Governor Jay Inslee

Jay Inslee is a fifth-generation Washingtonian who grew up in the Seattle area. His father, Frank, was a high school teacher and coach. His mother worked as a sales clerk at Sears & Roebuck. Jay worked his way through college and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in economics before earning his law degree at Willamette University.
Jay’s mother was an artist.  The family home displayed her paintings as well as her acquisitions from other artists.  While Jay was heavily involved in athletics as a teenager, he also acquired an appreciation of the arts and learned to draw and paint.  Jay enjoys doing artwork as a form of relaxation and will often pull out a sketchbook to draw while on family outings.  Jay writes and illustrates books for his three grandchildren.
Professionally Jay has led a life of public service.  After working as a prosecutor in Selah for a number of years he was motivated to fight budget cuts to rural schools and was elected to the state House of Representatives.  Jay went on to serve in Congress for a number of terms addressing issues of clean energy and the environment. 
Jay now serves as governor of Washington State.  As governor, Jay's top priority is growing Washington's innovative industries such as clean energy, IT and life sciences, and strengthening existing industries such as aerospace, agriculture, maritime and military.  Strengthening schools is part of his strategy for achieving that goal.
Jay is also an avid cyclist and charter member of Hoopaholics.