LEADERSHIP & STAFF
Board Members
President Mary has been a member of the League since 1977. She began as a unit Leader in LWV of Seattle when a new mother. League kept her “finger in the pie” during her children’s early years and culminated in a term as president of the LWV of Seattle. When she returned to the workforce, Mary was glad to have a League background because it opened opportunities at King County. Mary obtained a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Washington. She worked in outreach, intergovernmental relations and fiscal analysis for King County. She was Voter Services Chair from 2017 to 2022 and has been Program Chair for the last year. Mary lives in Seattle with her husband. She enjoys spending time with her three-year old granddaughter, vacationing in the San Juans, and traveling in her RV. Meeting people from across the state who bring diverse work experience to League engagement is a true pleasure. |
First Vice President Cynthia Stewart, Tacoma-Pierce County and Thurston County League Experience: Currently completing third term as President of Tacoma-Pierce County LWV and board member since 2014; two terms on LWVWA Board, 2013-2017, including one term as second Vice President; two terms as Board member of Thurston LWV. 13 years on LWVWA Lobby Team. Work: Now retired. Worked approximately 30 years in public sector at State of WA, King County and Thurston County as policy analyst and manager. Also served as managing partner of a company providing mediation and group facilitation services. Serve on boards of two other non-profit organizations. Personal: Married, three children, four grandchildren. I rejoined League after retirement because I had enjoyed it so much 30 years earlier as a young stay-at-home mother. I thrive on the issues that League works on, its commitment to democracy, and the many friendships I’ve developed over many years in League through working on projects together. |
Second Vice President Marty joined the League in 2017 and for the past 6 years has served on the LWVWA Lobby Team, currently as the Climate Crisis and Energy Issue Chair, and previously as the Water Issue Chair. His other League service includes: LWVUS Climate Interest Group Renewable Energy Team chair, and member of the LWVS-KC City Climate Action Committee, Shoreline Study Group, and Research Committee. He was appointed by the LWVWA to the State Energy Strategy Advisory Committee in 2020. His previous volunteer roles include treasurer, secretary, and president of the Evergreen Soaring flying club; chair, secretary, and treasurer of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Pacific Northwest, and homeowner association president. He has 36 years of experience as an engineer in design, research & development, and management. I value the work of the League promoting voter education, citizen involvement in government, and careful study of the issues. The League’s strength is based on the dedication of the members to those values and commitment to carry on. |
c4 Treasurer Dee Ann is a member of the LWV of Mason County Leadership Team, co-chair of the Mason County Speak Up School, member of the Mason County Bicentennial Committee, editor of the Mason County Voter newsletter, maintains the LWV of Mason County website, volunteered as a Zoom technician for the 2020 Council, and is a member of the statewide Journalism Affinity Group. Dee Ann is a retired medical laboratory technologist and laboratory manager. She is the Naturalist Committee and Communications Committee chair for Olympia Mountaineer. She also leads hikes and teaches first aid for the Mountaineers. She is a board member of the Master Gardeners Foundation of Mason County and an active Master Gardener Volunteer. During the summer, she is volcano naturalist volunteer for the Mount St. Helens institute. |
c3 Treasurer Karen Madsen, Snohomish County Karen is a member of the LWV of Snohomish County, recently serving as president and currently serving as treasurer. She enjoys moderating candidate forums and working with the LWVWA Vote 411 team. Karen retired from ten years of teaching high school chemistry, physics and speech and debate to stay home with her firstborn in 1984. She was actively involved in PTAs at all levels of the Everett School District and ultimately ran for and served on the Everett School Board for 12 years. She has served as treasurer for four PTAs, Washington State PTA, the Washington Science Teachers Association and a Snohomish County-wide book club and worked with OSPI to help develop statewide science standards and assessments. Public schools, libraries and the right to influence the direction of our community at the ballot box are, in my opinion, the underpinnings of a free, successful, supportive society. The mission of the League, to empower voters and defend democracy, speaks deeply to me. I am delighted to support that work as treasurer for the c3 fund. |
