Fred Jarrett joins Public Disclosure Commission

The Public Disclosure Commission announced today that Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed Fred Jarrett, the recently retired King County Senior Deputy Executive, to the Commission.

Jarrett is a former state lawmaker, mayor, city council member and school board member.

"Fred has extensive experience at all levels of government, which has given him a deep appreciation and understanding of the importance of the work of the state Public Disclosure Commission," Inslee said. "He is well-respected in both government and the private sector and will be an excellent addition to the PDC."

Jarrett served four terms in the state House of Representatives before being elected to the state Senate. Prior to his time in the Legislature, Jarrett was on the Mercer Island City Council and Mercer Island School Board. He had a 35-year career at The Boeing Company.

Born in Great Falls, Mont., Jarrett moved to Mercer Island as a teenager just a few years before a group of open government advocates joined forces to fight for public's right to know about the financing of political activity in this state. Due to their efforts, voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 276 in 1972.

"The PDC was created in the first election I was able to vote in. I've always been proud to have voted for I-276 and to support transparency in Washington state," Jarrett said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on the commission, furthering open government and improving the commission's customer service, both to filers and users of data."

Jarrett served in the U.S. Air Force and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor's degree in financial analysis. He received a Master of Business Administration from Seattle University.

Jarrett was an elected official for 30 years before leaving the Legislature in 2009 to become the second in command for newly elected King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Described by colleagues as bright, devoted and action-oriented, Jarrett was a driving force behind the county's continuous improvement work. Last year, he received the King County Executive Leadership Award, which was subsequently renamed the Fred Jarrett Leadership Award.

"I have long admired Fred's dedication to innovation and accountability in government and his deep commitment to public service," Commission Chair Anne Levinson said. "His background in system change, and his range of experience as a candidate, an elected official, and a leader of local government make him a terrific addition to the commission as we continue our work to strengthen laws and reform processes so that Washington state can lead the country in promoting confidence in the political process through full disclosure of money in politics."

The PDC has ensured timely and meaningful public access to accurate information about more than $1 billion in contributions to candidates and political committees, and more than $600 million in spending on state lobbying over the last decade. It assists campaigns, lobbyists and elected officials with filing 80,000 to 100,000 reports a year of financial activities, contributions, and expenditures, and enforces Washington's campaign finance and disclosure laws.