has managed budgets, forged cross-agency partnerships, and delivered results without waste. She believes the government must earn the trust of taxpayers by spending wisely and being held accountable to outcomes. She is known throughout as being accessible and deeply rooted in the community.
Keeley is equally committed to reducing the high cost of living that is destabilizing local neighborhoods. “Families in the district are being hurt by the rising costs on every front: housing, childcare, and insurance,” she said. “Our seniors, veterans, and children are feeling it most. Seniors who have worked their whole lives deserve stability and dignity, not impossible choices between medication and groceries. Veterans who have sacrificed for this country deserve real support not bureaucratic runarounds. And our kids deserve a fair shot at a future they can afford.
Olympia needs to stop adding to that burden and start remembering who these decisions actually affect I’ll join with anyone, from either party, to fight for tax relief and demand that every dollar spent actually helps the people it’s meant to serve”
Public Safety is another cornerstone of Keeley’s campaign. She believes strong communities require both accountability and support, and she won’t sacrifice either. She has earned the early endorsement of former Snohomish County Prosecutor Adam Cornell, who said: “For years I’ve admired Ida’s work. She will be a trusted partner of law enforcement who will protect children, families, and crime victims to make our communities safer.” Keeley has also been endorsed by Senator John Lovick and other community safety leaders. She was a founding member of Dawson’s Place Child Advocacy Center in Everett, serving on their management team through the organization’s transition into its current building.
As a parent of a child with autism, Keeley knows firsthand what it means to fight for your child within a system that doesn’t always make it easy. Navigating the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process has made her a fierce advocate, and has given her a clear-eyed view of what schools are up against. “Our teachers and staff are doing heroic work with too few resources and too little support,” she said. “I’ve sat across the table from educators who genuinely want to do right by my child and every child in their classroom, but their hands are tied. That’s not a teacher problem but a funding and policy problem. I’ll fight to fulfill our constitutional duty to fully fund our schools and to create job training and career pathways so every youth has a future whether they choose college, trade, or something else.”
Keeley has also worked closely with military families, partnering with Navy JAG, Fleet and Family Services, and Navy Ombuds programs to support service members and their families. Through joint trainings and reintegration programs, she helped connect families with resources and reduce family violence during the transition home from deployment.
Keeley plans a formal kickoff later in the spring, and will be knocking on doors throughout the district leading up to the August primary.
She and her husband, a longtime, well-respected teacher in Arlington, are raising their family in Lake Stevens. Their son graduated from Lake Stevens High School and is completing his Master’s degree to become a Social Studies Teacher. Their daughter is active at the mid-high school and involved in multiple clubs. Keeley has served on numerous boards, volunteers locally and statewide, and adopted her two dogs from Save-A-Mutt rescue where she continues to volunteer.
“I am excited for the opportunity to bring proven leadership, the voices of our district, and new perspectives to Olympia” said Keeley. “I look forward to the months ahead, and cannot wait to meet neighbors across the district.”
For more information visit www.idaforwa.com.
Source: Friends of Ida Keeley
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