Secretary Myra Howrey, Kitsap County Myra has served in positions of leadership in the League of Women Voters for many years. She has served on the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Washington for more than 16 years, has served as the Education Fund Treasurer, and as President of the LWV of Kitsap County. She has also been the Business Manager at Helpline House since 1998. She has a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado and moved to Bainbridge Island in 1979. She now lives in Suquamish. |
Director Dee Anne Finken, Clark County Dee Anne Finken joined the League in Central California more than 35 years ago. A member in Clark County since 1997, she most recently served as Communications Team chair. A former newspaper reporter, she directed the journalism program at Clark College, where she was a tenured faculty member until she retired in 2018. She recently co-chaired the LWVWA study “The Decline of Local News and Its Impact on Democracy.” She lives in Vancouver with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult sons, one grandson and another grandson due in June. When she’s not volunteering, she enjoys swimming, spending time with family and friends, following local and regional politics, and reading newspapers—in print and online. I was drawn to the League by work I saw being undertaken by intelligent, passionate and caring women. I strive to help make the world a better place by following their model. |
Director Nancy Halvorson, Clark County Nancy joined the Clark County League in 2017 and has served as the President, Co-President ,Vice-President, Voter Services and Civics Chair and currently is the chair of the Observer Corps. Nonpartisanship, the Observer Corps, relationship building and education of the members and public drew her to the League. This flows right into her work with the MELD portfolio—Membership, Engagement, Leadership and Development. Her background includes a lifetime of volunteering with civic and service organizations, 39 years in the financial services industry, and she is a fused glass artist. She lives in Vancouver, WA with her husband and enjoys travels with their 2 grown children. Outside of glass, walking and reading keep her energized. When I walked in the door to my first League meeting, I found my home away from home. |
Director Shelley Kneip, Thurston Shelley has been a League member since 2008. She has been a Board member of both the Kitsap and Thurston Leagues. Shelley has been active in a wide variety of League activities at both the local and state levels, including candidate forums, working on the state debates. state and local studies and serving on various committees. Work/Volunteer Life: Shelley is a retired attorney, with experience in municipal, land use and environmental law. She previously held positions on several local nonprofit boards. |
Director Beth Pellicciotti, Spokane Area Beth Pellicciotti is currently first vice president of the LWVWA and portfolio chair for civic education. She has worked with two statewide committees—one focusing on developing inventories of civic education activities in local Leagues (activities for youth and for adults) and the other developing a Spanish edition of the LWVWA’s civics textbooks The State We’re IN: WA (8th Edition). She enjoys working with local Leagues to encourage their work in civic education. Beth is a member of the Spokane League and has served as its president (2019-20) and chair of civic education (2017-present). For the past two years, she has recruited many League volunteers to write questions for the KSPS Civics Bowl and has led civics presentations in the Spokane Public Schools (40 classes per semester). Beth has two children and one granddaughter. |
Director Aly Welch Heinrich, Pullman Area Alyssa (Aly) Welch Heinrich is the current President of the League of Women Voters of Pullman and Whitman County and has been an active member since 2020. She also serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Pullman League’s Visual Arts Competition for students across Whitman County. Since 2020, Aly has volunteered over 450 hours in Washington, many of which have been with the League, the Pullman Police Advisory Committee, the Palouse Conservation District, and various scholarship pageants for women across the state. As a driven community member, Aly represented Washington at the National Sweetheart Pageant in September of 2023, where she was awarded a national Community Service Award for her work in her home state. In continuation of her volunteer work with the League of Women Voters, Aly hopes to be elected to a position with the Washington League and help pave the way for the future of the League and voters everywhere. As an experienced community leader, she plans to learn all she can about leadership within the League of Women Voters of Washington. |
Off Board ChairsBeatrice Crane, VOTE411 Project Manager State Office StaffAmy Peloff, Administrative Director Carolyn Stewart, Administration and Communications Assistant LWVUS LiaisonKimberly Hamlin | Nominating CommitteeJean Alliman, Chair, Spokane Linda Benson, Clallam Dee Ann Finken, LWV of Clark County Shelley Kneip, LWV of Thurston County Julie Sarkissian, Seattle-King County
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We wish to honor our past presidents who have served us so well.
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