WA-08: Dino Rossi (R)
About Dino:
Dino Rossi is a third generation Washingtonian. The grandson of a Black Diamond coal miner and the son of a Seattle public school teacher and a beautician, Dino grew up in Snohomish County with his six siblings.
There was a lot of love in the Rossi household, but not a lot of money. Dino worked his way through college, taking jobs in construction and as a janitor waxing floors at the Space Needle to make ends meet. He graduated from Seattle University with a Business degree and went on to a successful career in commercial real estate where he met his wife, Terry.
As a State Senator, Dino has proven that it’s possible to be fiscally conservative with a social conscience. He’s received wide praise from Republicans and Democrats alike for his ability to bring people together from all walks of life to solve problems for Washingtonians. As Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Dino crafted a bipartisan balanced budget that erased a massive deficit without raising taxes while still protecting seniors, people with developmental disabilities, and our state’s most vulnerable citizens. Among other things, this budget prevented taxes from rising on Washingtonians while also preserving funding for nursing homes, giving raises to new teachers, and ensuring that a projected 25,000 more impoverished children would have access to healthcare.
Dino has received eight awards from the developmentally disabled community for his legislative work on their behalf, and the AARP has called him a “Senior Star” for his work protecting seniors. He has also led other important legislative efforts in our state to require ignition locking devices for chronic drunk drivers, to keep child molesters in prison and away from children, and to save and rebuild the Issaquah salmon hatchery, just to name a few.
Outside of his public service, community involvement has been an important part of Dino’s life. He was a longtime member and past Chair of the Board of Special Olympics Washington, and during his tenure as Chair Washington State was awarded the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. Dino is also a member of the Deans Executive Advisory Board for the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University.
Dino and his wife Terry celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary in August. They live in Sammamish and have four children aged 17 to 27.
The biographical information above was sourced from the campaign website; see link above for more information.
