Excellent leader: Washington House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler is the recipient of this year's top legislative leadership award.

• Author: Smith, Edward

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Washington and bipartisan are not words often found together these days.

But that's because so much of the nation's political focus is on the nation's capital.

In the capital of the Evergreen State, however, bipartisanship has been the watchword for the tenure of retiring Washington House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, the recipient of this year's Excellence in State Legislative Leadership Award, the nation's top legislative honor.

In an era when fighting tooth and nail across the aisle has become the norm in Congress and some statehouses, Kessler is regarded as a leader who understands the value of giving everyone a stake in the legislative process, a sense that they can have an effect on the citizens of the state regardless of party.

"What I've always thought is you can work with all people," says Kessler. "You don't need to have any enemies."

Washington Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, who nominated Kessler for the award, calls this ability to bring all sides together the defining trait of Kessler's 12-year tenure as majority leader. "Her ability to do this constructively," Santos says, "is what inspires public confidence in the legislative process."

The award is made annually by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. It honors leaders whose careers embody the highest principles of leadership and have shown a commitment to protecting and strengthening the institution of the state legislature.

William T. Pound, executive director of NCSL, calls Kessler's efforts "an example of the commitment to maintain and enhance the legislature as an effective institution of government. She is recognized in Washington for her outreach to all regions, parties and groups."

Stephen G. Lakis, president of the foundation, said the selection committee was enthusiastic in its choice. "By reaching across the aisle and making sure that things got done, Representative Kessler exemplifies the very sprit of this award," he says. "Her leadership and her commitment to forging compromises and working in a bipartisan and nonpartisan fashion for the people of Washington represents the finest of legislative leadership."

Kessler acknowledges her efforts at bipartisanship seem increasingly out of step with the national political mood.

"I've watched the discourse changing and I'm finding that change disturbing," she says. "It's switched from worthy adversaries to enemies. There is less...