Pridemore seeks student pages for 2007 legislative session

OLYMPIA – Pages play an essential role when the Washington State Legislature meets each year: They relay messages to the Senate floor, deliver packages throughout the Capitol campus, and bear the flag at legislative ceremonies.

Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, invites middle and high school students in the 49th Legislative District to apply for one of the weeklong paid page positions available in his office during the 2007 legislative session.

Aside from their assigned duties, pages are able to meet their senator and tour the Governor’s mansion. They spend two hours each day in the page school listening to guest speakers, including legislators and lobbyists, and participating in legislative simulations. During school, pages draft their own bills, present them to their peers, and vote on them at the end of each week.

“This is a great way for Washington’s young citizens to learn about the legislative process firsthand and understand that every year the Legislature makes decisions that affect them and their families,” Pridemore said.

Pages generally work Monday through Friday (Saturday only if the Senate decides to hold session that day.) The Senate can offer students assistance in finding host homes.

To serve as a page, a student must:

• have a grade point average of a C+ or better;
• receive parent and school permission;
• have a Social Security number; and
• be at least 14 years old but not older than 16.

More information about the Senate Page Program, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available online. Those interested in receiving a page application can contact Pridemore’s office at 360-786-7696, or e-mail the senator’s legislative assistant, Alison Mielke.

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