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Tina Podlodowski

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Tina Podlodowski
Chair of the Washington Democratic Party
In office
January 28, 2017 – January 28, 2023
Preceded byJaxon Ravens
Succeeded byShasti Conrad
Member of the Seattle City Council
Position 7
In office
January 1, 1996 – January 1, 2000
Preceded byJim Street
Succeeded byHeidi Wills
Personal details
Born (1960-08-26) August 26, 1960 (age 64)
Political partyDemocratic
Children3
EducationUniversity of Hartford (BA)

Tina L. Podlodowski (born 1960) is an American businesswoman and politician who served as the chair of the Washington State Democratic Party for three terms. A member of the Democratic Party, and previously served as a member of the Seattle City Council from 1995 to 1999.

Education and Microsoft

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Podlodowski graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Hartford.[1] After graduation she worked with a number of technology start-ups, finally coming to Microsoft in 1984, where she managed groups in product marketing, domestic and international sales, and eventually Microsoft's global training business. She managed 8 business hubs in the U.S and four in Europe and Asia.

Podlodowski left Microsoft in 1993 a millionaire, and used her wealth to become a principal investors in the purchase and renovation of Seattle's historic Paramount Theatre.[2][3] She also joined the board of the Pride Foundation, a queer community foundation, and The Cities Project, which expanded internet access to areas of high poverty.[4]

Seattle City Council

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Podlodowski ran for city council in 1995 for the seat vacated by retiring councilmember Jim Street.[5][6] She came in second, behind state representative Jesse Wineberry, with both progressing to the general election.[6] Podlodowski spent $75,000 of her own money, raising a total of $250,000.[6][7] Podlodowski defeat Wineberry in the general election in a landslide, 65% to 35%.[8]

Podlodowski chaired the Neighborhoods and Neighborhood Planning, and the Public Safety, Health and Technology Committee. She shepherded the creation of the Office of Police Accountability as chair of the Public Safety committee.[9] She voted to require landlords give 60-days notice for rent increases and toughened the city's anti-gay-discrimination statute, but voted against imposing sanctions on the Burmese government.[7]

She chose not to run for reelection in 1999, citing the split with her partner, Chelle Mileur, as the reason.[7] Heidi Wills, an aide to King County Executive Ron Sims would defeat former councilmember Charlie Chong in the November election.

Post-city council

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In 2004, she was named the executive director of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance,[10] a position that she held until 2007.[11] She also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, a role she would stay in for a year.[12] In 2014, she advised Ed Murray, the Mayor of Seattle, on issues of policing.[9]

In January 2016, Podlodowski announced that she would run against republican Kim Wyman, the incumbent Secretary of State of Washington, in the 2016 election.[13] Wyman defeated Podlodowski with 55% of the vote in a bruising race, centered on access to the ballot, postage paid ballots, same-day, registration, and pre-registration for 16 and 17 year olds.[14]

Podlodowski (right) in 2017 with New York Assemblyman and vice chair of the Democratic National Committee Michael Blake and King County Council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles.

In January 2017, Podlodowski was elected to be the chair of the Washington State Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Jaxon Ravens.[15] As chair, the Washington Democrats increased their state House majority, took back the state Senate, won every statewide office, and flipped two Congressional districts. Podlodowski had influence over state Democrats, including threatening cutting funding for members who endorsed independent Secretary of State candidate Julie Anderson.[16] Podlodowski also served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and chair of the DNC western states caucus as well as a member of the DNC executive committee. She did not run for another term in January 2023.[17]

Podlodowski has served on the national boards of the Human Rights Campaign, The Task Force, INLGO and L-PAC, as well as the Pride Foundation. She has been honored for her service by the Urban League, and the LGBTQ Victory Fund.

Podlodowski is now semi-retired and focused on rural economic and organizing issues on the Olympic Peninsula.

Personal life

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Podlodowski is openly gay.[8][18] She is married and has three children.[1][19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Election Center". www.spokesman.com. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Sorensen, Inga (December 1, 1995). "Even rich dykes need a little supprt" (PDF). oregonnews. University of Oregon. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Admin (December 26, 2002). "Seattle Theatre Group purchases Paramount Theatre". DJC Oregon. Bridge Tower Media. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Schlittler, Ron. "Tina Podlodowski, Washington, 1995". OutHistory. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Farewell To Jim Street, Good Servant And Wonk". The Seattle Times. December 25, 1995. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Drosendahl, Glenn (November 18, 2015). "Wineberry, Jesse Calvin (b. 1955)". HistoryLink. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Savage, Dan (May 6, 1999). "PODLODOWSKI BOWS OUT". The Stranger. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Will gays and lesbians in 2016 shatter last 'glass ceiling' in state politics?". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. April 23, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Miletich, Steve (January 14, 2013). "New SPD commission unveiled, with longtime advocates of change". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Seattle Gay News 12 Mar 2004, page 1". Newspapers.com. March 12, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "Seattle Gay News 22 Jun 2007, page 52". Newspapers.com. June 22, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  12. ^ Tuinstra, Rachel (January 16, 2008). "Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks to expand services". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Brunner, Jim (January 13, 2016). "Tina Podlodowski to challenge Secretary of State Kim Wyman". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  14. ^ "Washington Secretary of State Results: Kim Wyman Wins". The New York Times. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  15. ^ "Washington Democrats opt for new leader". The News Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  16. ^ "Podlodowski reportedly threatened funding to Dems who supported Anderson". BY GEE SCOTT AND URSULA REUTIN SHOW. KIRO News. November 18, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "WA Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski stepping down". The Seattle Times. January 4, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  18. ^ Paynter, Susan (December 12, 2006). "Two-mom families are moving beyond the hurtful barbs". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  19. ^ Paynter, Susan (December 12, 2006). "Two-mom families are moving beyond the hurtful barbs". Seattle Post Intelligencer. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Washington Democratic Party
2017–2023 		Succeeded by
Shasti Conrad
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