Representative Paul Harris Contact information

Paul has called the 17th District home for more than 30 years. He and his wife Lori have been married for 48 years, have five children, and nine grandchildren.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Brigham Young University. He took office in 2010.

Paul is a small business owner and manager. He owned Cascade Paint and Supply and was Vice President of Miller Paint Company. He believes small business is the backbone of the economy and more work needs to be done to allow employers to invest and create jobs, giving us a more vibrant middle class to provide long-term economic growth. Paul currently owns Solid Solutions, LLC., a Vancouver-based company which does sales, marketing, consulting and public relations work.

Paul served on the Evergreen School Board of Directors for 10 years, is a strong supporter of education, schools, teachers, and paraeducators, and served on the McCleary Education Funding Task Force. He’s active in his community serving on the Boards of Share, SW WA Regional Transportation Council, and Columbia River Mental Health. He’s also been active with the Boy Scouts of America and serves as an Explorer Scout Leader.

Paul is a cancer survivor. He understands first-hand how cancer impacts patients and their families. He supports cancer research and works tirelessly on awareness and prevention. In 2019, he was the prime sponsor of, and championed legislation to raise the age of tobacco sales to 21 and promote vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella.

Paul has received numerous honors as a legislator. Most recently (2023) he received the Washington Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (WCAAP) David Frockt Child Advocate Award. In 2017, he received the “Y Legislative Champion Award” from the YMCA for leadership in support of children, families and healthy communities. In 2018, he received the “Annual Secretary of Health Award” from the Washington State Public Health Association. In 2018, he also received the “Courage Award,” and in 2019 earned the “National Distinguished Advocacy Award” from the American Cancer Society for his work on the Tobacco-21 legislation. And in 2019, the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education named Paul “Legislator of the Year.”

Paul has several goals in Olympia, which include:

Keep tax rates low so that working families can prosper Show fiscal responsibility with the state budget Allow businesses to be productive without having to fight excessive regulations Provide quality education for the children in the state of Washington. He is a strong believer in public health and strong communities, and he will exhaust every effort in a non-partisan fashion to serve his district and our citizens.

Paul currently serves on the Health Care & Wellness, Appropriations, Education and Rules committees. He also serves on the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging & Disability, Joint Select Committee on Health Care Oversight, Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council, Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee (Bridge), and the Long-Term Services and Supports Council. Paul is also the House Republican Caucus Chair.

He loves music, sings in church choir, plays basketball, water skis, and he even learned to surf behind the boat in 2019.