Rep. Judy Warnick enjoying politics, Senate race

MOSES LAKE - Thirteenth District State Rep. Judy Warnick of Moses Lake does not shy away from that sometimes disparaging word "politician."

She doesn't say things like: "Well, I really don't like it" or "Somebody has to do it." She easily admits she enjoys the world of politics.

"I like it more than I thought I would," she said recently. "It's challenging. It's frustrating. But it's rewarding."

Warnick also enjoys crafting and making an argument. She hopes to continue doing so in the Washington State Senate after this fall's elections.

When State Senator Janéa Holmquist Newbry of Moses Lake decided to run for the U.S. House this year, Warnick threw her hat into the state Senate ring. As far as she knows, she is the lone candidate so far.

It's a similar pattern to 2006. Holmquist Newbry ran for the Senate that year, vacating a House seat. Warnick ran for the House, winning her first run for elective office with 63 percent of the vote.

Warnick has won three unopposed races since. She knows one of the reasons is that the district is heavily Republican. She hopes it's also because they like her work.

Even though she had no challenger in the last three elections, Warnick ran a race. She made the requested speeches and appearances.

In 2012 Warnick rode her horse in 16 parades with her husband Roy and grand-daughter McKenzie Tibbs as sidekicks. Grandson Marshall Tibbs will make it a foursome this year.

Warnick is a country girl through and through. She was raised with four younger siblings on a dairy near Deer Park. Two cousins, whose father worked the adjoining farm, were constant companions.

"We all worked hard," Warnick said.

The dairy was automated, for those days, but there was still some hand milking. Warnick's primary duty, however, was the care of newborn calves. She also raked, bailed and bucked hay.

"I spent a lot of time on the tractor," she said.

There was no debate program at Deer Park. Warnick had to demonstrate her oratory while running for school and 4-H offices. She was her class vice president.

Warnick got her first taste of big-time politics while serving as Dairy Princess for the Inland Empire Dairy Association. She met famed Democrat U.S. Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson and was impressed on a personal level.

"I realized politicians were people too," she said.

Warnick was in 4-H from age 8 through senior in high school, and she was an adult 4-H leader. She remains an ardent friend of 4-H and watches out for the program in Olympia. She is also vigilant about issues that affect agriculture and business.

Warnick and her husband own Central Bonded Collectors in Moses Lake. She's responsible for accounting. The business, which has 15 employees, was launched by Roy's parents, Hugh and Betty, in 1954.

Judy and Roy, who met in Spokane while attending Ft. Wright College and Gonzaga University respectively, joined the elder Warnicks in 1970, after graduation and marriage. Judy joined a little later, after rearing three children.

Judy and Roy bought into the business in 1985. They own it now. Hugh has passed on, but Betty helps on a part-time basis. And Judy's and Roy's daughter, Kimberly Tibbs, is now part of the team.

It's the business that really brought politics into focus for Warnick. Over the years she testified up to 30 times in Olympia for or against bills that would affect her industry. She represented her state trade organization.

"That kind of got me interested in politics," she said. "I realized the importance of lobbyists."

When Holmquist Newbry vacated her house seat in 2006, it was time for Warnick to make a move, and other Grant County Republicans encouraged her. She was overwhelmed by emotion her first day serving in the House.

"I spent the whole day with chills up and down my spine," she said. "I still feel the same way at the start of each session."

Warnick is not a movement type of feminist, but she does encourage women to find a place in leadership. She was the first woman president of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce. She applauds the growing number of women in the legislature and noted they vocalize their points of view as vehemently as the men.

"We've had some pretty severe clashes," she said.

According to Warnick, an effective legislator must have a thick skin and a short memory. Moments after arguing differing views with another legislator on an issue, he or she may side with him or her on another.

Warnick noted legislators deal with as many as 20 bills in a day during session. They have to prioritize the bills by their importance to their districts to get a handle on the work.

"Some days my head is just swimming," she said. "We're all like that."

Things don't change much after the session ends. Warnick is in demand for meetings, locally and state-wide, and swamped with phone calls and emails all year long.

Warnick's greatest joy so far in the legislature came last year. As the ranking member of the capital budget committee, she helped push through the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, which is intended to create new water storage for irrigators, sportsmen, municipalities and habitat.

The legislature committed $150 million to the program this year and $5 billion (including federal contribution) over 30 years. The funds will be spent to enhance the capacity of the mountain reservoirs that feed the Yakima Basin, including those above Cle Elum.

"We have severe droughts some years," Warnick said. "This is good planning."

Warnick has not been part of a majority in the House. She hopes to be part of one in the Senate, which is closely divided by the two parties.

If she is, she'll have the experience to help lead.