Senator Lynda Wilson

Biography

Lynda Wilson was first elected Senator from the 17th Legislative District in 2016 following a two-year term in the House of Representatives. Her priorities as a lawmaker begin with a strong economy and positive business climate, to increase job opportunities across Washington; they also include public safety, veterans’ issues, housing, responsible budgeting, reducing regulations that hinder economic growth, and holding government agencies accountable.

Lynda’s work in the Senate reflects her priorities. She is Republican leader on the Ways and Means Committee, and serves on the Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee. She is secretary of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, after serving as vice chair; and is a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy, the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs, the Washington State Building Code Council, and the Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee addressing replacement of the I-5 bridge between Washington and Oregon. Lynda is a former member of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, the Law & Justice Committee, and also recently concluded her service as an ex officio member of the Washington State Gambling Commission.

Growing up in an Air Force family that lived around the United States and in Germany before settling in Clark County, Lynda graduated from Evergreen High School and attended Clark College. Her decades of business experience began in the financial sector, working in banking and credit unions, then expanded to manufacturing: she and husband Tracy are owners in DeWils Industries, a third-generation business with a presence in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

Lynda values the importance of community service and, besides volunteering at her children’s schools, has given of her time to the Southwest Washington Search and Rescue Team, C-Tran Citizen’s Advisory Committee, National Federation of Independent Business Leadership Council, Association of Washington Business Government Affairs Committee.

A graduate of the Washington-based leadership institute named for the late longtime U.S. Representative Jennifer Dunn, Lynda is a past chair of the Clark County Republican Party, and served in leadership positions in the House at the caucus and committee levels before her election to the Senate.

Lynda and Tracy reside in Vancouver. Together they have three daughters, and five grandchildren.