HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4739, by Representatives Ballard, Hatfield, Carlson, L. Thomas, Dunn, Alexander, Anderson, Appelwick, Backlund, Ballasiotes, Benson, Boldt, Buck, Bush, Butler, Cairnes, Carrell, Chandler, Chopp, Clements, Cody, Cole, Constantine, Conway, Cooper, Costa, Crouse, DeBolt, Delvin, Dickerson, Doumit, Dunshee, Dyer, Fisher, Gardner, Gombosky, Grant, Hankins, Hickel, Honeyford, Huff, Johnson, Kastama, Keiser, Kenney, Kessler, Koster, Lambert, Lantz, Linville, Lisk, Mason, Mastin, McCune, McDonald, McMorris, Mielke, Mitchell, Morris, Mulliken, Murray, O'Brien, Ogden, Parlette, Pennington, Poulsen, Quall, Radcliff, Reams, Regala, Robertson, Romero, D. Schmidt, K. Schmidt, Schoesler, Scott, Sehlin, Sheahan, Sherstad, Skinner, Smith, D. Sommers, H. Sommers, Sterk, Sullivan, Sump, Talcott, B. Thomas, Thompson, Tokuda, Van Luven, Veloria, Wensman, Wolfe, Wood and Zellinsky

       WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and

       WHEREAS, In 1992 Representative Suzette Cooke began her distinguished legislative career with the Washington State House of Representatives as the representative from the 47th District, comprising all or part of Black Diamond, Auburn, Covington, Maple Valley, Kent, and Renton; and

       WHEREAS, Representative Suzette Cooke during her terms in office has served with distinction as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Children and Family Services and as a member of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee; and

       WHEREAS, Representative Cooke during her time with the legislature has primarily focused her attention on the legislation aimed at helping children and needy families; and

       WHEREAS, She became a leader in welfare reform and was the prime sponsor of WorkFirst, a historic new public assistance plan, which requires personal responsibility and increases flexibility to achieve permanent self-sufficiency to those in need; and

       WHEREAS, Representative Cooke was and has remained active in the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, Rotary Club of Kent, First Christian Church of Kent, The G.A.P. Theatre Company, and the Chambers of Commerce for Kent, Renton, Covington, and Maple Valley-Black Diamond; and

       WHEREAS, Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Suzette Cooke was the Executive Director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, and was also the Director of Kent Parks and Recreation Department Senior Activity Center; and

       WHEREAS, Representative Cooke attended and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation Administration, with a minor in mathematics, from Western Washington University and Fairhaven College;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington honor her excellence in service and the untold legislative and personal accomplishments and contributions by State Representative Suzette Cooke to her office, her constituents and colleagues, and especially to the citizens of the great state of Washington; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington extend its very best wishes to Suzette Cooke, and her husband, David; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Representative Suzette Cooke.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              Resolution 4739 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                  March 12, 1998.

                         ________________________________

                          Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk