Laura Ruderman Scores WUFPAC’s First 2012 Endorsement (D-WA)

Women Under Forty PAC announced its first 2012 endorsement today of Laura Ruderman, candidate for Congress in Washington’s 1st district.

Ruderman, 40, is currently the only woman running to replace Congressman Jay Inslee who is leaving his seat to run for Governor.

“Laura is a dynamic and an accomplished candidate who is a tested and proven winner,” said Katie Vlietstra, WUFPAC’s President.  “Our Board of Directors was impressed by her experience in the state House where she was known for her attention to constituent services and hard work by out-walking and outworking her opponents.  Laura has what it takes to win.”

At the age of 27, Ruderman was elected to represent the 45th Legislative District in Washington State, a position she held from 1999 to 2005.  While in office, she was vice chair of the Technology, Telecommunications and Energy Committee, and served on the Appropriations and Rules Committees.  In addition to these assignments, Laura was a member of the K-20 Education Network, the Information Services Board and the Governor’s Task Force on Virtual Learning.   In her three terms in the legislature, Ruderman won Legislator of the Year and was named one of “100 to Watch” by the Democratic Leadership Council in 2003.

For almost 20 years, Ruderman was an active leader in Results, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished families through legislative action.  She also served a decade on the Board of Directors of Washington Community Alliance for Self Help (CASH), a non-profit organization that provides low-income people, mostly women, with collateral-free microloans, business training, and peer support, enabling them to start and expand small self-employment businesses.

After leaving the Legislature, Ruderman returned to the nonprofit sector, raising money for Sound Mental Health and 21 Acres.  Currently, she serves as the Co-Chair of the Discovery Community School, one of the Lake Washington School District’s Choice Schools.

WUFPAC is dedicated to electing more young women to public office so that young women have an equal voice in shaping public policy, and building the seniority of women in Congress by electing women at a young age. WUFPAC supports candidates who are committed to empowering young women to succeed.

For more information about Laura Ruderman and to donate directly to her campaign, please visit www.lauraruderman.org.