Port Orchard girl serves as Legislative page

Published 11:02 am Thursday, March 26, 2015

OLYMPIA — Madison Allen, of Port Orchard, spent a week as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol.

Allen, a student at Charles Wright Academy, was one of 22 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2015 legislative session.

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Students are responsible for transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock session.

“It sounded very interesting to get an inside view on what the senators did at the Capitol,” Allen said. “I think I’m getting more of an insider’s view, even more so than I was expecting.”

She said the favorite part of the program was interacting with all of the different people and getting to know them better.

Allen was sponsored by 35th Legislative District Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch.

“The page program is a chance for bright young minds to get an inside look at the legislature,” Sheldon said. “It was wonderful hosting Madison here this week.”

Madison, 14, is the daughter of Michael and Aimee Allen of Port Orchard.