CWU professor announces run for legislature

ELLENSBURG - Dr. Mathew Manweller, professor of political science at Central Washington University, has formally announced he will seek the 13th District House seat being vacated by Rep. Bill Hinkle (Cle Elum-R).

Manweller, a 42-year-old Republican, says he is running because "we need to shrink government, grow jobs, and unleash the potential of Washington."

"I believe the people of Eastern Washington are hard-working, innovative, and entrepreneurial people," Manweller said. "They are simply overburdened by taxes, regulations, property restrictions and a run-away unelected bureaucracy. If we simply get out of their way, the people of Washington will create all the jobs we need."

Manweller has served as the Chair of the Kittitas County Republican Party for the past eight years as well as the President of the CWU Faculty Senate. He currently serves as the President of the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association.

"I have enjoyed volunteering for community organizations over the past decade, and now I would like to be a passionate and knowledgeable advocate for the people of Grant, Kittitas and Yakima Counties in our state legislature," he said.

Before being hired at CWU, Manweller worked as a high school math and economics teacher and as a book editor for the International Society for Technology in Education, an educational non-profit.

Manweller earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Whitman College in Walla Walla and a Master's degree in political science from the University of Montana. He completed his education with a doctorate from the University of Oregon.

- Staff report