New lawmaker runs hard after winning race

Running three miles a day gave Debra Lekanoff the stamina to enter a high-energy state legislative race, one that saw her campaign ring nearly 20,000 doorbells and make about half that many phone contacts.

Now she’s ready to hit the ground running in Olympia, where Lekanoff will serve as the first Native American woman elected to the State House of Representatives.

Lekanoff, 47, emerged the victor in a campaign opposite Republican Michael Petrish of Anacortes for the 40th District Position 1 House seat vacated by retired incumbent Democrat Kristine Lytton.

Though she ran as a Democrat, Lekanoff focused less on party labels and more on concerns shared by voters of all kinds in a diverse district comprising all of San Juan and parts of Skagit and Whatcom counties.

“I’m a bridge builder and a path clearer,” Lekanoff said Monday during a post-election interview in La Conner, where her daughter attends high school.

You can say those traits are in her DNA.

She hails from southeast Alaska and is of Tlingit and Aleut descent. The Tlingit are traditionally known as people of the salmon; the Aleut as people of the seal.

“I like to say if I can bring together the people of the salmon and the people of the seal, just think how I can bring people together in Olympia,” Lekanoff quips.

In Petrish, she faced a campaign opponent with strong name recognition and who had staked out positions on lowering taxes, protecting water rights for property owners and upgrading the state ferry system, all popular stands with many 40th District voters.

Still, Lekanoff’s personal approach – often discussing issues of interest on doorsteps, over kitchen tables, and at neighborhood forums – won out on Election Day in this heavily Democratic district.

She spoke often of marshaling the 40th District’s various natural and human resources into a sustained high quality of life for residents of the tri-county area, all the while addressing a wide range of sometimes competing priorities such as education, rural economic development, environmental protection, health care, and infrastructure.

“When I met with voters,” she recalls, “I listened to what was important to them. The idea is to build partnerships to find the best possible solutions and do so in a way that can be sustained generationally.”

Lekanoff, who has spent most of her career in public policy and governmental affairs – the last 16 years while on staff at the Swinomish Tribal Community – was steered from childhood to serve others.

She grew up in a family that encouraged public service.

“My grandma’s advice,” says Lekanoff, “was to know who you are, remember where you came from, and to always stay humble.”

She modeled the latter trait during her interview with La Conner Weekly News. At one point she apologized for interrupting the session to take a phone call.

Turns out, it was from the governor’s office.

Less than a week after Lekanoff’s election, Olympia had already come calling.

And it was clear the avid distance runner wasn’t caught off stride.

“I’m so excited,” Lekanoff says of joining the state legislature. “I think my background gives me a unique opportunity to bring knowledge of all levels of government – local, county, tribal, state and federal – to the 40th District. I’ve worked on bills and policies. I’ve been involved in the budget process. I’m familiar with Olympia.”