On January 5, 1997, Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (b. 1936) is appointed to a vacated seat in the Washington State House of Representatives. A Democrat, she will represent the 46th District, which covers Seattle more or less north of Green Lake and east to Lake Washington.
Kenney's work in the House of Representatives included a strong record of supporting education issues and migrant rights. She was elected to her seat in 1998, and served for eight terms.
She sponsored HB 1079, which granted in-state tuition to undocumented resident students in the U.S. if certain criteria are met. Representative Kenney also worked to secure funding and support for Opportunity Grants, which provided financial support to low-income adults attending school or technical training.
Born to migrant farm workers from Mexico, Kenney grew up in Wapato, Washington, and was working in the fields with her family by the age of 5. After moving to the Tri-Cities in 1955, Kenney helped establish the Farm Worker Health Clinics and the Educational Institute for Rural Families. Both programs continue to thrive throughout the state.
Kenney did not seek re-election in 2012 and retired from the legislature after serving eight terms.
