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Press Releases:
Gig Harbor’s Derek Kilmer announces run for State Representative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2004
GIG HARBOR - Today, Derek Kilmer announced his candidacy for the State Legislature, seeking to represent Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula, Bremerton, Port Orchard, and the rest of South Kitsap.
“It’s time to get Washington State moving again. Our community and our state needs energetic, common sense leadership that is focused on the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow,” Kilmer said. “As someone who is working every day to create and sustain jobs in our area, it’s clear that we need a new voice in Olympia who will champion:
economic development efforts to create high wage jobs,
good schools to prepare kids for the jobs of the future, and
transportation solutions that support job growth while being fair to the people of our region.”
Kilmer is an accomplished economic development leader who will bring his experience and ideas to the legislature. Serving as the Business Retention Manager for the Economic Development Board (EDB) for Tacoma-Pierce County, Derek has worked with hundreds of employers, focused on growing and keeping good, high wage jobs in our community. Serving on the board of the Gig Harbor-Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce, Derek helped develop the organization’s business and economic development strategy, playing an active role in efforts to recruit and retain jobs in the Greater Gig Harbor Area. Prior to his work at the EDB, Kilmer was a management consultant for McKinsey & Company, helping several major Washington State businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies function more efficiently, effectively, and strategically.
Kilmer, the son of two school teachers, believes a strong educational system is fundamental to Washington State’s success. Kilmer was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to serve as a Trustee on the Board of Tacoma Community College, which has a campus in Gig Harbor. Kilmer is the Vice Chair of Communities in Schools of Peninsula, a nonprofit organization focused on helping the kids of Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula succeed in school and in life.
Kilmer, a Democrat, is running for 26th District Representative, Position 2, a seat currently held by Republican Lois McMahan. “I’m concerned about jobs,” Kilmer said, “and I don’t believe Lois McMahan is doing enough to get Washington State moving again.” Thus far, Kilmer’s candidacy has been endorsed by – among others – former State Rep. Brock Jackley, former State Sen. Barbara Granlund, former State Sen. candidate Beth Wilson, Kitsap County Commissioner Chris Endresen, Pierce County Democratic Party Chair Jean Brooks, Kitsap County Clerk Dave Peterson, and numerous teachers, business leaders, and other community leaders.
Derek Kilmer, 30, was born and raised on the Olympic Peninsula. Kilmer received a doctoral degree from the University of Oxford in England where he studied economic development policy, and received his bachelors’ degree in public policy from Princeton University. Derek and his wife Jennifer, the Executive Director of the Gig Harbor Peninsula Historical Society, live in Gig Harbor. Kilmer has been an active leader in the Gig Harbor community, serving as a member of Gig Harbor Rotary and as Co-Chair of the Social Concerns Committee of the Gig Harbor United Methodist Church.
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