Peggy Maxie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peggy Maxie
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Peggy Maxie in 1973
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| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 37th district |
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| In office 1971–1983 |
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| Succeeded by | Gary Locke |
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| Born | August 18, 1936 Amarillo, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 18, 2024 (aged 87) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Counselor |
Peggy Joan Maxie (born August 18, 1936 – died February 18, 2024) was an important American politician. She made history in the state of Washington. Peggy Maxie was the very first African-American woman to be elected to the Washington House of Representatives.
She served as a representative for the 37th district from 1971 to 1983. A representative is someone elected to speak for the people in their area. Peggy Maxie helped create the Landlord-Tenant Act in Washington state. This law made rules for people who rent homes and their landlords. She worked hard to protect her district, which included parts of Central District, Seattle. Later, she lost her election in 1981 to Gary Locke. Peggy Maxie studied at Seattle University and the University of Washington. She worked as a mental health therapist and counselor.
Peggy's Early Life
Peggy Maxie was born on August 18, 1936, in Amarillo, Texas. Her dad, Cleveland, was a mechanic. Her mom, Reba, was a homemaker. Peggy had four brothers and sisters.
When Peggy was six, her parents divorced. Her mom moved the family to Seattle, Washington, in 1942. There, her mom worked for Boeing, a big airplane company. Peggy went to Immaculate Conception School. She graduated from high school in 1955.
After school, she worked as a legal secretary. She worked for the state attorney general and the Seattle Urban League. For a short time, she even thought about becoming a nun. In 1970, she earned a degree in psychology from Seattle University.
Her Time in Politics
Peggy Maxie's family encouraged her to run for office in 1970. Her brother, Fred, had thought about running. But he decided to go to law school instead. Campaign signs with their family name were already printed.
So, Peggy decided to run for the Washington House of Representatives. Her brother, Robert, helped her. He was active in the Democratic Party. Her campaign manager, Jim McGill, was a professor at Seattle University.
Peggy won the election! She became the representative for position 2 in the 37th district. This made her the first Black woman elected to the Washington state legislature. The legislature is the group that makes laws for the state.
After winning, she started graduate school at the University of Washington. She got special permission to study while being a lawmaker. In 1972, she earned her master's degree in social work. Her main project was about "no-fault divorce."
After the 1970 census, new district maps were planned. Peggy Maxie challenged these plans. She said her district's population was counted too low. Two years later, a court agreed with her. The state had to redraw the maps fairly.
Peggy Maxie worked on many important committees. These included committees for money, laws, and rules. In 1972, she became the leader of the House higher education committee. This committee deals with colleges and universities.
She spoke out against raising tuition fees for state universities. Tuition is the money students pay to go to college. The governor, Dan Evans, wanted to increase these fees. Republicans on the committee tried to change the rules. They wanted to schedule a meeting without Peggy's approval. But they didn't succeed.
Peggy suggested that a group of citizens study the tuition issue. She also helped pass a bill that funded a new building. This building was for the University of Washington School of Social Work.
In 1973, she sponsored a very important bill. It became the Landlord-Tenant Act. This was the first law to set clear rules for landlords and renters. It explained what both sides needed to do. It also gave guidelines for things like evictions and rent payments.
She also helped create the Displaced Homemakers Act. This law helped women who lost their income. This could happen if their husband died, became disabled, or after a divorce. Peggy also sponsored a bill to bring the first driver's license testing center to her district.
In 1981, Peggy Maxie held workshops for people. She taught 600 people about how laws are made. This was called "participatory democracy." It helped people understand how they could be involved. In 1982, she lost her primary election to Gary Locke.
After Politics and Her Legacy
After leaving the legislature, Peggy Maxie started a group called Women in Unity. This non-profit organization helped African American women find jobs. It also supported them in other ways.
She continued to work as a mental health therapist. She also advised on community projects. In 1975, she received an honorary law degree. This was from St Martin's University in Lacey, Washington. In 2003, Seattle University interviewed her for a history project.
Peggy Maxie passed away on February 18, 2024. She was 87 years old.
Images for kids
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Peggy Maxie in 1973
