Sen. Leonard Christian took the oath of office in the state Senate Monday as lawmakers convened their 2025 legislative session in Olympia.
OLYMPIA – Retired Air Force veteran Leonard Christian was sworn into office in the state Senate Monday as Washington lawmakers returned to the state Capitol for their 2025 legislative session.
Christian, who previously served in the House, won a contested race last November for the Senate seat vacated by Republican Mike Padden. A Spokane Valley businessman employed in real estate sales, Christian said he is proud to serve as senator from the 4th Legislative District.
“There is no higher honor than the trust that the people bestow on their elected representatives,” Christian said. “At times like these we are reminded of the importance of this institution and our responsibility to reflect the interests of those who elect us. I look forward to working for the interests of the people of my district and for the entire state.”
Christian has been named ranking Republican member on the Senate Human Services Committee. In addition, he serves on the Senate Transportation and Health and Long Term Care committees. Christian also has been appointed to the Oversight Board for the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Christian said the Transportation Committee posting will help him advocate for completion of the North-South Freeway in Spokane. Lower taxes and safer communities are among his top priorities. “If we’re going to get things done in Olympia, we’re going to need to reduce the polarization we see in politics,” Christian said. “We need to get better at listening to the people and building consensus.”
Christian has served in the House twice. In 2014, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Rep. Larry Clouse, but did not retain the seat in that fall’s election. In 2022, he ran for the House and won.
Priority bills for Christian include SB 5116, which allows county auditors to waive a mandatory state waiting period for marriage licenses in cases of medical necessity. Christian said the measure was prompted by a case in Spokane last year when an ailing man married his longtime girlfriend mere hours before his death. State law allowed the auditor to waive only three days of a six-day waiting period. Though the couple was able to marry in the nick of time and establish inheritance rights, Christian said the incident demonstrated county officials need more flexibility.
Other measures introduced by Christian include:
- SB 5172, which would allow fire districts to dissolve civil service requirements,
- SB 5251, which would permit lodging taxes to be used for economic development projects,
- SB 5255, which would allow juveniles to be detained pending disposition of their cases when they are alleged to have committed crimes involving firearms or stolen vehicles,
- SB 5256, which would require the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board to determine whether the demands of “restorative justice” have been met in considering prisoner releases,
- SB 5257, which would prevent juveniles committing crimes with guns from seeking “suspended disposition” of their cases, and
- SB 5260, allowing offenders sentenced to juvenile facilities between ages 18 and 25 to request transfer to Department of Corrections facilities.
Christian’s new office at the Capitol Campus in Olympia is located in the Irv Newhouse Building, Office 322. His mailing address is Post Office Box 40404, Olympia, WA, 98504. His email address is Leonard.Christian@leg.wa.gov and his office telephone number is (360) 786-7606.