Former Fellow Tarra Simmons (’17) announced plans to run for Washington state’s House of Representatives. Tarra is the director of the Civil Survival Project at the Public Defender Association in Seattle, co-chairs Washington’s Statewide Reentry Council and serves on a new sentencing reform task force. Oregon Public Broadcasting covered her announcement ("Tarra Simmons Looks To Become 1st Former Inmate Elected to Washington Legislature," Oct. 21). Tarra also recently led a coalition that held the first Legal Financial Obligation Reconsideration Day, which allowed defendants to reclaim thousands of dollars in discretionary court fees, as reported by The New Tribune (“‘This Is a Big Day for Tacoma’ — 1,000 Seek Relief From Pierce County Court Debt,” Sept. 26).