OLYMPIA — Gabrielle Coleman, 14, served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of April 1.
Pages are sponsored by the state senator from their legislative district. Sen. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton) sponsored Coleman’s week at the Legislature.
“It was so great to host Gabrielle at the capitol this week,” Randall said. “I hope that she enjoyed her time with the Legislature and learned plenty.”
The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. The educational experience is furthered by guest speakers. It also includes classes with topics such as budget-writing and how a bill becomes a law — which culminates in pages creating their own bills in a mock committee setting.
Coleman and her partners worked on a bill that would ban the use of plastic bags in Washington. They chose this bill because decreasing the amount of plastic production and waste in Washington would improve the environment. Coleman was happy to see her bill go through committee.
“I enjoyed getting to know Sen. Randall,” Coleman said. “She was so involved and it was great talking to her about her bills.”
Pages also have the opportunity to work on the Senate floor. Their maroon coats and credentials allow them access to all parts of the Capitol campus.
Coleman is an eighth-grader at Cedar Heights Middle School. She is part of the Associated Student Body and plays volleyball for her middle school team. She would love to be president one day.
Colin Cox serves as Senate page for state Sen. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton. (Washington State Senate photo)
Colin Cox is Senate page
Colin Cox served as a page in the Washington State Senate during the week of March 25.
Randall sponsored Cox’s week at the Legislature.
“Colin was a pleasure to have at the Capitol this week,” Randall said. “He’s an enthusiastic and sharp student of politics and government.”
During the mock bill exercise for the pages, Cox and his partners worked on a bill that would reduce the use of harmful pesticides. The bill would provide subsidies to aid farmers as they switch to the new system.
“I loved my mock committee experience,” Cox said. “My bill passed 17-2. That was a good feeling.”
Cox is a ninth-grader at South Kitsap High School. He is a part of the choir and the theater departments at school. In his free time, he likes to read.
