WHEREAS, Washington State Representative Shay Schual-Berke, M.D.
is serving her fifth term of distinguished dedication to the interests
and well-being of the citizens of King county, and to the interests and
well-being of all the people of Washington; and
WHEREAS, Representative Schual-Berke has announced that she will
not seek reelection to the Washington State Legislature this fall; and
WHEREAS, Representative Schual-Berke and her husband, Dr. Dan
Schual-Berke, live in Normandy Park; and
WHEREAS, Born in New York, Representative Schual-Berke has touched
down in professional and wholly committed fidelity to diverse
communities, now more special communities for her having been there,
all across this great land; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and the
New York Medical College, Representative Schual-Berke practiced
medicine until 1992 when she retired to devote herself to child rearing
and service to her community, including contributing her immeasurable
talents as a member of the Highline School Board; and
WHEREAS, Even to this very day, the presence, influence, and
quintessence of Representative Schual-Berke is felt through her
allegiance to community service as a board member of the Mount Rainier
High School Foundation, the Washington Council for the Prevention of
Child Abuse and Neglect, Wesley Homes, and the Mothers Against Violence
in America; and
WHEREAS, The dedication of Representative Schual-Berke has helped
to pass legislation regarding mental health parity, simple majority for
school levies, and the "Patient's Bill of Rights"; and
WHEREAS, Representative Shay Schual-Berke has been recognized for
her legislative accomplishments and leadership by a number of
organizations, she was named a Flemming Fellow by the Center for Policy
Alternatives in 2000; she received the Washington Association of School
Administrators Golden Gavel Award in 2007; she was a recipient of the
King County Bar Association President's Choice Award in 2006; and was
named a Rising Star by Washington Law and Politics Magazine in 1999;
and
WHEREAS, During a legislative career that will forever be modeled
by women and men in our own and in other state governments,
Representative Schual-Berke has placed maximum importance on bettering
our schools, improving access to health care, demanding accountability
from government, and improving the quality of life in our
neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Shay and Dan Schual-Berke have raised two exemplary sons;
and
WHEREAS, Her willingness to examine policy critically and insist on
small but important improvements and her commitment to involving every
citizen in the state legislative process, from individuals to
businesses and local government officials, is a standard for all who
would make our representative democracy truly representative; and
WHEREAS, The Washington State Legislature will not be the same
without her;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
of the State of Washington celebrate and commemorate the distinguished
legislative, professional, and, most of all, personal career of
Washington State Representative Shay Schual-Berke; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be
immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of
Representatives to Washington State Representative Shay Schual-Berke
and to her family.