ABOUT KEVIN
A career firefighter, Kevin Van De Wege chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks. 
 
He is serving his second term in the Senate following five terms in the House of Representatives.

Kevin’s interest in firefighting began early, as Kevin became a volunteer firefighter as soon as he was old enough to serve his community in Whatcom County in 1993. He earned degrees in fire administration and fire investigation along with certification as a paramedic. He worked first in Sunnyside in 1999 as a firefighter/paramedic, then moved and worked in Sequim in 2001 as a firefighter/paramedic; he was promoted to lieutenant in 2008 and to captain in 2021.
 
Kevin holds a BA in Social Science from Washington State University and an MA in Public Administration from Fort Hays State University. In the Senate, Kevin also serves on the Committee on Ways & Means that writes the state budget and on the Committee on Health and Long Term Care.

In his work as committee chair and in representing communities on and around the Olympic Peninsula, Kevin has been a strong voice in the management of the state’s natural resources and parks. He helped secure permanent, year-round funding for a
rescue tug at Neah Bay to reduce the likelihood of oil spills and other problems from potential marine accidents, along the way earning a Sound Hero award from People for Puget Sound for his work to help protect Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from oil spills. His insistence during repeated budget negotiations helped keep state parks open during difficult economic times.
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