Peter Abbarno
Peter Abbarno | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 24, 1975 |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Member of the Washington House of Representatives for District 20 |
Peter Jaret Abbarno (born September 24, 1975) is an American lawyer, entrepreneur, and political figure based in Washington. He serves as a Republican representative in the Washington House of Representatives for District 20, having assumed office on January 11, 2021.
Education
Abbarno obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1997. He later earned his Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School in 2008, followed by a Master of Laws specializing in taxation from the University of Washington in 2009.
Career
His professional experience includes working as a deputy assistant prosecuting attorney within King County Juvenile Court. In 2010, Abbarno became part of the law firm Olson Althauser Samuelson and Rayan (now Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP) located in Centralia, Washington.
Abbarno was elected to serve on the Centralia City Council in 2015. Subsequently, on November 3, 2020, he secured a seat in the Washington House of Representatives representing District 20, Position 1, winning against Timothy Zahn with 70.84% of the vote.
Legislation
He sponsored House Bill 1004, also referred to as Zack's Law, which mandates the state to display warnings regarding the hazards associated with jumping off bridges, emphasizing the risk of cold water shock. This legislation honors Zachary Lee Rager, who tragically passed away due to cold water shock after jumping into the Chehalis River. The bill was passed unanimously in 2023 with a vote of 95–0 and requires installation of a memorial sign near the bridge where Rager’s death occurred.
Awards
- Named Person of the Year in 2019 by The Chronicle.
- Received the Legislator of the Year award in 2021 from The Washington Association of Agricultural Educators.
Personal life
Abbarno lives in Centralia, Washington with his wife Holly and their two children.