wa_sen_MURRAY
SEN. PATTY MURRAY
Age: 47 Born: October 11, 1950; Seattle, Washington Education: Washington State University, B.A. (1972) Military: none Family: married - Rob; 2 children Hometown: Shoreline, Washington Religion: no affiliation Career: U.S. Senator (1992-present); Washington State Senate (1988-92); Shoreline School Board (1985-89); President, Shoreline School Board (1985-86); Parent Education instructor |
· First term Washington Democratic Senator, Patty Murray was elected in 1992, otherwise known as the "Year of the Woman". She defeated her Republican challenger, former Congressman and TV Reporter Rod Chandler, 54%-46% and became the stateÂ's first woman to go the U.S. Senate.
· Her popular reference to herself as, "a mom in tennis shoes" comes from a 1980 visit to the WA State House when she appealed to legislators to save a community college course she taught, on Parenting, from budget cuts. One Legislator told her, "YouÂ're just a mom in tennis shoes; you canÂ't make a difference." MurrayÂ's class survived budget negotiations. This experience inspired her to run for Shoreline School Board.
· During her single term in the WA State Senate, she succeeded in passing legislation allowing parents with a sick child to be covered under the Family Medical Leave Act.
· In the U.S. Senate, MurrayÂ's experiences as a Mom and plain-spoken legislator have made her a popular media figure. She has mainly focused on family and social issues, including expanding the federal Family Leave Act to include 24-hours for parent-teacher conferences, school interviews, or literacy training.
· MurrayÂ's attempts at maintaining her role as an independent voice in the Senate have backfired in the past. Former aides have criticized, perhaps as an example of MrrayÂ's naivete, she is not interested in an issue unless it can be explained through an anecdote involving a friend or relative.
· Murray is one of the SenateÂ's strongest advocates for permanent MFN status for China. She argues the most effective way to discuss human rights is not to lock China out of the market, but to encourage on-going discussion.
· Patty Murray pledged to increase classroom access to technology. She meets with students on the Internet through the Senate Advisory Youth Involvement Team (SAY IT!)