Political spotlight…
In 1939, Julia Butler Hanson began serving the State of Washington as a legislator for the 18th district. She served on the Education Committee and the Roads and Bridges Committee. She championed school lunch programs, better teacher contract laws and retirement systems, promoted community colleges, and helped build I-5 and the state ferry system. While serving on the Elections and Privileges Committee she supported legislation to ensure equal participation by women on county and state party committees. In 1955, she narrowly lost the Speakership of the House and she was the first woman to serve on the House Appropriations Committee in 1967. She supported funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities. In 1989, Julia posthumously received the Washington State Medal or Merit and was called “one of the greats. There’s no question about it. She was the epitome of dedication, toughness, and effectiveness in both the Legislature and Congress.”