Harriet Spanel
Encyclopedia
Harriet A. Spanel is a former Washington State Senator
(Democrat
) for the 40th District, which includes San Juan, northwestern Skagit
and southwestern Whatcom
counties. She was the Majority Caucus Chair.
She was a member of Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection, Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation, Transportation, and Rules committees.
Spanel was born and raised on an Iowa farm; she earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Iowa State University
. She is a longtime activist in local and state issues and is involved in a wide variety of organizations including the League of Women Voters.
She has lived in Bellingham
since 1968 and has three grown children.
In 1994, she ran for the open Congressional seat, but lost by a 55%-45% margin against the eventual winner Jack Metcalf
. Harriet Spanel announced that she would not run for re-election in 2008.http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/well_liked_retiring_senator_to_be_honored_by_county/
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
(Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
) for the 40th District, which includes San Juan, northwestern Skagit
Skagit County, Washington
Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and southwestern Whatcom
Whatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." As of 2010, the population was 201,140. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city...
counties. She was the Majority Caucus Chair.
She was a member of Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection, Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation, Transportation, and Rules committees.
Spanel was born and raised on an Iowa farm; she earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. She is a longtime activist in local and state issues and is involved in a wide variety of organizations including the League of Women Voters.
She has lived in Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
since 1968 and has three grown children.
In 1994, she ran for the open Congressional seat, but lost by a 55%-45% margin against the eventual winner Jack Metcalf
Jack Metcalf
Jack Metcalf was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Washington as a Republican....
. Harriet Spanel announced that she would not run for re-election in 2008.http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/well_liked_retiring_senator_to_be_honored_by_county/