Board of Governors Elections

Board of Governors Member At-Large Governor Position Election
Voting closed at 5 p.m. PST on Jan. 14, 2021. Visit the Meet the Candidates page to view the complete election results.
It's Time to Lead; Time to Make an Impact
Time to Run for the WSBA Board of Governors
The Washington State Bar Association will conduct an election to fill upcoming open positions on the Board. Below is the complete information regarding the 2021 Board Elections process. Learn More about Serving on the WSBA Board of Governors and join an informational session (details below)!
Open Positions
- Congressional Districts 1, 4, 5, and 7-South
- At-Large Governor (Young Lawyers)
- President-elect
2021 Filing Deadlines
- Congressional District Positions: Tuesday, Feb. 16 @ 5 p.m. PST
- At-Large Position (Young Lawyer): Tuesday, April 20 @ 5 p.m. PST
- President-elect: Tuesday, April 20 @ 5 p.m. PST
Congressional District Positions
Filing Information & Important Dates
- District 1 (currently held by Governor Sunitha Anjilvel)
- District 4 (currently held by Treasurer Dan Clark)
- District 5 (currently held by Governor P.J. Grabicki)
- District 7-South (currently held by Governor Jean Kang)
Eligibility
Pursuant to the WSBA Bylaws, ‘"any Active member of the Bar, except a person who has previously served as a governor for more than 48 months, may be nominated or apply. Members who have served as an at-large governor for more than 48 consecutive months at time of filing or application are not eligible to be nominated or apply for election or appointment as governor from the congressional district, an at-large governor position or geographic regions within the 7th Congressional District, or in which such person resides, for a period of 36 months after the conclusion of that term of service." Find your district in myWSBA or by consulting this map.
Term
Begins at the Sept. 23–24, 2021 Board Meeting through Sept. 30, 2024.
Filing Information
To run for the Board of Governors, or to nominate another member, please submit the following materials by 5 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 to barleaders@wsba.org.
Application Forms
Candidate Profile Form: pdf. format or word doc format
This form will be formatted to a WSBA design template and visible online.
Candidate Statement
The statement (200 words max.) will be visible online and included on the ballot. Hyperlinks are OK.
Photo
Optional candidate photos will visible online and included on the ballot.
Important Dates in 2021
Applicants, mark your calendars!
- Informational Sessions: Friday Feb. 5 & 12 at 12 p.m.
Learn more and get your questions answered by discussing Board service with current members of the Board of Governors. Please join during the first 30 minutes of the session.
Feb. 5 Zoom Meeting Link:
Meeting ID: 922 1742 5159
Passcode: 516688
Feb. 12 Zoom Meeting Link:
Meeting ID: 943 0478 4384
Passcode: 829202
- Candidate Video Recordings: Thursday, March 4, beginning at 12 p.m. After the application deadline, candidates will be invited to select a time slot to film a brief 90-second candidate video.
- Election: March 15–April 1
Candidates will be notified of the results the evening of April 1. - New Governor Orientation: TBD
Governors are required to participate in New Governor Orientation. Incoming and returning governors are invited to attend. Likely to occur in June; dates are forthcoming! - July Board of Governors Meeting: July 15–17
Incoming governors are encouraged to attend the Board retreat and meeting in July. If permissible, this meeting will be held in Portland, Oregon. - September Board of Governors Meeting: Sept. 23–24
Incoming governors be sworn-in and begin their term at this Board meeting.
Voting
The four district-based positions are elected by members in their district. 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 WSBA 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. PST on April 1.
At-Large Governor Position (Young Lawyers)
Applications for this position are due by 5 p.m. on April 20, 2021.
Applicants for this position will be interviewed by the Washington Young Lawyers Committee (WYLC). In accordance with the Bylaws, the WYLC will nominate at least three candidates to be placed on the ballot. Candidates interviews will take place Saturday, May 8. All eligible active members who meet the definition of the young lawyer as defined by the WSBA Bylaws will receive an electronic ballot. More information will be posted in February.
President-Elect Position
Applications for this position are due by 5 p.m. April 20, 2021
The President-Elect will be elected by the Board of Governors at its May 14-15 meeting. More information will be posted in February.
Accommodations
If you require reasonable accommodations to complete your application, please contact barleaders@wsba.org.
Questions?
Please contact Paris Eriksen, WSBA Volunteer Engagement Advisor, at parise@wsba.org or barleaders@wsba.org.