Brady Walkinshaw Explained

Brady Walkinshaw
State House:Washington
District:43rd
Term Start:December 16, 2013
Term End:January 9, 2017
Predecessor:Jamie Pedersen
Succeeded:Nicole Macri
Birth Name:Brady Piñero Walkinshaw
Birth Date:26 March 1984
Birth Place:Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Residence:Seattle, Washington
Alma Mater:Princeton University
Occupation:Businessman, politician
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Micah Horwith

Brady Piñero Walkinshaw (born March 26, 1984) is an American businessman and politician who served in the Washington State House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017.[1] Walkinshaw represented the 43rd legislative district, which encompasses much of central Seattle. Since 2017, he has served as CEO of Grist, a Seattle-based online magazine focusing on environmental news.

Walkinshaw was a candidate for Washington's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in the 2016 elections.[2] He had the endorsement of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and The Seattle Times,[3] but lost the election to Pramila Jayapal. Walkinshaw was named by Washington State Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig to the Washington State Redistricting Commission following the 2020 United States census.[4]

Washington legislature

Elections

A Democrat, Walkinshaw was appointed to office in 2013 following the election of Ed Murray as Mayor of Seattle.[5] When Jamie Pedersen assumed Murray's former seat in the Senate, Walkinshaw succeeded Pedersen in the House. Walkinshaw was then elected in 2014.[6]

Legislation

Walkinshaw was the primary sponsor of 'Joel's Law' (HB 1258),[7] which allows family members to petition Washington courts to involuntarily commit a relative for mental health treatment. The legislation adds $15 million to the state's mental health system. The bill passed through the State House on a unanimous vote, and its companion bill passed through the State Senate on a vote of 46 to 3, becoming law on July 24, 2015.[8]

On January 26, 2015, Walkinshaw introduced HB 1671, to increase access to opioid antagonists in order to reduce deaths resulting from drug overdose.[9] The bill passed through the State House on a vote of 96 to 1, through the State Senate on a unanimous vote, and became law on July 24, 2015.[10]

Walkinshaw served as primary sponsor for 'CROP' (HB 1553), which allows those released from prison to obtain a court certificate that restores access to licensed professions.[11] The bill passed unanimously through the State House and Senate, and was signed into law by Governor Inslee on March 31, 2016.[12]

On January 19, 2016, Walkinshaw introduced HB 2726, which establishes rights for senior citizens entering continuing care retirement communities and requires disclosure of costs and fees.[13] The bill passed through the State House on a vote of 83 to 13, unanimously through the State Senate, and was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2016.[14]

Committee assignments

House, 2016 session

Media career

On March 7, 2017, Grist named Walkinshaw as its CEO, taking over from founder Chip Giller.[15] [16]

Walkinshaw purchased Index Media, publisher of alt-weekly newspapers The Stranger and Portland Mercury, in July 2024.[17]

Personal life

Walkinshaw is of Cuban American descent, and is openly gay.[18] Walkinshaw previously worked as a program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He is a graduate of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Walkinshaw has served on the boards of Princeton University and The Trust for Public Land.[19]

Notes and References

  1. http://kuow.org/post/seattle-sends-new-face-olympia-brady-walkinshaw-29 "Seattle Sends A New Face To Olympia - Brady Walkinshaw, 29"
  2. http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/12/03/23226181/state-rep-brady-walkinshaw-will-challenge-us-rep-jim-mcdermott-in-2016/ "State Rep. Brady Walkinshaw Will Challenge US Rep. Jim McDermott in 2016"
  3. Web site: September 6, 2016. Bradley Walkinshaw shows strong fundraising momentum . 24 Aug 2022 . Victory Fund .
  4. Web site: December 10th. 2020Uncategorized. 2020-12-10. Senate, House leaders announce their appointees for Redistricting Commission. 2020-12-23. Washington State Senate Democrats. en-US. December 10, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201210220726/http://sdc.wastateleg.org/blog/2020/12/10/senate-house-leaders-announce-their-appointees-for-redistricting-commission/. dead.
  5. http://kuow.org/post/democrats-choose-rep-jaime-pedersen-replace-sen-ed-murray "Democrats Choose Rep. Jamie Pedersen To Replace Sen. Ed Murray"
  6. Web site: November 4, 2014 General Election . King County Elections . November 11, 2014.
  7. http://q13fox.com/2015/05/14/governor-signs-joels-law-bill-allowing-families-to-ask-judge-to-commit-suicidal-or-dangerous-relatives/ "Governor signs 'Joel's Law' allowing families to ask judge to commit suicidal, dangerous relatives"
  8. Web site: HB 1258 - 2015-16 . Washington State Legislature . March 16, 2016.
  9. http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/new-state-law-for-overdose-drug-could-be-a-life/article_63b0909a-0a7f-11e5-9ec6-c3d981b927fb.html "New state law for overdose drug could be a life-saver"
  10. Web site: HB 1671 - 2015-16 . Washington State Legislature . March 16, 2016.
  11. http://old.seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2025695938_satterbergopedreform17xml.html "Inmates re-entering society should not face lifetime barriers to work"
  12. Web site: HB 1553 - 2015-16 . Washington State Legislature . March 16, 2016.
  13. http://seniorhousingnews.com/2016/03/06/ccrc-bill-heightens-oversight/ "CCRC Bill Heightens Oversight"
  14. Web site: HB 2726 - 2015-16 . Washington State Legislature . March 16, 2016.
  15. News: Stewart . Ashley . March 7, 2017 . Former state lawmaker, congressional candidate Brady Walkinshaw named Grist CEO . . March 12, 2017.
  16. News: Connelly . Joel . March 8, 2017 . Brady Walkinshaw leaves politics to take on the Grist of journalism . . March 12, 2017.
  17. News: Hiruko . Ashley . July 29, 2024 . The Stranger newspaper sold to former state legislator Brady Walkinshaw . . July 29, 2024.
  18. http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/12/04/new-legislators-old-lawmakers-in-new-jobs/ "New legislators, old lawmakers in new jobs"
  19. Web site: Unknown.