Representative Bergquist is currently a member of three committees: , and . He is also Chair of the , Co-Chair of the , a board member of the , and a member of the . Representative Bergquist also previously served as Deputy Majority Floor Leader.
He is a public school teacher who has also owned a small business. His priorities include helping working families and small businesses recover from the pandemic, as well as ensuring that students and educators — from K-12 to higher education — have the support they need. Representative Bergquist is passionate about student voice, and he has supported budget provisos to provide funds for the Association of Washington Student Leaders to help coordinate student voice activities across our state.
He has introduced bills to address school staffing shortages and enhance retirement benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers. He has also passed legislation to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, as well as to create career ladder opportunities for paraeducators in public schools. Steve also established the Renton Promise Scholarship pilot and helped guarantee Washington College Grant awards for families across Washington State.
Living in Renton, he’s a proud fourth-generation resident of the 11th Legislative District. After graduating from Renton’s Hazen High School, Steve earned a double major in political science and history from the University of Washington and received his Master’s in Teaching degree with a social studies endorsement from Western Washington University. Steve and his wife Avanti, a physician, have two kids in elementary school in the Renton School District.
Outside of the Legislature, Steve is actively involved in the community and has helped hundreds of students gain valuable service experience through organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Renton Salvation Army Food Bank. He also serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Renton Regional Community Foundation and Special Olympics Washington.
11th Legislative District