Tina Podlodowski

Tina L. Podlodowski (born 1960) is an American businesswoman and politician. She is the current Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party. She is also a former member of the Seattle City Council and unsuccessful candidate for Washington Secretary of State.

Tina Podlodowski
Chair of the Washington Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office January 28, 2017
Preceded by	Jaxon Ravens
Personal details
Born	August 26, 1960
Political party	Democratic
Children	3
Education	University of Hartford (BA)

Career

Podlodowski graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science 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 department. 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.[2] She served on the council for one term, chairing the Public Safety, Health and Technology Committee. She has also worked as the executive director of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, 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.[3] Wyman defeated Podlodowski with 55% of the vote.[4]

In January 2017, Podlodowski was elected to be the new chairperson of the Washington State Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Jaxon Ravens.[5]

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][6] She is married and has three children.[1]

References

1. "Election Center". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
2. "Will gays and lesbians in 2016 shatter last 'glass ceiling' in state politics?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
3. Brunner, Jim (January 13, 2016). "Tina Podlodowski to challenge Secretary of State Kim Wyman". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
4. "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.
5. "Washington Democrats opt for new leader". The News Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
6. Paynter, Susan (December 12, 2006). "Two-mom families are moving beyond the hurtful barbs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 30, 2017.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN