Marko Liias

Marko Liias
Lilas in 2011.
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 21st district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2008
Preceded by	Brian J. Sullivan
Personal details
Born	July 17, 1981 (1981-07-17) (age 30) Edmonds, Wash.
Political party	Democratic
Domestic partner	Michael King
Residence	Edmonds, Wash.
Alma mater	Georgetown University University of Washington
Website	markoliias.com

Marko Liias (born July 17, 1981) is an American politician from Washington. He is currently a Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 21st legislative district. The district, located entirely within Snohomish County, encompasses portions of Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, as well as his hometown of Mukilteo and his native Edmonds.^[1]

Liias announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to succeed Congressman Jay Inslee, a fellow Democrat who is retiring in order to run for governor, on August 2, 2011.^[2]

Early life and education

Liias graduated from Kamiak High School in Mukilteo before attending Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where he served as the president of the Georgetown University College Democrats. While in university, he spent a semester studying in Prague, Czech Republic, during which time he traveled extensively through central Europe. He has also taken graduate courses in public administration at the University of Washington in Seattle.^[3]

Political career

As city councilman

At the age of 24, Liias was elected to Mukilteo City Council in November 2005, running unopposed. He had previously served on the Snohomish County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board from 2003 to 2004, and as a member of the Snohomish County Board of Equalization from 2004 to 2006. As a city councilman, he also served as an alternate board member for Community Transit, and as a representative to the Puget Sound Regional Council.^[4]

As state representative

When Rep. Brian Sullivan was elected to Snohomish County Council in November 2007, he resigned his seat in the Washington State Legislature. The Democratic precinct committee officers (PCOs) from the 21st district had the opportunity of selecting his successor, subject to the county council's ratification. With 21 votes, Liias was their first choice, defeating Lynnwood city councilman Mark Smith (16 votes) and Snohomish County Labor Council president Darrell Chapman (15 votes).^[4] The council voted unanimously to confirm the choice of the PCOs and appointed Liias to the seat.^[5]

Liias was elected to a full term in November 2008, receiving nearly 64% of the vote. He did not face a Democratic primary challenge but was challenged by a Republican, 18-year old Andrew Funk, in the general election.^[6] The district is heavily Democratic.^[6]

In his first full term, Liias was selected as the Vice Chair of the House Transportation Committee, one of three budget-writing committees in the House of Representatives. He was also selected to serve on the influential Rules Committee, which plays a critical gatekeeping role in the legislative process. Liias served on three other committees: Education, Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Community & Economic Development & Trade.

In 2010, Liias was challenged by Republican Elizabeth Scott from Edmonds and won re-election with 54% of the vote. In January 2011, Liias was reappointed as Vice Chair of the House Transportation Committee, and he was appointed to the Education Committee and the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee.

Liias is one of six openly gay members of the Washington State Legislature, alongside Senator Ed Murray (D–Seattle) and Representatives Jim Moeller (D–Vancouver), Jamie Pedersen (D–Seattle), Dave Upthegrove (D–Des Moines) and Laurie Jinkins (D–Tacoma).^[7]

Liias, who is of Finnish descent, speaks Finnish.^[8]

Congressional candidate

On August 2, 2011, Liias announced he would be a candidate for the U.S. House seat currently held by Congressman Jay Inslee, who is retiring to run to succeed Christine Gregoire as Washington's governor. As redistricting is due to take place in Washington prior to the 2012 general elections but no map has yet been finalized, it is presently unclear in which district Liias will run. He will likely face fellow State Representative Roger Goodman and former State Representative Laura Ruderman, and 44th legislative district state senator Steve Hobbs, all Democrats, and possibly Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio as well, in the nonpartisan top-two primary election in 2012.^[2] If elected, he would be the only self-identifying Finnish American member of Congress.

References

1. ^ "Washington State Legislature: 21st district". http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?District=21. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Connelly, Joel (2 August 2011). "Rep. Marko Liias running for Congress". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/08/02/rep-marko-liias-running-for-congress/. Retrieved 6 August 2011. 
3. ^ "Rep. Marko Liias - Biography". 2007-12-21. http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/liias/bio.asp. Retrieved 2009-12-05. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Democrats tap Liias for Sullivan's seat". Lynnwood Enterprise. 2007-12-21. http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20071221/ETP03/180251179/0/EVENTS&template=ETPZoneLTart. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 
5. ^ Chris Fyall. "County Council Appoints Marko Liias to State Legislature". Mukilteo Beacon. http://www.mukilteobeacon.com/11608liias.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23. ^{[dead link]}
6. ^ ^{a b} "Republicans challenge Legislative incumbents". Lynnwood Enterprise. 2008-06-12. http://www.enterprisenewspapers.com/article/20080612/ETP03/416818179&template=ETPart. Retrieved 2008-07-13. 
7. ^ "WA state Legislature has 2nd largest gay caucus in U.S.". Associated Press. 2008-01-23. http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01232008news266921.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-23. ^{[dead link]}
8. ^ Jerry Cornfield (2008-01-19). "New legislators are still smiling after first week". Everett Herald. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080119/NEWS01/598241214/-1/rss02. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 

External links

• House of Representatives homepage
• Campaign website

Persondata
Name	Liias, Marko
Alternative names
Short description	American politician
Date of birth	1981-07-17
Place of birth	Edmonds, Wash.
Date of death
Place of death