Carol Gregory, 71, is starting a new chapter in her life as a state legislator.
The Federal Way resident was appointed as a state representative in January by Governor Jay Inslee to fill the House vacancy created when then-Rep. Roger Freeman died shortly before last November’s election but was still re-elected by 30th District voters.
Gregory, a Democrat, is a former Federal Way School Board member and is a retired school teacher. Since leaving the classroom, she has worked in education and public policy positions, including stints as a policy analyst for then-Governor Booth Gardner and as an assistant to the state superintendent of public instruction.
She also once headed the Washington Education Association and lost two campaigns for election to the Legislature before being appointed
In the Legislature, she’ll be a member of the House Education and Higher Education committees, as well as the General Government and Information Technology Committee.
“I am really excited to be appointed to this position,” Gregory said. “I’m particularly interested in how we’re going to address the huge education issues that are before us. Since that’s been my career focus, it’s going to be exciting to work on those, as well as transportation and other issues that are important to our district and our state.”
Gregory was sworn in on Jan. 12, the day the 2015-16 session of the Legislature formally convened in Olympia.
Unlike more than a dozen other freshman representatives, her initial term will be for one year. A special election will be held next November to decide who will serve the second half of the normal two-year term.