BIOGRAPHY

Jay Rodne has served as our state representative in the Washington House of Representatives since 2004.  Jay’s legislative priorities include restoring fiscal responsibility in Olympia, building a world-class public education system, improving our transportation infrastructure and reducing traffic congestion, and ensuring access to affordable health insurance for all.  Jay and his wife Heidi have been married for over 15 years.  They have two children, Tye (age 12) & Kalyn (age 10), and live in North Bend. 

 

Jay currently sits on the House Judiciary, Transportation, and Insurance, Financial Services and Consumer Protection Committees.  In addition to serving in the leadership role as the Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, Jay also served as the Assistant Floor Leader during the 2005-07 legislative sessions. 

 

Jay is employed as the in-house General Counsel for King County Public Hospital District No. 4 and the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital.  Jay obtained his J.D. cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1997 and has over ten years of experience in private practice.

 

In addition to his role as a legislator, lawyer, husband, and father, Jay also serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and commands a 1,200-Marine reserve battalion.  Jay and his unit were activated in February 2003 and were deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  While on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990-1993, Jay saw action in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope in 1992-93 and has been decorated for his service in these campaigns.

 

Jay is very active in his community and is a member of the Snoqualmie Valley Rotary, the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, the VFW, and the Marine Corps League.  Additionally, Jay serves on the Board of Directors of Encompass in North Bend. 

 

 Jay has received numerous awards and recognition for his community service.  In 2006, Jay was awarded the “Local Hero” award by the Issaquah Kiwanis Club for his bipartisan work on tougher sex offender legislation.  Jay has also received the Association of Washington Businesses’ Cornerstone Award for legislative excellence for each year that he has served in the legislature. In 2007, Jay was nominated and selected as a “Washington General”, the highest civic award bestowed by the State of Washington.  In 2008, and in recognition of outstanding service to the State of Washington, Jay was one of only forty legislators from across the Nation to be selected for the prestigious Henry Toll Fellowship Program by the Council of State Governments.