From left to right: U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, state Sen. Bill Ramos, state Sen. Victoria Hunt and state Rep. Lisa Callan. Photo courtesy of Victoria Hunt.
Washington’s 5th Legislative District, which includes parts of Issaquah, suffered a profound loss with the sudden passing of Sen. Bill Ramos in April 2025. His death was not only unexpected—it has severely impacted the heart of the community that he served with dedication and warmth.
Ramos brought his public service roots to Issaquah City Council in 2016, advocating for local economic development, human services and planning initiatives. During this time, he served on Issaquah’s Economic Vitality Commission, Planning and Policy Commission and Human Services Commission.
He began representing Washington’s 5th Legislative District in 2018, initially serving in the House of Representatives before being elected to the State Senate in November 2024. During his tenure in the legislature, Ramos championed clean energy, expanded transit and affordable housing, while also serving in various legislative leadership roles.
Ramos was a strong advocate of youth in the Issaquah Highlands community and across Washington. His legacy lives on through the students he’s mentored, keeping doors open for future generations to thrive.
When he attended our Veteran’s Day open house at Blakely Hall in 2023, our teen volunteers surrounded him with questions about civic engagement, inspired by his approachable presence and passion for public service.
From 2019 to 2023, Ramos maintained a 5th District Legislative office alongside former Sen. Mark Mullet and Rep. Lisa Callan at Blakely Hall, making himself accessible to the Issaquah Highlands community he proudly served.
“Senator Ramos was an unwavering supporter of our community building efforts, especially when it came to uplifting youth,” said Lindsey Pinkston, Highlands Council executive director. “Bill was not only a leader but a friend who was always eager to give back. I can’t recall a time he said ‘no’ to a request. His generosity and enduring hope will be missed.”
Lara Sharp worked closely with Sen. Bill Ramos while completing the Senate Page Program during the 2025 legislative session.
Lara Sharp, an eighth grader at Pacific Cascade Middle School (PCMS), recently completed the Senate Page Program during the 2025 legislative session. She found it fascinating to witness the legislative process firsthand and work alongside influential leaders like Ramos, gaining a deeper understanding of how state government operates.
“When I met Sen. Ramos, he was full of energy and enthusiasm, and he asked me a lot of questions. He was a very sweet man and I’m glad to have met him before he passed,” she said.
King County Council recently voted unanimously to appoint Issaquah’s Victoria Hunt to serve as Ramos’ replacement in the Senate. Hunt had previously succeeded him in the House, continuing his legacy of dedicated public service. Issaquah City Councilmember Zach Hall was appointed to fill Hunt’s role in the House.
Ramos is survived by his wife, King County Councilmember Sarah Perry, and their two children, Max and Maya. We send our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the Washington State Legislature during this difficult time.
VOICES OF GRATITUDE: Remembering an Influential Public Servant
“Bill was a good friend and mentor, and a champion for working families, public safety, transportation, and environmental stewardship. He set a high bar for public service—service rooted in humility, pragmatism, and an unstoppable drive for the people of our district. I’ll always remember Bill’s stories and jokes, his advice and friendship, and his passion for progress.
Bill was known for saying, ‘I got you.’ Whenever you needed help or advice, there he was with his signature, ‘I got you.’ And as we search for ways to honor his legacy in any and every way we can, I think saying ‘I got you’ more often is a good start. Say it to your family and your friends and your community as often as you can. And if we do that, he’s not really gone. His spirit will live on in those connections.”
—Zach Hall, Washington State House of Representatives
Sen. Bill Ramos and Sen. Victoria Hunt attend a 5th District Legislative Town Hall at Blakely Hall in March 2019. Photo courtesy of Victoria Hunt.
“Bill Ramos was a great friend and mentor to me. One of the first times I saw Bill in action representing us in Olympia, fully in his element, a whirlwind of activity and energy, he was working on a bill to take care of our urban forests, which he knew mattered just as much and needed special care to thrive.
Growing up in a more urban area, I believe Bill was especially attuned to the fact that not everyone had access to nature, and he worked to set that right. Bill was a tireless and joyful public servant. His forest conservation work will be a lasting legacy benefiting people all over our state of Washington for generations to come.
This is just one of his many lasting contributions to our community. I know I will always think about Bill when I’m walking in our beautiful forests in Issaquah.”
—Victoria Hunt, Washington State Senator
“Working for Sen. Bill Ramos was the honor of a lifetime. My first meeting with him still rings clear in my mind. It was a sunny October afternoon at Blakely Hall, and I was sitting at the big kitchen table across from him and Hunter Cooper, his first legislative assistant, campaign manager and trusted confidant.
As I was interviewed for the job, Bill outlined that I’d come to know his idiosyncrasies and how he approached public service should I get the offer. I got the job and came to learn that these traits included a love of Diet Mountain Dew, Mother’s Frosted Animal Cookies and making sure he had time in his schedule to go for a run.
I also quickly learned that he had a unique passion for connecting with and working for the people, making him an incredible champion for the 5th Legislative District and the entire state of Washington.
Community-minded and equity-forward was how Bill approached public life. He was always willing to meet constituents and stakeholders where they were at, whether it was right there at Blakely Hall, down the hill at Yum-E Yogurt or somewhere out in the forest. Bill wanted to understand where you came from and what you had experienced in life—believing every story could help guide him in making tough decisions in Olympia.
He took on life with a certain joy, sense of humor, skilled storytelling and optimism that permeated everything from constituent and stakeholder meetings to floor speeches to the final signing of his bills.
I’ll never forget his dedication to changing the law on temporary license plates. In recent years, temporary plates have moved from behind tinted windows to the standard license plate spot—now printed on durable, weather-resistant paper. This is because Bill listened to the story of a constituent, right here in the Issaquah Highlands, who was the survivor of a hit and run accident with no recourse due to the temporary plate being obscured by a tinted window.
It took multiple sessions of hard work both locally and in Olympia, but Bill passed this constituent-led legislation with bipartisan votes in both the House and Senate. Spotting temporary plates on the road now serves as a lasting reminder of his commitment to his constituents and his efforts to make our state a safer place to drive.
Bill passed away on April 19, 2025, while out for a trail run with his beloved dog Sadie, doing what he loved in the forests he spent his career protecting. He leaves behind his partner in all things, Sarah Perry, their children, Maya and Maxwell, and numerous family members and friends who loved him dearly.
While I feel the deep impact of his absence with grief and sadness at the loss of my wonderful mentor and friend, I choose to carry his joy and love for all neighbors with me forever as a part of his legacy.”
—Erika Boyd, Former Legislative Assistant for Sen. Bill Ramos
As published in the summer 2025 issue of Community Connect magazine >>>
(In the printed issue, we incorrectly listed the Senate page as Anike Sharp. The correct name is Lara Sharp. We apologize for the mistake. Thanks for your understanding.)
