Kevin Van De Wege
Encyclopedia
Kevin Van De Wege is an American
firefighter
and politician from Washington. A Democrat
, he has served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives
since January 2007, representing the 24th legislative district, including much of the Olympic Peninsula
including Forks
, Hoquiam
, Port Angeles
, Port Townsend
, and Sequim
.
Van De Wege serves as majority whip
with the House Democratic Caucus. He also serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, Health Care Committee, Rules Committee and is a member of the General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee. He lives in Sequim with his wife Jennifer, a high school teacher, and their two children, Allison and Jackson.
. As a child, he worked on berry
farms and at a local dairy farm
. He attended Meridian School District
public schools from kindergarten through high school. During his senior year of high school he joined Whatcom County Fire District #3 as a volunteer. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in public safety and the fire service.
After graduating from high school in 1993, Van De Wege attended Edmonds Community College
where he earned an associate's degree
in fire investigation
in 1995 and an associate's degree in fire command and administration in 1996. In 2002, Van De Wege received a Bachelor of Arts
in social science from Washington State University
, completing coursework through the university's distance learning program.
with Snohomish County
Fire District #7 and completed paramedic
training. During the summer of 1998 he did a paramedic intern
ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
and became a fully certified paramedic later that fall.
Van De Wege was hired in February 1999 to his first paid position as a firefighter/paramedic with the Sunnyside
Fire Department. He worked there for two years until he was offered a full-time position in Sequim in 2001. Today, Van De Wege serves as a lieutenant with the Clallam County Fire District #3
In 2006, Van De Wege again challenged Buck, and this time won the election by more than 3,000 votes 53-47 percent. In his first term in the House, Van De Wege was selected by his colleagues to serve as an assistant majority whip. He was also selected to a key committee focusing on veteran's issues
In 2008, Thomas Thomas of Joyce
challenged Van De Wege. Van De Wege prevailed with more than 65 percent of the vote. Van De Wege, now serving in his second term, has become a strong advocate for the timber and biomass industries on the Olympic Peninsula. Rep. Van De Wege also led the fight to secure permanent funding for the Neah Bay rescue tug, which provides year-round protection for marine vessels in the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
In 2010, Van De Wege won a third term in an anti-Democratic year with over 55% of the vote. He was challenged by Port Angeles real estate broker and consultant Dan Gase, who refused to initially acknowledge defeat. Overall, Republicans gained control of several Democratic seats across the state, and Van De Wege's results showed his ability to win support across party lines.
Van De Wege is a member of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Sequim Elks, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and sits on the Clallam Economic Development Council.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
and politician from Washington. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he has served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives
Washington House of Representatives
The Washington House of Representatives is the lower house of the Washington State Legislature, the legislature of the U.S. State of Washington. It is composed of 98 Representatives from 49 districts, each of which elects two members. All members of the House are elected to a two-year term without...
since January 2007, representing the 24th legislative district, including much of the Olympic Peninsula
Olympic Peninsula
The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington state of the USA, that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Puget Sound. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous...
including Forks
Forks, Washington
-Government:The City is organized under Washington State law as a Non-charter Code City. Its structure is that of an elected Mayor and a five member elected City Council...
, Hoquiam
Hoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, Port Angeles
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
, Port Townsend
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
, and Sequim
Sequim, Washington
Sequim is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. The 2010 US Census counted a population of 6,606. Sequim is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains...
.
Van De Wege serves as majority whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
with the House Democratic Caucus. He also serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, Health Care Committee, Rules Committee and is a member of the General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee. He lives in Sequim with his wife Jennifer, a high school teacher, and their two children, Allison and Jackson.
Early life and education
Van De Wege was born in Seattle in 1974 and grew up in rural Whatcom CountyWhatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." As of 2010, the population was 201,140. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city...
. As a child, he worked on berry
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
farms and at a local dairy farm
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. He attended Meridian School District
Meridian School District (Washington)
Meridian School District is a public primary and secondary education school district located in Laurel, Washington. The district serves an area north of Bellingham and south of Lynden. The Meridian School District takes its name from the Meridian area. The main highway in the area is Guide Meridian...
public schools from kindergarten through high school. During his senior year of high school he joined Whatcom County Fire District #3 as a volunteer. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in public safety and the fire service.
After graduating from high school in 1993, Van De Wege attended Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds Community College is a college in the metropolitan area of Seattle. More than 20,000 students annually take courses for credit toward a certificate or degree at the college in Snohomish County, Washington.-History and governance:...
where he earned an associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in fire investigation
Fire investigation
Fire investigation, sometimes referred to as origin and cause investigation, is the analysis of fire-related incidents. After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the fire or explosion...
in 1995 and an associate's degree in fire command and administration in 1996. In 2002, Van De Wege received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in social science from Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, completing coursework through the university's distance learning program.
Career as firefighter
Van De Wege served as a volunteer firefighterVolunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
with Snohomish County
Snohomish County, Washington
Snohomish County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Snohomish tribe. Since 2000, the county's population has grown from 606,024 to 713,335 residents , making it one of the fastest-growing in the state, ranking third in overall population after King and...
Fire District #7 and completed paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
training. During the summer of 1998 he did a paramedic intern
Intern
Internship is a system of onthejob training for white-collar jobs, similar to an apprenticeship. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be high school students or post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. They may also be as young as middle school or in...
ship in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
and became a fully certified paramedic later that fall.
Van De Wege was hired in February 1999 to his first paid position as a firefighter/paramedic with the Sunnyside
Sunnyside, Washington
Sunnyside is a city in Yakima County, Washington, United States. As of the 2010 Census the population was 15,858.-History:On September 16, 1902, residents voted 42 to one to incorporate as the town of Sunnyside. By state law a town needed to have 300 citizens in order to legally incorporate...
Fire Department. He worked there for two years until he was offered a full-time position in Sequim in 2001. Today, Van De Wege serves as a lieutenant with the Clallam County Fire District #3
State Representative
In 2004, Van De Wege challenged Republican incumbent Representative Jim Buck, narrowly losing 51-49 percent, a margin of fewer than 2,000 votes.In 2006, Van De Wege again challenged Buck, and this time won the election by more than 3,000 votes 53-47 percent. In his first term in the House, Van De Wege was selected by his colleagues to serve as an assistant majority whip. He was also selected to a key committee focusing on veteran's issues
In 2008, Thomas Thomas of Joyce
Joyce, Washington
Joyce is an unincorporated community in Clallam County, Washington, United States.Founded around 1913 by Joseph M. Joyce, Joyce is located on State Scenic Highway 112, 16 miles west of Port Angeles and 33 miles east of Clallam Bay. The town of Joyce has a general store, museum, cafe, and other...
challenged Van De Wege. Van De Wege prevailed with more than 65 percent of the vote. Van De Wege, now serving in his second term, has become a strong advocate for the timber and biomass industries on the Olympic Peninsula. Rep. Van De Wege also led the fight to secure permanent funding for the Neah Bay rescue tug, which provides year-round protection for marine vessels in the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
In 2010, Van De Wege won a third term in an anti-Democratic year with over 55% of the vote. He was challenged by Port Angeles real estate broker and consultant Dan Gase, who refused to initially acknowledge defeat. Overall, Republicans gained control of several Democratic seats across the state, and Van De Wege's results showed his ability to win support across party lines.
Van De Wege is a member of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Sequim Elks, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, and sits on the Clallam Economic Development Council.