BySenators Keiser, Hasegawa, Salomon, Wellman, Kuderer, Das, Wilson, C., Conway, Darneille, Hobbs, Lovelett, Frockt, Takko, Liias, Randall, Palumbo, Wagoner, Hunt, Pedersen, and McCoy

WHEREAS, A powerful voice in the fight for the rights of immigrants and working people everywhere has left us; and

WHEREAS, Margarita López Prentice, the former senator and first Latina elected to the state legislature, passed away on April 2nd at her home at the age of 88; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice championed many causes during her long tenure in the legislature including health care, LGBTQ rights, farmworker housing, veterans, basic education, and affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice's career in public service began in 1986 when she was elected to the Renton School Board. In 1988 she was appointed to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives and served two terms before winning election to the Senate in 1992. She also served as board member for Renton Area Youth Services, secretary to the National Democratic Hispanic Caucus, and was a member of the Democratic National Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice served five terms in the Senate, serving as vice chair of the Labor and Commerce Committee, chair of the Financial Institutions & Housing Committee, chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and President Pro Tempore, before retiring in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice received numerous awards during her distinguished career highlighting her ability to bring together diverse people, ideas, and solutions to help those in need. She was named Legislator of the Year by the Washington Health Care Association, the Washington State Labor Council, the Washington Education Association, the Pediatric Interim Care Center, the Washington State Patrol, Valley Medical Center, the Washington State Association for Justice, the Northwest Credit Union League, as well as many others; and

WHEREAS, During the course of her 20 years in the Senate, Senator Prentice established herself as a matriarch of the chamber, mentoring new legislators and forging friendships on both sides of the aisle; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice was a no nonsense legislator, tough on issues and people, when necessary, to ensure the rights of all Washingtonians were always put first. She had a wicked sense of humor, a tactic often used when navigating hard conversations, bringing stakeholders together to pass important pieces of legislation; and

WHEREAS, She took great pride in representing her constituents and her community, championing issues that required leadership and determination to reach the legislative finish line; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice saw people, not party affiliation, background or title, which guided her successful legislative career. She firmly believed in the importance of every citizen having a voice and being part of the solution; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice began her professional life caring for people as a nurse, ultimately serving with the Washington State Nurses Association, as a labor organizer, officer, and later vice president during her 30-year career; and

WHEREAS, Margarita Prentice was born February 22, 1931, in San Bernardino, California, the youngest of five children; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice lived in Skyway, where she raised her four children with her husband, William Prentice Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Senator Prentice is survived by her three children, five grandchildren, and her brother Carlos López. Her husband and her son Carl preceded her in death;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate honor Margarita Prentice for her lifetime of service to the people of Washington state and to the people of the 11th Legislative District, and offer our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends in their time of sorrow; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That while we mourn her loss, we stand in awe of a life well lived and dedicated to the well-being of others. Senator Prentice worked hard and fought even harder for what she believed was right. Her example lives on in her friends who still serve in this body today. We celebrate her accomplishments, her leadership and acknowledge the many lessons she leaves behind.