WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and
     WHEREAS, Barry Sehlin attained the highest level of excellence during his legislative service in the Washington State House of Representatives; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin served as Representative from the 10th District, which encompasses Island County and parts of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin began his distinguished legislative career when he was first elected in 1993, serving three terms through 1999, and was reelected in 2001, serving two terms through 2004; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin, during his terms in office, served with distinction as Chairman of the House of Representatives Capital Budget Committee, as a Member, Co-Chair, and Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, as a Member of the Executive Committee on the Joint Pension Policy Committee, and as a Member of the Caseload Forecast Council; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin, during his time with the legislature, has primarily focused his attention on the state's capital and operating budgets; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin has earned the deep respect of the members of this body for his exceptional ability to reach effective, bipartisan solutions to complex problems facing the state of Washington; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Barry Sehlin has remained an active supporter of Skagit Valley College, serving on the Board of Governors of the Skagit Valley College Foundation for several years, has also served on the Board of Directors of New Leaf, the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Navy League, Whidbey Playhouse, and is a member of the Save NAS Task Force; and
     WHEREAS, Prior to his election to the House of Representatives, Barry Sehlin served for twenty-seven years in the Navy, during which he served at NAS Whidbey in VAQ-136, as Commanding Officer of VAQ-136 and VAQ-129, as well as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Sehlin attended elementary school in Oak Harbor, and after moving with his family to Anacortes, graduated from Anacortes High School, and later went on to graduate from Skagit Valley College in 1963, and Western Washington University in 1992;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor State Representative Barry Sehlin for his excellence in service, and his legislative and personal accomplishments and contributions on behalf of this institution, his colleagues, his constituents, and all the citizens of the great state of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives extend its very best wishes to Barry Sehlin, his wife of thirty-eight years, Susan, and their two children, Jennifer and Martin; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Representative Barry Sehlin.