This is a press release from Senator Hans Zeiger.
PUYALLUP, WA —State Senator Hans Zeiger (R-Puyallup) announced his candidacy for the 2nd District seat on the Pierce County Council Monday, following news that incumbent Councilmember Pam Roach (R-Sumner) will not seek reelection.
“Pam Roach’s career in politics goes back nearly three decades. She’s been part of very significant events and issues in Washington State. I wish her all the best in her retirement,” said Zeiger.
Zeiger said that he is eager to get involved at the county level. “After nine years in the state legislature, I am ready to serve in local government and make a difference closer to home,” said Zeiger. “We need more job opportunities in Pierce County, stronger mental health care, and better roads. And we need to make it easier for citizens to get involved in their local government.”
During his time in the legislature, Zeiger has been a champion for completion of Highway 167 from Puyallup to the Port of Tacoma, a leader in education policy and in addressing homelessness, and a proponent of bipartisanship and collaboration. Zeiger was recognized as the co-recipient of the Gabrielle Giffords Award for Civility in State Governance by the National Institute for Civil Discourse for his work to promote civility in the Washington legislature.
Zeiger, 34, was elected to the State House of Representatives in 2010 and reelected in 2012 and 2014, representing the 25th Legislative District. He served as the ranking Republican on the House Higher Education Committee.
Following his election to the 25th District Senate seat in 2016, Zeiger served as chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, working to promote civics education, bilingual education, and a key reform to the Growth Management Act to allow for the siting of schools in rural areas. He currently holds positions as ranking member on the Housing Stability and Affordability Committee and the State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee. He was recognized as legislator of the year by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs and as a 2019 “Legislative Champion” by the Association of Washington Cities.
Outside of the legislature, Zeiger serves as an officer in the Washington Air National Guard and he leads a program at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute that emphasizes civic engagement. He serves on the boards of the Washington State Historical Society, the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, and the Jennifer Dunn Leadership Institute. He was a 2017 Leadership Fellow of the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and a 2018 Rodel Fellow of the Aspen Institute. Zeiger is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Puyallup. Active in local history volunteer work, he is the author of the recently-published Puyallup in World War II. Hans is married to Erin and has a daughter and two stepsons.
The 2nd Council District includes Puyallup, Sumner, Fife, Milton, Pacific, Edgewood, Northeast Tacoma, Southeast Auburn, Brown’s Point, and Dash Point.