State lawmaker plans to move to Cambodia

By Andrew Garber
Seattle Times staff reporter

State Rep. Velma Veloria

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The decision is expected to create a rush of Democrats filing to run for the second position in the 11th District, widely viewed as a safe seat for the party. The district represents parts of South Seattle, Burien, Tukwila, Sea-Tac, and the southern part of Renton.

Veloria said she decided last week not to run for office this year and will leave when her term expires in January. "Family comes first," said Veloria, 54, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to the United States more than 40 years ago.

Her husband, Alonzo Suson, left for Cambodia last month to take a job as a field organizer for the American Coalition for International Labor Solidarity, she said.

"I've been in office for a decade and I needed to move on and I needed to try to figure out what else I can do with my life," Veloria said. "I wanted to make sure I expanded my opportunities."

Veloria said she's applied to work as a national project coordinator for the United Nations development program in Cambodia. She's also exploring teaching prospects to share her experiences as a state legislator.

"I feel really good about what I've been able to do" in Olympia, she said, citing her work as chairwoman of the House Trade and Economic Development Committee. She also noted the creation of a joint legislative-oversight committee on international state policy.

"As globalization continues, our state is going to be impacted more and more by international trade agreements. I think we need to keep track of that. Especially since the federal government doesn't do a very good job of it," she said.

Three people already have filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission, indicating they're running for Veloria's seat: Robert Hasegawa, of Seattle; Edward Prince, of Tukwila; and Rosemary Quesenberry, of Renton.

Veloria said about 64 percent of the voters in her district are Democrats.

"A safe Democratic seat is a rare prize in politics," said Christian Sinderman, a Democratic consultant. "It sets off a free-for-all where an awful lot of people who would like to serve will jump in."
 
Veloria said that although she's looking forward to moving to Cambodia, leaving office was not an easy decision for her.

"For an immigrant woman to be elected to public office and to be given the opportunity to be in the mainstream has been the greatest gift that people have given to me," she said.

Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com