Legislative Leadership: Republican Caucus Vice Chair, 2007-08; Assistant Majority Whip, 1997-98.

Elective Office: Senate appointed January 1995, elected November 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004. Current term expires January 2009.

Standing Committees (2007-08): Ranking Republican Member, Transportation; Member: Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation; Government Operations and Elections.

Special Committees: Transportation Permit Efficiency & Accountability Committee, Chairman; Legislative Oversight Committee on Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation; Puget Sound Council; Task Force on the Funding of State Parks & Outdoor Recreation; Joint Task Force on Land Use and Economic Development; Washington State Representative to National Association of State Aquaculture Coordinators; Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC); LTC Commerce Corridor Subcommittee; Transportation Performance Audit Board; Legislative Oversight Committee on Tacoma Narrows Bridge Design-Build Contract.

Awards: Association of Washington Business "Cornerstone" award, 2007; 2007 Cascade Agenda Award, Cascade Land Conservancy; 2005 Legislator of the Year, Associated General Contractors of Washington; Farm Bureau, 100% Voting Record Award for 2002; Washington Conservation Voters' Legislator of the Week; Washington State Farm Bureau 100 Percent Voting Record; NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award.

Citizen Committees: Washington Water Policy Alliance, 1994; Water Rights Fee Task Force, 1993; Nature Conservancy of Washington, board of trustees.

Past Community Involvement: Washington Fish Growers Association; Fire commissioner and volunteer fireman, Thurston District; Board member of Centralia Christian School Foundation; Member and president, American Salmon Growers Association.

Professional Experience: Secretary/Treasurer, Washington Fish Growers Association; Swecker Salmon Farm, Inc.

Education: After graduating from Greybull High School in Wyoming in 1965, came to Washington to attend the University of Washington. Graduated with a B.A. degree in Cooperative Education, The Evergreen State College; earned an AA degree at Tacoma Community College.

Military: U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Vietnam veteran; recipient, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal.

Personal: Dan was born in Montana. He moved to Washington in 1965 and returned to Southwest Washington after military service. Dan and his wife, Debby, live in Rochester and have four children, Jenny, Joel, Devin and Amy and two grandchildren.