Council Member Olgy Diaz - At-Large Position 7
Born and raised in Pierce County, At-Large Council Member Olgy Diaz grew up in a military and union household that valued hard work, humor, and family above all else. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Guatemala in the 1970s and worked multiple jobs to help realize the American dream for themselves and their three children. With their hard work and sacrifices, she became the first in the family to attend and graduate from college with dual bachelor’s degrees in Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies from the University of Washington.
Throughout her career, she has worked to foster a more reflective democracy and expand access to power through work with local non-profits like OneAmerica and Planned Parenthood, the Washington State Legislature, and candidate campaigns across Pierce County. Over the last 13 years, she has talked to voters in English and Spanish all over Washington and even a few in Iowa in 2012. Her passion for social justice stems from her devastatingly common experience of often being the only person of color in rooms where decisions impacting our communities are decided.
Council Member Diaz is a longtime government affairs and political campaign professional. She spends most of her spare time building up future civic leaders through key leadership roles. She is also passionate about conservation, tribal sovereignty, and wildlife, and serves as the vice chair of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition. She served as a gubernatorial appointee to the state's Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission from 2015-2021 and knows more than the average non-pharmacist about pharmacy Washington Administrative Codes (WACs) and licensing. She served on the City of Tacoma’s Human Rights Commission from 2011-2016, ran for office back before it was hip for young women of color to do so in 2013, can tell you what legislative or congressional district you’re in at any moment on a road trip, and worked in the Washington State House of Representatives and Senate for five years, in addition to a two-month stint as a Congressional Intern in 2007.
Council Member Diaz lives in South Tacoma with Pepita, her Chiweenie. They are surrounded by her vast collection of houseplants.