Biography

Legislative Leadership: Republican Deputy Floor Leader 2009-10, 2011-12; Republican Caucus Chair, 2005-06; Majority Caucus Chair, 2004; Republican Whip, 2001-02.

Elective Office: House of Representatives 1994, 1996; Senate 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, current term expires January 2015.

Standing Committees (2011-13): Ranking Republican Member Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development; Member Environment; Member, Ways & Means.

Special Committees: Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought; State Capitol Furnishings and Preservation Committee; Pacific Northwest Economic Region; Co-Chair Heritage Caucus;  Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Plan 2 Retirement Board.

Former Special Committee Service: Joint Legislative-Executive Columbia River Partnership; Committee to study Offshore Outsourcing; Joint Executive-Legislative Water Policy and Water Dispute Resolution Committee;  Washington State Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission; State Capitol Legislative Building Rehabilitation/Renovation oversight Committee; Board member Washington State Historical Society;  Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee; Washington State Arts Commission.

Awards & Honors: Washington Coalition for Open Government "Key Award" 2011, Association of Washington Business "Cornerstone" award, 2007; 2006 Champions of Free Enterprise Award, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; 2005 Landmark Deeds Award for Public Service, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation; 2005 Jim Matson Award, highest honor presented by the Association of Washington Business; 100 percent voting record on issues important to farmers, Washington Farm Bureau, 2005; 2004-05 Legislator of the Year, Washington Association of Agricultural Educators; Outstanding Legislator Award, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), 1997-98; 2000, 2011-12 NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award; 2000 Legislator of the Year Award, Washington Association of Agricultural Educators; 2000 Outstanding Leadership Award, NW Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America; 2002 Outstanding Service Award, Prosser School District; 2002 Appreciation Award, Latino/a Educational Achievement Project; 2002 Washington Farm Bureau 100% Voting Record Award.

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Education: Central Washington University, B.A. in Education; B.A. in Sociology; Masters of Education in Instructional Media.

Civic Activities: Washington State Farm Bureau; Lt. Col. Civil Air Patrol; Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church, former council president; Sunnyside Daybreak Rotary Club; Gideons; Washington State Historical Society, board of trustees; Sunnyside City Council; Habitat for Humanity, board member; Sunnyside Christian Reformed Church, former council president; Washington State Farm Bureau; Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce; Sunnyside Tennis Club, founder and former president; Washington State Grape Society.

Employment: Policeman, City of Ellensburg, 1960-66; Teacher, coach, librarian, Sunnyside School District, 1966-1995; Farmer.

Personal: Jim was born in Ontario, Ore., but moved to Sunnyside in 1956; He and his wife, Jerri, are the parents of four grown children.