January 4, 2007
UW staffer a new member of the state Legislature
When the state Legislature convenes on Jan. 8, a UW staffer will be among its freshman members. Steve Hobbs, facilities manager for the Electrical Engineering Department, was elected to the Senate from the 44th District, which includes Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Mill Creek and parts of Everett and Marysville.
Although he graduated from the UW in 1994 with a degree in political science, this is the first time Hobbs has held elective office, and he defeated an incumbent to do it. Dave Schmidt had been in the Senate for the last four years and in the House for eight years before that. Ironically, Hobbs had served as his intern back when Schmidt was chair of the Snohomish County Republican Party. But Hobbs changed parties in 1991, and he didn’t hesitate to challenge his old mentor when it seemed Schmidt might be vulnerable.
“There were already two good state representatives in the district,” Hobbs said, explaining why he didn’t make a run for the House instead of the Senate, which would be more usual for a newcomer. “I certainly didn’t want to go against them. I saw an opportunity to get into the Senate, and I took it.”
The road was not easy, however. Hobbs was not endorsed by his local party, and he had a primary opponent. But he’s used to adversity. Before getting the job at the University, Hobbs was in the Army for eight years and had postings to both Kosovo and Iraq.
“I loved the Army and wanted to make it a career,” he said. “But I got disillusioned in Iraq and decided that part of my life was over.”
In Iraq, Hobbs was an anti-terrorism officer, part of a small team that went all over the country, assessing sites for how well they could withstand attacks. He was on the infamous Airport Road multiple times and came under small arms fire. Once, he and his unit drove by an improvised explosive device, which fortunately did not go off. After experiences like that, fighting an uphill battle for a nomination and election didn’t seem so difficult to him. In fact, he said the hardest thing for him was raising the $110,000 that he’d been told would be needed to run a campaign. He did most of it himself, simply getting on the phone and reaching out to people and organizations he thought would support him.
“It’s horrible to ask for money. It’s a painful process but it has to be done,” Hobbs said. “That’s why I feel for some of these chairs at the University who have to go out and try to get money for their department or college.”
But while fundraising was painful, campaigning was enjoyable for Hobbs, who said he spent most of his time ringing doorbells and talking to registered voters. Every evening after work, he’d go out until the sun went down, then spend all day on weekends. When the election got closer, he used up his annual leave so he could spend all day on the task.
“I liked doing that, because you get in touch with your constituents, you get to know what their views are,” Hobbs said. “I know what I think is wrong in my district, but they may have a different view. It was good for me to listen to them.”
Hobbs had the advantage of having lived in his district all his life. A native of Lake Stevens, he graduated from Lake Stevens High School and went to Everett Community College before transferring to the University. He had neither the money nor the grades to come to the UW right out of high school, he explained. Raised by a single parent, he was the first person in his family to go to college. But he said that attending the University was a dream of his from early on.
“I don’t think there was a day when I was on campus that I didn’t say to myself, ‘I can’t believe I’m here,'” Hobbs said.
He had a full scholarship for ROTC, but was told at the last minute that he couldn’t use it because of his poor eyesight. He attempted to get a waiver, but it was denied because the Army at the time was shrinking and didn’t need more recruits. The news was devastating for Hobbs, but he later joined the Army Reserves and did well there. Meanwhile, he had some political jobs, including serving as a field coordinator for Kevin Quigley’s narrow loss in his 1996 run for Congress.
Hobbs was driving home after learning the disappointing outcome of a recount in that race when smoke started coming out of his car. He’d blown a head gasket, which destroys a car’s engine. “I walked home in the rain, and when I got there my wife told me she was pregnant with our first child,” Hobbs said. “So I was at a critical crossroads. I picked up the phone, called a recruiter and said I wanted to go on active duty.”
After reaching the rank of sergeant, he applied for Officer Candidate School, and this time the waiver for his poor eyesight was granted. The school required him to go through the infantry, the Army’s toughest assignment, but Hobbs didn’t flinch because “I wanted to lead troops.”
When he decided not to stay in the Army after his second tour, he applied for his University job while still in Iraq. “I love the University,” Hobbs said. “Even though I’m the facilities manager and not involved in the fantastic research that gets done here, I feel like I’m supporting it indirectly.”
But somehow, that wasn’t enough. Service is just in his blood, Hobbs said. He was doing public service at the University, but he wanted to make a “greater impact.” That’s why he decided to run for the Legislature. He’ll be on an unpaid leave of absence during the 105-day session.
And what will he be pushing there? Education, of course, although his committee assignment is to the k-12 portion of the Education Committee. He’ll also be on the Ways and Means and Financial Institutions committees, and says he’s very interested in the transportation and health care issues.
Does he have future political ambitions? Hobbs laughs. “I want to concentrate on being a state senator right now.”
