Peter Abbarno represents the 20th Legislative District in the Washington State House of Representatives. Rep. Abbarno is an attorney, business owners, but most importantly he is a husband and father.
Peter was first elected to the Legislature in 2020. Prior to his election to the Legislature, he was successfully elected to the Centralia City Council in 2015, re-elected to the Centralia City Council in 2019, and voted Mayor Pro-Tem in 2020.
Peter currently serves as the Assistant Ranking Member on the House Capital Budget Committee, and serves on the Environment and Energy Committee and Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. Peter is co-chair of the Hydrogen Caucus, co-chair of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Task Force, and was appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Statute Law Committee and Office of Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee and Statute Law Committee.
Peter is deeply involved in our community.
In 2012, Peter was named one of the top 20 professionals under the age of 40 in Lewis County.
In 2018, 2020, and 2021, readers of the Daily Chronicle voted Peter as the “Best Volunteer” in Lewis County.
In 2018 and 2021, Peter was named the “Best Elected Official” in Lewis County by Daily Chronicle readers.
In 2019, Peter received the “Economic Development Leadership Award” from the Lewis County Economic Development Council, received the “Human Rights Award” from the Church Women United organization, and was voted the “Best Elected Official” in Lewis County, an honor he has been nominated for the past three years.
In 2020, Peter was honored to be named the “Person of the Year” by the Daily Chronicle editorial board.
Peter graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science; earned a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School in 2008; and earned a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Washington in 2009. In 2010, Peter joined Olson Althauser Samuelson & Rayan, LLP, currently known as Althauser Rayan Abbarno, LLP. He became partner in 2013. Althauser Rayan Abbarno currently has offices in Centralia and Olympia.
Peter focuses much of his practice on securing benefits for injured workers, protecting the rights of those injured due to the negligence of others, and helping businesses and non-profits be successful.
Peter has actively volunteered his time to assist victims of domestic violence and assaults, non-profits, and new entrepreneurs with business formation and business planning. Peter is a board member and past president of the Centralia College Foundation, past president of the Lewis County Bar Association and past president of Lewis County Bar Legal Aid, host of the AM1470 KELA “Let’s Talk About It” show, volunteers with WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) in Centralia, Hub City Mission, and with many local youth sports. Peter also served as a Mentor at WF West High School in Chehalis and Mentor for the Morton High School Mock Trial Team.