New Whatcom state senator says bipartisan outreach is key to success
At age 22, Whatcom County’s newest state senator is one of the youngest ever to serve in Olympia.
“I believe that my youth will deliver needed diversity to a Senate whose average age is much higher than mine,” said state Sen. Simon Sefzik, R-Ferndale, in answering a written questionnaire from the Whatcom County Council that chose him Tuesday, Jan. 11, to replace the late state Sen. Doug Ericksen.
In addressing the council Tuesday, Sefzik promised to bring a “young, fresh and energetic voice” to the Legislature.
“We are not only the future voting bloc, the future taxpayer base, but ultimately — public service is about caring for the future. I believe it’s time for young people to have a voice at the table,” he told the council.
Ericksen, also a Ferndale Republican, represented the 42nd Legislative District that includes northern Bellingham and northern Whatcom County for more than two decades as a member of both the House and Senate.
He died Dec. 17 at age 52, after a five-week battle with COVID-19.
Sefzik took the oath of office from District Court Judge Angela Anderson in an online ceremony immediately after his selection on a 4-2 vote Tuesday.
And he got right to work, joining his colleagues in Olympia where the Legislature started a 60-day session Monday, Jan. 11.
“I’m honored to be selected and now the hard work begins. I want to listen and lead well. And I will listen to all people — especially if we disagree,” Sefzik told The Bellingham Herald in a text message.
Recent college grad
A graduate of Patrick Henry College with a bachelor’s degree in American politics and policy, Sefzik had been working most recently in Colorado, where last year he organized COVID-19 outreach for Nomi Health and managed mobile vaccination clinics and assisted at a vaccine supersite.
Before that, he worked in the Trump administration, managing events and staff requests for the Executive Office, and he assisted with the White House transition team before President Biden took office, according to his resume.
While attending Patrick Henry, a conservative Christian school in Virginia, Sefzik interned at the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Office, where he researched COVID-19 legislation and prepared memos for the president’s COVID-19 Task Force.
He also interned on Capitol Hill, for U.S. Rep. Ted Rudd, R-N.C.
In high school, he was active in speech and debate, moot court and mock trial, and was a four-time national high school speech and debate champion.
And he’s the son of Jennifer Sefzik, who lost the 2020 race for one of two 42nd District state House seats to Rep. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, on a 52%-48% vote. Shewmake said in December that she will run for the district’s Senate seat.
Busy first week
Sefzik told The Herald that immediately after being sworn in online, he drove to the Whatcom County Courthouse to sign official documents and meet in person with County Executive Satpal Sidhu.
“Then I pretty much packed all my stuff and drove to Olympia,” he told The Herald in a phone conversation Friday, Jan. 14.
On the way, he stopped to buy some suits, and then booked a hotel.
He visited the Senate floor on Wednesday, and played phone tag with Gov. Jay Inslee, attended training classes and tried to catch up for two days of missed work.
“It’s been pretty busy. A lot of it is meeting people and talking with people in the district,” Sefzik said.
In some ways, he feels at ease because he’s spent so much time in government service.
“It would be audacious of me to say that I was fully prepared. I have so much to learn — I view that as a strength, being willing to listen. But it has been nice to be familiar with a lot of the policy areas,” he said.
‘Spirit of collaboration’
Councilwoman Kaylee Galloway said she appreciated that Sefzik said he was willing to work with people of all political beliefs in representing the 42nd District.
Galloway, who at 29 is the youngest member of the County Council, said she was inspired by Sefzik’s “spirit of collaboration” when he addressed the council as it interviewed the candidates.
“I really believe that in this time of political divide that we bring people together and that we work together and that we commit to serving our community regardless of partisan politics,” Galloway said during a discussion of the candidates Tuesday.
“I was really excited to hear that message come out today,” said Galloway, who was sworn into office on Jan. 10.
Sefzik used part of his 3-minute address to the council Tuesday to encourage cooperation between Republicans and Democrats.
“In my heart, I know that we are called to a better state of politics than our current one,” he told the County Council.
“We cannot be distracted by the petty and the trivial, the divisive and the demeaning, or the preference to score cheap political points rather than doing the hard work it takes to care for those in need,” he said.
“People who care for their country and community can improve it in incredible ways,” he said. “We are not here in Whatcom County a conglomeration of red and blue precincts. Instead, we come together to help those, whether it is in flood relief or housing affordability, in homelessness or in crime, to help those in need and give them the support that they deserve.”
Party reaction
Whatcom Republicans, the local GOP organization, introduced Sefzik on Facebook.
“Congratulations Sen. Simon Sefzik! He fills the position of our late Sen. Doug Ericksen. We know he’ll represent us well,” Whatcom Republicans said.
A statewide group called Mainstream Republicans of Washington also posted greetings on Facebook.
“Congratulations to Simon Sefzik, the newest (and, at 22, the youngest) member of the Washington Senate. Sefzik will serve out the remainder of Doug Ericksen’s term, which means he’ll be up for election this year in the 42nd Legislative District — which is definitely a swing district,” Mainstream Republicans said.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, welcomed Sefzik to the Legislature.
“We are looking forward to having Simon join our team, and continue the great tradition of leadership established by Sen. Doug Ericksen on energy, agriculture and water issues,” Braun said in an emailed statement.
In the Senate, Sefzik was given three committee assignments: Health and Long-Term Care, Higher Education and Workforce Development, and Housing and Local Government.
Selection process
Sefzik was one of three candidates that the Whatcom County Republican Party submitted to the County Council on Dec. 31.
Because Ericksen was a Republican, under state law the County Council must select a new legislator from a list submitted by the local party organization.
Whatcom Republicans Chairman John Ramsey said in a statement that dozens of candidates were interviewed before the three names were submitted to the County Council.
Each candidate submitted a cover letter, resume, and then answered in writing 20 questions submitted by council members. Each gave a 3-minute presentation Tuesday and fielded questions from County Council members during an online meeting that was streamed live.
Councilmembers Todd Donovan, Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey and Kaylee Galloway voted for Sefzik, and Councilmembers Kathy Kershner and Tyler Byrd voted for Ben Elenbass, a member of the County Council who was one of the nominees.
Elenbaas recused himself from the nomination process.
Legislative priorities
Sefzik said that his priority was to seek state aid for hundreds of Whatcom County residents forced from their homes and who suffered other damages and losses from November 2021 flooding along the Nooksack River from the South Fork Valley to Lummi Nation at the river mouth.
He also promised to focus on issues surrounding homelessness, housing affordability, agriculture, police reform and education in Olympia.
“We drive on the same roads, shop at the same stores, eat at the same restaurants, stare at the same mountains, swim in the same waters, and hike the same trails. But more than that, we both believe in the promise of this place — its beauty, its potential, and its magic,” Sefzik said.
