Hi! I’m Patrick Stickney. As many families do, I grew up in a cycle between good and hard times. My four siblings and I have been through a lot, and I love them each for who they are. I’m a lawyer, husband to a teacher, dog dad, experienced advocate, and I’m running to represent you.

Growing up, my family often struggled to pay the bills, and at times experienced housing insecurity. My mom sacrificed again and again to make sure my siblings and I had what we needed, all while navigating, and eventually escaping, an abusive relationship with my then stepfather, who struggled with addiction. I know how hard it is to leave, and I know how strong my mom was to do what she needed to keep our family safe. This move resulted in me living with my grandparents during my most formative years, which allowed me to build with them an especially close relationship. My grandmother taught me the importance of thoughtfulness and compassion, and my grandfather, a Marine Corps veteran, the importance of honesty and hard work. I wouldn’t be who I am today without their accumulated wisdom and guidance.

I got my first job at 16, bagging groceries at our neighborhood grocery store, and became a member of the local United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union. I still think about the people I met, both colleagues and customers, who were trying to do the best they could to provide for their own families.

I knew my family couldn’t pay for me to go to college, so I applied for grants and scholarships to make it happen. Working through school helped me pay for books, food, and housing, but without the additional support, I would never have been able to get my degree. While attending Western Washington University, I got involved in student government, and was shown just how many ways I could make a difference for young people like me; people who, for whatever reason, had barriers in the way to them receiving their education. I worked to help my classmates express their own voices by organizing voter registration drives and student lobby days, and advocating for rental safety reforms. Importantly, it was also where I met my future wife, Katie.

After graduation, I knew I wanted to help families get the opportunities they need to thrive. This led me to get my law degree at Penn State, where I focused on constitutional, civil rights, and environmental law. After graduation, our path led us first to Olympia before my wife and I made our way to Tacoma to build our life. The 29th LD is our home; we love our community, and are thankful to live here along with our dog, Finnley.

My legal education, as well as years as an advocate and community organizer, prepared me to serve as a state employee, and I felt it was in state government where I could make the biggest impact. I currently serve as Senior Policy & Legislative Affairs Advisor at the Washington State Office of Equity, where, through policy and legislative efforts, I advance the agency’s mission to reduce barriers for everyone in our state. Before this, I worked to protect the retirement savings of Washington families by enforcing and implementing our state’s investor protection laws at the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.

Though running for office was never the path I saw myself following, I am tired of watching my friends, family, and community struggle to make ends meet. I have seen where our state agencies fall short, and the daily challenges my neighbors face. Our state is failing to support families like the one I grew up in, and our leaders don’t understand what working families truly need. It is past time that our leadership speaks to the needs of our communities, and works to be proactive, instead of reactive, in addressing community harms.

I am running to be your State Representative to make that difference, and to bring your voice to Olympia.