By Senators McCoy, Nelson, Billig, Liias, Angel, Bailey, Baumgartner, Becker, Braun, Brown, Carlyle, Chase, Cleveland, Conway, Darneille, Dhingra, Ericksen, Fain, Fortunato, Frockt, Hasegawa, Hawkins, Hobbs, Honeyford, Hunt, Keiser, King, Kuderer, Miloscia, Mullet, O'Ban, Padden, Palumbo, Pedersen, Ranker, Rivers, Rolfes, Saldaña, Schoesler, Sheldon, Short, Takko, Van De Wege, Wagoner, Walsh, Warnick, Wellman, Wilson, and Zeiger

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser was first elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1989 and then elected to the Senate in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser was a dedicated public servant, faithfully and tirelessly representing the people of the 22nd district for twenty-eight years and retired in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser started her political career as a citizen advocate for women's rights and as a legislative intern through the Ford Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser has served the people in over seven public offices, from a member of the City of Lacey planning committee, to the Mayor of Lacey and a Thurston County Commissioner; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser has worked diligently on a wide breadth of issues, including education, the environment, social services, public safety, and more; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser lists her greatest achievement in office as, "Representing the 22nd district to the best of my ability on a very comprehensive basis"; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser was a leader in the Senate as the capital budget chair, pensions chair, administrative committee chair, and Democratic Caucus chair; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser has been dignified with numerous awards, including The Imperial Decoration: Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Government of Japan; YMCA's Women of Distinction; Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs Legislator of the year in 2000; and Washington Low Income Housing Alliance's Hero Award in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser received her bachelor of arts degree in Sociology and her Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser continues to give back her knowledge as an adjunct faculty at The Evergreen State College, teaching in a Master of Public Administration program, as well as maintaining many other leadership roles, including being a member of the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance Advisory Board, former chair and board member of the Washington Institute for Public Policy, and a member of the Lacey Leadership Council; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser is an avid outdoorswoman, has summited four of Washington's major peaks, and won numerous awards racing her sailboat in Puget Sound; and

WHEREAS, Karen Fraser is the loving mother of one daughter, with her husband Tim Malone, and a grandmother of two granddaughters;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize Senator Karen Fraser and the contributions she made to the state and the people during her twenty-eight years of service in the legislature.