Tarra Simmons

Tarra Simmons graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 1994. Simmons earned a law degree from Seattle University in 2017. Her career experience includes working as the executive director of the Civil Survival Project, a Skadden Fellow with the Public Defender Association, and a legal intern with Columbia Legal Services.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Raised in Bremerton, Tarra has faced some of the biggest barriers to success and opportunity. It was with the help of this community that she was able to overcome these circumstances and become a tireless advocate for change.

From economic insecurity, to housing affordability and lack of access to healthcare, education and job skills training, these are big challenges that many people from all walks of life in her community face on a daily basis.

In 2014, Tarra decided to go to law school to learn how to make a larger impact on the community. Tarra graduated with honors and received the prestigious Skadden fellowship to help people get the legal counsel they need to move on after criminal justice involvement.

Tarra was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to the Washington State Reentry Council where she was elected by her peers as co-chair. He appointed her to the Public Defense Advisory Board. She also serves on the Washington Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission.

Tarra helped pass the New Hope Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that streamlines the process for reintegration after incarceration.

In addition to being the co-founder of Civil Survival, Tarra serves on the board of the Economic Opportunity Institute and volunteers with the Central Kitsap School District to support policies that end the school to prison pipeline. She recently received Sen. Murray's Golden Tennis Shoe Award and the "Woman of Achievement" award from YWCA Kitsap County.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Our region's economic growth should benefit all of us - not just wealthy CEOs and corporations. Tarra will fight for an economy that works for everyone.For Tarra, education was her pathway out of poverty. As a graduate of both Central Kitsap High School and Olympic College and public school parent, Tarra is committed to ensuring all students in our community can access quality education they need to succeed.A former nurse, Tarra has witnessed firsthand our broken healthcare system. As one of the leading causes of bankruptcy, Tarra knows we have a responsibility to reduce costs and increase access to quality healthcare, so no one has to worry about getting the care they need.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Here are the top areas and details:

The Economy.

-Stand with Washington workers and work to create better paying jobs with benefits

-End homelessness and increase affordable housing

-Fund affordable childcare for workers

-Tax reform that ensures the super-rich pay their fair share for the services we all depend on

Education.

-Funding for early childhood education and wrap around services for children with additional needs

-Affordable higher education

-Increased access to job training and apprenticeship programs

Healthcare

-Increased funding for behavioral healthcare, including mental health treatment and substance use disorder

-Lower the cost of prescription drugs

-Protect women's reproductive healthcare

-Affordable, comprehensive healthcare for all

Climate Change

-Reduce carbon pollution and hold fossil fuel industries accountable for protecting our clean air and water

-Increase incentives for producing cleaner fuels and energy efficient construction

-Invest in communities most impacted by climate change

Civil Rights

-Protect voting rights to ensure everyone has a voice in our democracy

-Stand up for our immigrant neighbors, family and friends

-Fight back against systemic racism and ensure people of color have a voice in the decisions that impact their communities

-Give a voice to formerly incarcerated people, find solutions to ease recovery and re-entry and end the school-to-prison pipelin

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Upon graduating from Pacific Lutheran University School of Nursing in 2000, my first job was a Health Coach Consultant. For 5 years, I educated chronically ill patients in order to improve their medical outcomes and quality of life.