An inside view of the State Legislature

Published 10:30 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

Last fall, Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R-Hobart) offered a “day with your legislator” during the 2006 session as part of a silent auction fund-raiser held by the Fall City Elementary School PTSA. On Feb. 16, two businessmen went to Olympia to participate in what they called “an adult version of a field trip.”

The two businessmen were Bob Chapman, region sales director for Microsoft Learning and a resident of Fall City; and Brad Miller, vice president-audit manager for Washington Mutual and a resident of Renton.

Chapman and Miller followed Pflug around the capitol campus as she attended meetings and committee hearings.

For Chapman, it was his first trip to the state capital and he called his day with Pflug “very impressive.”

“I realize now how hard-working and committed these people are,” Chapman said. “I think I saw public service at its best. I also saw how overwhelming the responsibility can be.”

Miller said he is less cynical now, but maybe a bit more confused.

“I’m walking away more interested,” Miller said. “I learned a ton and saw a lot of forces at work.”

Chapman bid on, and won, the day with Pflug. He and Miller grew up together, so Chapman invited him to come along.

“I met Sen. Pflug at a fund-raiser for Dino Rossi’s race for governor and when I saw the item at the auction, I just thought it would be fun,” Chapman said.

Pflug represents the 5th Legislative District that includes North Bend, Maple Valley, Issaquah, Sammamish, Fall City, Snoqualmie and parts of rural King County.