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Gary Parker for Washington State Senate, District 26
Gary Parker portrait

A man of the people.
Not a politician.

Background
Private sector. Built and led teams across the globe in technology, operations, and business growth.
Pattern of work
Meet a payroll. Fix a broken process. Deliver results without a press conference.
Why he's running
Olympia is making life harder for the people who live and work in this district. The district deserves a strong voice focused on practical solutions.
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The full story.

Gary Parker didn't spend his life preparing for politics. He spent it solving problems.

01
Career

A career built on solving real problems.

Over the course of his career, Gary has worked with teams across the United States and around the world in the technology sector — helping companies develop innovative solutions, manage complex systems, and deliver results in demanding environments.

Gary built his career working with global technology leaders including Intel and IBM, where he helped manage complex systems and deliver solutions in some of the most demanding environments in the world. While at Intel, Gary's work earned him internal Recognition for Excellence — a prestigious honor awarded within the company to individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and technical achievement.

Working in those high-performance environments required solving difficult problems, managing sophisticated technology, and collaborating with teams responsible for critical operations. Those experiences taught Gary the importance of accountability, clear thinking, and disciplined problem-solving.

Gary loves people.

He believes it's his superpower.

02
Community

Built in the community he loves.

Gary has always believed success means more than professional achievement. It means using your experience to strengthen the community around you.

After years of working in global technology organizations, Gary and his family chose to invest in the Gig Harbor community they proudly call home. They opened BBQ2U in Gig Harbor — creating a restaurant that quickly became more than a place to eat. It became a gathering place where neighbors meet, families celebrate, and community groups come together.

Gary has used BBQ2U to support the community through fundraisers, charity events, and partnerships with local organizations that help schools, nonprofits, and families across the region. The restaurant has also created local jobs and opportunities for members of the community.

For Gary, business success has always been about more than profit. It begins with genuinely caring about the community around him. It's about giving back to the community that has given him so much.

03
Why he's running

Solutions, accountability, and common sense — back to Olympia.

Gary's work in technology gave him a deep understanding of how decisions made in government affect real people — the families working hard to get ahead, the local employers creating jobs in our communities, and the workers who depend on those opportunities. Gary believes government should focus on creating the conditions where people and communities can succeed — not getting in their way.

That commitment to service is what ultimately led Gary to step forward and run for State Senate.

Gary isn't running to become a politician. He's running to bring solutions, accountability, and common sense back to Olympia. Our district deserves leadership focused on solutions, not politics.

See the four fights

Recognized for serving the community.

Gary's commitment to community leadership has earned recognition across the South Sound. These recognitions reflect something Gary has always believed:

Strong communities are built by people who show up, work hard, and give back.

  • 2025

    Paul HarrisFellow

    Rotary International

  • 2024

    Citizen ofthe Year

    South Sound Magazine

  • 2023

    Business Personof the Year

    Gig Harbor Chamber
    of Commerce

  • 2007

    Recognitionfor Excellence

    Intel Corporation

  • 2025

    FinestCitizen

    Gig Harbor Finest

  • 2024

    Citizen ofthe Year

    South Sound Magazine

  • 2024

    People'sChoice

    South Sound Magazine

  • 2023

    BusinessPerson

    Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce

  • 2022

    Business ofthe Year

    Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce

  • 2025

    Paul HarrisFellow

    Rotary International

  • 2023

    Rotarian ofthe Year

    Rotary International

  • 2007

    Recognitionfor Excellence

    Intel Corporation

  • 2019 · 2022· 2023

    BestBarbeque

    South Sound Magazine

  • 2019 · 2021· 2023

    BestBarbeque

    Gig Harbor Finest

True success isn't about the money.

It isn't about the awards.

True success is about loving the people.

A note from Gary

Washington wasn't built on politics.

Washington wasn't built by politicians. It was built by the people who show up every day to do the work that keeps our communities moving forward — the workers, the families, and the local employers who create opportunity across our state. Something Olympia politicians know very little about.

For generations, people built this state through hard work, innovation, and service to their communities. But too often today, politics seems to overshadow those values.

I believe it's time to return to the fundamentals that made Washington strong — practical leadership, respect for the people who build and sustain our communities, and policies that support opportunity instead of creating obstacles.

Our state wasn't built on politics. It was built on people.

And Gary believes those people deserve a stronger voice in Olympia.

Gary Parker at a community event

Stand with Gary.

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