Member

Candidate, Washington House of Representatives, District 46 Position 2, 2012

Member, Board of Directors, Program Committee, Building Changes, 2009-present

Member, Business Bankruptcy Committee, American Bar Association

Member, Executive Committee, Washington State Bar Association

Member, Debtor-Creditor Resource Committee (CENTS), 1995-2010

Member, Nexthook Advisory Committee, Seattle, Washington, 2006-2007

President, Debtor-Creditor Resource Committee (CENTS), 1999-2004

Owner, Crocker Law Group, 1997-present

Law Clerk, Honorable Barbara Durham

Owner, Resolve Legal, 1997-present

Associate, Perkins Coie, 1992-1997

Law Clerk, Washington State Supreme Court, 1990-1992

Member, Washington State Bar Association, 1992-present

Member, Women Presidents Organization (WPO), Seattle Chapter, 2004-present

Member, Board of Directors, American Jewish Committee, Seattle Chapter, 2004-2007

Member, Board of Directors, Girls on the Run, 2004-2006

Member, Board of Directors, DownHomeWashington, 2000-2002

Reason for Seeking Public Office:

I believe in second chances. Although today I am blessed with good fortune, this hasn't always been true. As a teenager, I struggled to find my place in the world, leaving home and dropping out of high school when I was only 15. If you had met me then, you would never have believed that I would end up with a master's degree and a law degree, and heading up a successful law practice dedicated to helping people and businesses facing insurmountable debt. My own life experiences taught me that everyone should have an opportunity for a second chance in life.
I came to Seattle in 1980, to escape the Minnesota winters, just 18 years old. I had just recently received my GED. In Seattle, I worked in restaurants around town, bussing and waiting tables. Before long, I was fortunate to find a job as a file clerk at a law firm and to start college at Seattle Central Community College. I worked all through college to supplement the financial aid I received, finally obtaining a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington. After completing a master's degree in philosophy at the UW, I went to law school on a scholarship at the University of Minnesota and graduated with high honors. As a young woman, I was eager to fight for social change and confront injustice, and I knew lawyers were doing that work every day.
After clerking for two years at the Washington State Supreme Court, I began my career as a bankruptcy lawyer. I love my field, because it allows me to help people and businesses who have been defeated by debt to get a second chance to rebuild their lives and companies. I see the law as a force for helping and creating opportunity, and the fresh start granted by the bankruptcy process is part of that. In recent years, I have also focused on fighting banks and mortgage companies for my middle class clients, as we have seen the destruction caused by the meltdown of our housing markets.
Even when my children were small and I was building my law practice, I found time to be active in my community. In addition to my involvement with professional organizations, I sat on the boards of the elementary school my kids attended and of our synagogue, Congregation Beth Shalom, where I am still on several committees. I have volunteered at Teen Feed and the Puget Sound Jewish Coalition on Homelessness. My daughter and I traveled with members of our synagogue to El Salvador on a service trip, where we worked on an organic farm and studied the social justice issues related to food insecurity and the developing world. I served on the advisory committee of Nextbook and the board of Girls on the Run, a physical fitness and esteem building organization for young girls.
Recently, most of my volunteer work has centered on our community's efforts to end homelessness. While participating as an advocate for Housing and Homeless Advocacy Day, I met some people from Building Changes, and soon joined its board. Building Changes works with direct service agencies, providing expert advice and technical assistance for building capacity, making grants, and advocating for an end to homelessness and providing second chances. As a member of the program committee, I have reviewed grant requests and conducted site visits, and also have been an active volunteer advocate in Olympia.
I have a wonderful family. My partner Sandy and I dated in high school, and held a commitment ceremony in 1984. We have two children. Hannah is 21 and is graduating from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, this spring. Emma is 17, and is completing a year of service working with City Year Rhode Island before enrolling at the University of Washington next year. We have a sheep dog, Golda, and a very large cat, Mabel, and we live on a sunny corner in the Bryant neighborhood of Northeast Seattle, right along the Burke Gillman trail. I love to garden, especially when vegetables are involved. This is a great community, and we are happy to be part of it.
Now, as I enjoy this stage of life with my children launched and my career established, I am ready to give something back to my neighbors in the 46th District. As a citizen legislature, our state government depends on people like me contributing their experience, skills and commitment to work on the important issues facing our state. I truly believe we can make our district, state, country and world better, if we work together. I will do my best to earn your trust and your vote.