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Centralia students serve as
legislative pages to Rep. Richard DeBolt
Randi Jo Wichert and
Anjelita Ballard of Centralia served recently as a legislative pages in
the House of Representatives. They were sponsored by House Minority
Leader Rep. Richard DeBolt.
Randi Jo is in eighth grade at Nisqually Middle School. The 14-year-old
is the daughter of Randy Wichert of Lacey and Florine Wichert of
Centralia.
Anjelita, 15, is a ninth grader at Centralia High School. She is the
daughter of Pedro Sanchez and Sarah Ballard, both of Centralia.
DeBolt said he is happy to sponsor pages in the House every year.
“It is important that we get as many young people involved in the
legislative process as we can because these kids are our community
leaders of tomorrow,” DeBolt said. “The more involved they become
when they are young, the more likely they will be to be deeply involved
in their communities later in life.”
Pages deliver messages and documents to legislators in their offices,
committee meetings and House chambers during floor sessions. This
responsibility is considered vital to the efficient operation of the
Washington State Legislature.
Pages also do schoolwork two hours a day and spend time in the
legislative page school learning about state government.
Young people from across the state have come to Olympia to serve as
pages for the Washington State House of Representatives since 1891.
Selection as a page is an honor, as each House member may only sponsor a
limited number each legislative session.
Pages must be sponsored by a legislator and obtain permission from their
parents and school. Most pages live with volunteer host families while
in Olympia.
Legislative pages Anjelita Ballard and
Randi Jo Wicher with
Florine Wichert and Rep. Richard DeBolt
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