Biography

Don Carlson was appointed by the Governor in September 2008 to represent TRS retirees.  Mr. Carlson has previous experience with retirement and pension issues, having served on the Joint Committee on Pension Policy (JCPP) when he was a Legislator.  He was first appointed to the JCPP while in the House and continued to serve while in the Senate from 2000-2004.

Mr. Carlson is a retired social studies teacher from the Vancouver School System, with 31 years of experience.  He served for 12 years in the State Legislature first as a Representative and then as a Senator after he retiring from teaching.  Mr. Carlson also served as a commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and on the board of the Washington State Council on Aging.
 
Presently, Mr. Carlson is employed by the Washington State School Retirees' Association as a contract lobbyist.  He continues to be vitally concerned about how state policies are going to affect the pension, healthcare, and retirement of those who have retired in our state.  The challenge of providing meaningful additions to the variety of pension plans offered through the multiple listings such as PERS, TRS, SERS, LEOFF, and other plans is significant and hopeful.  We must remain positive that the Washington State Retirement Systems will remain vital and successful in meeting the needs of the future.