Tina Podlodowski
Tina L. Podlodowski (born 1960) is an American businesswoman and politician serving as the Chair of the Washington State Democratic Party. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as a member of the Seattle City Council and unsuccessfully ran for Secretary of State of Washington in 2016. Career. Podlodowski graduated with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Hartford. After graduation she worked with a number of technology start-ups, finally coming to Microsoft in 1984, where she managed groups in product marketing, domestic and international sales, and eventually Microsoft's global  training department. After leaving Microsoft in 1993, she was one of the principal investors in the purchase and renovation of Seattle's historic Paramount Theatre. She was elected to the Seattle City Council in 1995. She served on the council for one term, chairing the Public Safety, Health and Technology Committee. She has also worked as the executive director of the Lifelong AIDS Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, and as a practice manager for Porter Novelli. In 2014, she advised Ed Murray, the Mayor of Seattle, on issues of policing. In January 2016, Podlodowski announced that she  would run against Kim Wyman, the incumbent Secretary of State of Washington, in the 2016 election. Wyman defeated Podlodowski with 55% of the vote. In January 2017, Podlodowski was elected to be the new chairperson of the Washington State Democratic Party, defeating incumbent Jaxon Ravens. Personal life. Podlodowski is openly gay. She is married and has three children.