WHEREAS, Linda O'Neal was raised in Chelan, as a fourth-generation resident of north central Washington, and worked as a waitress to put herself through Washington State University's pharmacy program, then returned home to begin a career as a registered pharmacist; and

WHEREAS, As Linda Evans Parlette she was elected to the House of Representatives in 1996, furthering a public-service career that began as a member of the Lake Chelan School District board and later the North Central Educational Service District board; and

WHEREAS, Linda Evans Parlette won election to the Senate in 2000, becoming the first woman to serve as 12th District senator, and was returned for three more terms; and

WHEREAS, During Linda Evans Parlette's tenure in the Legislature, 63 of the bills she introduced became law, including legislation to reduce the state's debt limit, expand the role of pharmacists in medical teams, improve coordination, transparency, and accountability among state landholding agencies, and ensure that habitat for salmon and steelhead is plentiful on the Upper Columbia River; and

WHEREAS, Senator Parlette advocated successfully for the restoration of Beebe Springs, adjacent to the Chelan Fish Hatchery, and partnered with the Grand Coulee Dam School District and local community leaders to secure funding for the new Lake Roosevelt K-12 school, which opened in 2014; and

WHEREAS, She worked tirelessly at the federal level to promote the reestablishment of the "Road to Cottonwood" in the North Cascades National Park; and

WHEREAS, Senator Parlette spent her entire career at the Capitol as a member of the health care and budget committees, and many years on committees that address natural-resource matters; and

WHEREAS, As fans of the Seattle Seahawks football team became known as the "12th Man," Senator Parlette's affiliation with the 12th District caused her to be called the "12th Woman"; and

WHEREAS, Senator Parlette served as chair of her Senate caucus for a record 10 years, during which time it grew from 17 members to a majority of 26 seats, and made history as the Senate's first bipartisan coalition; and

WHEREAS, Senator Parlette announced in 2016 that she would not seek a fifth Senate term and instead would conclude her service to the 12th Legislative District after 20 years, a mark equaled only by one other legislator and surpassed only by her Senate predecessor's record 29 years; and

WHEREAS, Her retirement from the Senate allowed more time with her husband Bob, their five children and three grandchildren, and her mother Jessie O'Neal; and

WHEREAS, Linda Evans Parlette continues to apply her experience as a pharmacist and knowledge gained from 20 years of health-care committee service on behalf of north central Washington, as executive director of the North Central Accountable Community of Health;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize Senator Linda Evans Parlette and the contributions she made to the state and the people during her 20 years of service in the Legislature.