My family has been in Whatcom County for five generations – both sides of my great-grandparents immigrated from Holland, like so many of us in this region. My grandparents owned a farm in Sumas. My father graduated from Lynden Christian and my mother from Nooksack. He was a truck driver, delivering hay for many local dairies, and my mother currently works for a medical office in Lyden.

I graduated from Meridian High School (go Trojans!) and went on to get my bachelor’s degree from the UW and later a master’s degree. As a mental health worker, I’ve worked with children, seniors, and the disabled. I’ve professionally worked to help adoptions, in the schools helping kids who are struggling, support people living with disabilities, children who have been abused, sexual abuse survivors and hospice care. Currently, I own Rule and Associates, a small therapy practice.

I’ve also launched and served as the past president of the Blaine Downtown Development Association, working with small business owners to help attract family wage jobs here.

I have served two terms as a Representative for the 42nd Legislative District in Olympia. I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished on education, healthcare, child welfare and public safety. I know how to translate my success in Olympia to support our entire county. 

I’ve always been active in the community. Over the years, I’ve volunteered countless hours, including for Kids in the Kitchen, an annual event combating childhood obesity, a backpack and school supply drives for low-income children, organizing a community wide health fair to help uninsured and underinsured children, as well as for community organizations like Junior League.

While I’ve had a lot of titles, the most important one to me is the mother of three boys.