By Dee Anne Finken, LWVWA Lobby Team and Board Member

Nancy Sapiro, the LWVWA's contract lobbyist, says one of her greatest strengths isn't one people typically associate with those of a professional lobbyist.

"People think lobbying is a lot of schmoozing," Shapiro said as she took a break from preparing for Washington's legislative session, which begins January 13, 2025.

"I do a lot of listening," she said. "And I think that is really important."

That means no gregarious welcomes or back-slapping when Sapiro greets a lawmaker. Rather, Sapiro enters a legislator's office with the goal of finding understanding, and that, she said, comes from listening and finding common ground.

"That's the sweet spot, that's when people are willing to engage."

Sapiro is the sole proprietor and owner of Northwest Justice Consulting and has represented clients in Olympia since 2012. She specializes in healthcare—including reproductive health and end-of-life-care—civil rights, economic and social justice, civic engagement, and promoting policies that support working families.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Sapiro previously worked for League Voice, which was formerly the Northwest Women's Law Center. There, Sapiro was engaged in impact litigation and legislative work.

But, intrigued by lobbying—and the chance to turn meaningful policies into law—Sapiro changed focus, opening Northwest Justice Consulting 12 years ago.

Nine years ago, she began working with the League, which she calls an honor. "The longevity and history of the organization is so impressive. It's been at the forefront of civic engagement forever."

Over the years, her League work has changed, she said, mostly because of the League's growing sophistication in lobbying and legislation. "Lobby Team members know the processes and key players and provide testimony. They have greater expertise. They know their stuff and so I help now mostly by sharing political context and strategizing with team members."

Sapiro said she's seen the Legislature change over the years, too. For one, younger people are getting elected. "Many now have young families," she said.

Quick not to characterize that development as good or bad, Sapiro also sees a different perspective among legislators about what being elected means. "It's 'I've been elected, and the people of my district want me to do things and want to see change now.' There is a hunger for things to happen quickly."

Sapiro, a member of LWV Seattle/King County, said, in reality, she's been advocating for many years.

The proof is in the story she's told her daughters about growing up in the Midwest and during the bitterly cold winters in grade school, when she and her female classmates had to wear dresses to school.

When the girls went outside for recess, she said they could slip on pants underneath their dresses, but they had to remove the pants when they came back inside.

"Then it dawned on me, 'why do we have to wear dresses?'"

Sapiro promptly organized her classmates and together they marched to the principal's office to protest.

"We convinced the principal and we all began to wear pants."