Updated: Jan. 16, 2019

Want to Join the WSBA Board of Governors?

On this Page:

Deadlines:

  • District candidate filing...........................Feb. 15
  • District candidate ballots........................April 1
  • At-large candidate filling.........................April 22
  • President-elect candidate filling........April 22

Four positions on the WSBA Board of Governors are up for election in 2019. The open positions represent the following Congressional districts as well as one at-large seat:

  • District 2 currently held by Carla Higginson, who is eligible to seek another term because she was appointed to fill a partial term
  • District 9 currently held by Dan Bridges
  • District 10 currently held by Christina Meserve
  • At-large currently held by Athan Papailiou. This position represents lawyers historically underrepresented in WSBA governance.

The three-year term of office begins Oct. 1, 2019.

Join a Call to Learn about Being a Governor

Learn more about what is involved in Serving on the WSBA Board of Governors and consider joining a conference call with former Governor Angela Hayes. This is an opportunity to ask questions and hear about the challenges and rewards of Board service.

To participate in one of the following calls, email barleaders@wsba.org anytime before the call to request the call-in information. If these times are not convenient but you would like to speak with a former Governor, please let us know and we will try to arrange that.

Conference call times:

Thursday, Jan. 31, noon-12:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 4, 8-8:30 a.m.

District Positions

Eligibility

Any active member of WSBA (except one who previously served on the Board of Governors for more than 18 months) may run for the office of governor from the congressional district in which the member is entitled to vote (see Voting, below). Your congressional district is listed in myWSBA.

Application forms

Becoming a Candidate

To run for a district seat on the Board of Governors, file an application form including a biographical statement of 100 words or less. The required forms, which include filing instructions, are below. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. PST on Feb. 15, 2019. A WSBA member may nominate another member by completing the application form. Note: Biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published on the WSBA website.

Board of Governors Candidate Forum

 All candidates for the district seats are strongly encouraged to participate in the 2019 Candidate Forum on Monday, February 25, 5:00-7:00 at WSBA's offices in Seattle. Members are encouraged to attend and bring questions for the candidates. The forum also will be webcast and accessible statewide for live viewing.

Voting

The four district-based positions are elected by their peers. Generally, a member is entitled to vote in the congressional district in which he or she resides. All out-of-state active WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 13(f) or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice. The Bar will use an electronic voting system, and members will not receive a paper ballot unless they request one. Email ballots will be sent on March 15 and must be received by 5 p.m. PDT on April 1. 

At-large Position and President-Elect

At-large position: One at-large governor will be elected by the Board of Governors at its May 2019 meeting. The board will select from among candidates who have the experience and knowledge of the needs of those lawyers whose membership is or may be historically underrepresented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse citizens of Washington, to the end that the board will be a more diverse and representative body than the results of the election of governors based solely on Congressional Districts may allow. Any active member of the Bar (except one who previously served on the Board of Governors for more than 18 months) may run for this position. The deadline is April 22; the application form will be posted here in late February.

President-Elect:  Information about applying for the 2019-2020 president-elect position will be posted on this page in late February. The application deadline will be April 22, and the president-elect will be elected by the Board of Governors at its May 2019 meeting.