Legislative Leadership: Senate Republican Floor Leader, 2007-present; Senate Republican Whip, 2006; House Republican Whip, 1999, 2000, 2001.

Elective Office: House of Representatives 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002; Senate 2004, 2008, term expires January 2013.

Standing Committees (2007-08): Ranking Republican Member, Agriculture and Rural Economic Development; Ways and Means; Higher Education; Financial Institutions and Insurance; Rules. 

Special Committees: Chair, Select Committee on Pension Policy; Institute for Public Policy. Served as a House member on: State Capital Design Advisory Committee; Legislative Building Renovation Oversight Committee; Tech/prep Agricultural Steering Committee; Hyogo Friendship Committee.

Education: Graduate, Ritzville High School; Graduate, Spokane Community College, A.A.S., Agribusiness.

Community Involvement: Washington Friends of Farms and Forests, president 1991-92, vice president 1990-92, director 1990-92; Adams County Association of Wheat Growers, president 1990-92, vice president 1989-90, secretary 1988-89; Spokane Community College, Agricultural Technology Department, Advisory Committee, 1990-1994; Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation, graduate; Adams County Cattlemen, director 1987, member 1983-present; Washington Association of Wheat Growers, board of directors, member 1981-present; Adams-Lincoln County Crop Improvement Assoc., past president and vice president, member 1976-present; Wheat Land Communities Fair, director 1981-87, vice president 1982-86; Bronco Boosters, president 1982, vice president 1981; Zion Congregational Church, member, board chairman 1981, trustee 1978-79; Agribusiness Club (SCC), president 1977; Future Farmers of America, state secretary 1975-76, member 1971-77; American Farmer Degree 1977.

Awards: Association of Washington Business "Cornerstone" award, 2007; 100 Percent Voting Record on issues important to farmers, Washington State Farm Bureau, 2005; Washington State Farm Bureau Legislator of the Year, 2004; Water and Sewer Districts Legislator of the Year 2003; Washington Association of Agriculture Educators Legislator of the Year, 2001 and 2002; Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Member of the Year 2004; Public School Employees President's Award 2003-04; Guardian of Small Business Award, National Federation of Independent Business 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004; Distinguished Service Award, Department of Animal Sciences, Washington State University, 2004; Past Washington Potato Commission Legislator of the Year; AWB Cornerstone Award, 1993-98, 2002-05.

Occupation: Self-employed farmer producing wheat, canola and cattle since 1981; Schoesler Farms, Inc., 1977-80;Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, 1977-80.