{{Short description|American politician (born 1965)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Richard DeBolt | image = | caption = | office = Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives | term_start = January 9, 2006 | term_end = January 13, 2014 | predecessor = Bruce Chandler | successor = Dan Kristiansen | term_start1 = January 12, 2004 | term_end1 = January 10, 2005 | predecessor1 = Cathy McMorris Rodgers | successor1 = Bruce Chandler | state_house2 = Washington | state2 = Washington | district2 = 20th, Position 1 | term_start2 = January 13, 1997 | term_end2 = January 11, 2021 | preceded2 = David J. Chappell | succeeded2 = Peter Abbarno | party = Republican | birth_name = Richard Charles DeBolt | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|11|3}} | birth_place = {{nowrap|Tacoma, Washington, U.S.}} | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | profession = | alma_mater = }} '''Richard Charles DeBolt'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.pdc.wa.gov/rptimg/default.aspx?batchnumber=100154341|title=Cash Receipts and Expenditures|work=Public Disclosure Commission, State of Washington|date=2006-02-09|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref> (born November 3, 1965) is an American politician of the Republican Party. He was a member of the Washington House of Representatives, representing the 20th district from 1997 to 2021.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/13970/richard-debolt|title=Richard DeBolt|publisher=votesmart.org|access-date=2012-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pollvault.com/polls/candidate/60131/richard-debolt#candidateBio |title=2014 Washington General Election |website=PollVault |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328033743/https://www.pollvault.com/polls/candidate/60131/richard-debolt |archive-date=2016-03-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He was House Republican Leader from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2006 to 2013.
== Political career == DeBolt was first elected to office in 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Eric |last2=Chronicle |first2=Natalie Johnson The |date=2020-02-06 |title=State Rep. Richard DeBolt Announces Upcoming Retirement From House After 24 Years |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/state-rep-richard-debolt-announces-upcoming-retirement-from-house-after-24-years,5464 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> He ran for office with the goal of focusing on economic development and business-friendly policies, and he has said that increased employment is key to solving issues such as uninsured residents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mittge |first=Brian |date=2004-10-12 |title=DeBolt works to build jobs |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/debolt-works-to-build-jobs,237066 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, he was re-elected minority leader over Mike Armstrong and Bruce Chandler after the Democratic Party won a 62-36 majority in the House.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Curt |date=2006-11-18 |title=State House Republicans stick with DeBolt as their leader |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/state-house-republicans-stick-with-debolt-as-their-leader/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He held this position until 2014 when he stepped down due to health issues.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stang |first=John |title=House leader Richard DeBolt leaves for health reasons {{!}} Cascade PBS News |url=https://crosscut.com/2013/04/debolt-ed-house-minority-leader-leaves-health-reas |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=crosscut.com |language=en}}</ref>
In 2012, the Washington Supreme Court ordered the State Legislature to fully fund K-12 public education in the ''McCleary v. Washington'' decision. Although the Legislature increased funding, they did not fully comply with the mandate and, two years later, were found to be in contempt.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Washington bill registers displeasure with state Supreme Court |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/dec/21/washington-bill-registers-displeasure-with-state/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> This was a campaign issue in the 2014 election, with DeBolt pledging not to institute new taxes to fund schools, in contrast with his opponent.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Dickson |first=Amelia |date=2014-10-20 |title=DeBolt, Savoca differ on K-12 in District 20 race |url=https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article26084725.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240622185924/https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article26084725.html#selection-867.19-867.33 |archive-date=2024-06-22 |work=The Olympian}}</ref> DeBolt argued that the State Supreme Court's actions were politically motivated and represented a violation of the separation of powers, and he sponsored a bill to require State Supreme Court Justice candidates to declare their political party while running for office.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerrero |first=Rafael |date=2015-01-05 |title=Bill counters justices on school funding ruling |url=https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/bill-counters-justices-on-school-funding-ruling/article_f7b35d4b-b9e6-5c40-98fa-084c265125cf.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Yakima Herald-Republic |language=en}}</ref>
In 2013, DeBolt was selected to be the Ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee, a position he held until his retirement from the legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-08-06 |title=DeBolt Named Ranking Republican of House Capital Budget Committee |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/debolt-named-ranking-republican-of-house-capital-budget-committee,96032 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
In 2019, in response to Governor Jay Inslee's proposed climate change legislation, DeBolt sponsored the Carbon Free Washington Act, which would provide financial incentives to businesses to reduce carbon use. He argued that providing incentives would lead to a better result than instituting mandates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-18 |title=DeBolt Counters Inslee's Climate Proposals With Incentive-Based Plan |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/debolt-counters-inslees-climate-proposals-with-incentive-based-plan,11721 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
After 24 years in office, he retired from the House in 2021 and became Executive Director of the Lewis Economic Development Council.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-05 |title=Richard DeBolt to Lead Lewis Economic Development Council |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/richard-debolt-to-lead-lewis-economic-development-council,260430 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://lewiscountyalliance.org/about-us/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Economic Alliance of Lewis County |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == DeBolt was born in 1965 in Tacoma, Washington, to a military family. After graduating from Cheyenne East High School, he studied International relations at University of Wyoming. In 1989, he married his wife, Amy, with whom he has two children, Sophie and Austin.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-12 |title=HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2020-4686 |url=https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/House%20Resolutions/4686-Rep.%20Richard%20DeBolt.pdf |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov |format=pdf}}</ref>
He has been involved with United Way of Lewis County, including serving as a board member<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-03-29 |title=United Way of Lewis County Announces New Board Members |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/united-way-of-lewis-county-announces-new-board-members,103375 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Daily Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> and securing $3 million of funding for a pre-school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosane |first=Eric |date=2021-09-14 |title=Bezos Academy Signs 10-Year Lease Commitment to United Learning Center in Centralia |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/14/bezos-academy-signs-10-year-lease-commitment-to-un/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921153847/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/14/bezos-academy-signs-10-year-lease-commitment-to-un/ |archive-date=2021-09-21 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref>
== Awards == * 2014 Guardians of Small Business award from the NFIB<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfib.com/content/news/washington/69-lawmakers-win-main-streets-highest-award-65593/ |title=69 Lawmakers Win Main Street's Highest Award |website=nfib.com |date=May 12, 2014 |accessdate=September 18, 2021 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126222746/https://www.nfib.com/content/news/washington/69-lawmakers-win-main-streets-highest-award-65593/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * 2018 City Champion Award from the Association of Washington Cities<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-29 |title=Rep. DeBolt recognized by Association of Washington Cities |url=https://www.thereflector.com/stories/rep-debolt-recognized-by-association-of-washington-cities,36639 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Reflector |language=en}}</ref> * 2020 Guardians of Small Business from the NFIB<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nfib.com/content/news/guardian-of-small-business/44-washington-legislators-named-guardians-of-small-business/ |title=44 Washington Legislators Named Guardians of Small Business |website=nfib.com |date=July 15, 2020 |accessdate=September 11, 2021 |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822200916/https://www.nfib.com/content/news/guardian-of-small-business/44-washington-legislators-named-guardians-of-small-business/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://ballotpedia.org/Richard_DeBolt Richard DeBolt at ballotpedia.org] * [https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=21899 Richard DeBolt at ourcampaigns.com]
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wa-hs}} {{s-bef|before=Bruce Chandler}} {{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Washington House of Representatives|years=2006–2014}} {{s-aft|after=Dan Kristiansen}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Debolt, Richard}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Washington House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Washington State Legislature