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Biography (max 750 char)
Mari Leavitt is a military child and an advocate for seniors, students, working families, veterans and military families, and the homeless. As a legislator, she serves as Deputy Majority Whip and serves on the Postsecondary Education, Capital Budget, and Appropriations committees. She co-chairs the Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and serves on the Joint Task Force Against Trafficking of Persons. Mari has sponsored policies on affordable housing, homelessness, healthcare safety, the opioid crisis, pay equity for the National Guard, veteran opportunities, and career and technical education. She supported human trafficking training and helped secure millions for district projects and community initiatives.
My budget priorities reflect voter concerns in the 28th: support for working families, safe communities, affordable housing, and strong public schools. This includes protecting investments in safety, health, early learning, workforce, housing, and services for military families and veterans. As a Capital Budget Committee member, I ensure limited funds are used wisely for real district benefits.
When reductions are necessary, I review program outcomes and efficiency before cutting services people rely on. Good fiscal stewardship involves making targeted decisions and being transparent about risks. Funded programs should deliver expected outcomes, and when they don't, it’s necessary to redirect funds to effective programs. Reductions come before considering revenue.
Washington already has one of the strongest, most accessible election systems in the country, built on vote-by-mail, ballot tracking, and rigorous auditing. We should protect those strengths and build on them.
Strengthening public confidence requires making elections more accessible, ensuring voters understand how ballots are counted, and promoting transparency at every stage of the process. I would support continued investment in voter outreach, multilingual resources, and civic education programs that meet people where they are.
Public safety means ensuring people feel secure in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and public spaces while respecting rights. It requires investing in law enforcement, first responders, health and substance services, housing, and violence prevention. Fair, transparent accountability systems must ensure misconduct is addressed and due process is protected.
My approach supports policies that build community trust, improve training, increase transparency, and foster law enforcement-public collaboration. Effective safety needs communities, law enforcement, service providers, and leaders to work together on immediate safety and crime prevention. Washingtonians deserve safe communities and accountable institutions, and we should continue working toward both.
Access to reliable local news is foundational to an informed public and a functioning democracy. When local newsrooms close or cut staff, communities lose the watchdog coverage that holds the government accountable and keeps neighbors connected to decisions that affect their lives.
I believe the state has a role to play, whether through targeted tax incentives for local news organizations or investment in media literacy programs. Any approach should protect editorial independence and avoid giving the government undue influence over coverage. My focus would be on practical solutions that help keep local journalists working in our communities and ensure Washingtonians have access to credible, fact-based information.
Washington's independent redistricting commission was designed to remove partisan self-interest from mapmaking, and that underlying principle is worth preserving. Fair maps mean voters choose their representatives, not the other way around, and that communities of interest are kept together so their voices carry weight in the legislature.
For 2031, I would support increasing transparency throughout the commission's process, expanding public participation, and strengthening criteria that prioritize compliance with the Voting Rights Act. The goal is a process that is open, fair, and produces maps that reflect the diversity and geographic reality of Washington communities, not partisan preference.
The 28th District's biggest challenge is housing affordability. Families from Lakewood to DuPont struggle to find affordable homes, seniors worry about staying in their longtime homes, and workers can't afford to live near work. This affects economic stability, school enrollment, and public safety.
The state government has the tools to help. This session, I supported legislation to expand land banking for affordable housing, streamline permits, and increase property tax relief for seniors and disabled veterans. I will continue to push for policies increasing housing supply and reducing barriers, so those who built our communities can afford to stay. This includes strong public-private partnerships and lowering barriers and fees to build.
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