Mount Vernon-Dave Quall, 40th District representative has announced his official endorsement of 40th District Senate candidate Ken Henderson. Dave Quall has been representing the 40th District for some 14 years and is now the chair the House Education Committee, which considers kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) educational policy and finance issues. Previously, Representative Quall served 38 years teaching, coaching and counseling both at Mount Vernon High School and at Skagit Valley College.

“It is a great honor to have the support of Representative Quall. Education is one of the most important issues that the legislature must address and I look forward to working with Dave for the future of our children,” said Ken Henderson.

Quall said, “Ken Henderson has gained my confidence and support, from his impeccable track record of service to Bellingham and Whatcom county, to his humanitarian medical work for children in “third world” countries. Ken has proven that he is committed to the people in the communities of the 40th district and those who are less fortunate in communities everywhere.”

Ken Henderson’s campaign has built strong momentum and has taken a strong position in the 40th District Senate race. In the past few weeks the campaign has received many high quality endorsements, put up hundreds of yard signs, and has door-belled thousands of homes. Most recently Henderson has received other important endorsements from Dr. Joe Wessels and Anacortes City Council person and Skagit County Commissioner candidate Bill Turner.

Ken Henderson, 59, practiced optometry for 25 years in Bellingham, Lynden and Eastsound. He has extensive community and government service in a broad range of areas from health care, community planning, aging and mental health, and environmental protection. Ken is a graduate of Skagit Valley College, Western Washington University and Pacific University. He served on the Whatcom County Council, Bellingham Planning Commission, United Way board, and a number of other government and community organizations. Ken has been a strong advocate for parks in the area, serving eight years on the Whatcom County Parks Board, the Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation Board from 1998 to 2007 and currently serves on the Deception Pass State Park Advisory Board. Ken is a Vietnam veteran and has been providing health care for economically disadvantaged patients locally in his practice and in medical missions to Central America for many years.