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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Washington state Rep. Andrew Engell, R-Colville, was recently chosen to take part in the 2025 Western Legislative Academy, an intensive professional development program hosted by The Council of State Governments West for early-career state legislators.
The academy is designed to strengthen legislative leadership, effectiveness and institutional understanding among lawmakers in their first four years of service. Selection is competitive and based on a demonstrated commitment to public service, interest in improving the legislative process and a willingness to grow as a policymaker, according to the news release announcing Engell’s selection. This year’s class included 52 legislators selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants across the Western states.
The 2025 Western Legislative Academy was held Dec. 16–19 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and featured three-and-a-half days of immersive training. Sessions focused on the roles of legislative institutions, effective communication, negotiation and conflict management, with instruction from nationally recognized experts and practitioners.
“It was truly an honor to be selected for the Western Legislative Academy and to represent my district and Washington state alongside legislators from across the West,” Engell said. “Programs like this reinforce the responsibility we have as lawmakers to approach our work thoughtfully, professionally and with respect for the institution and people we serve.”
Engell said one of the most valuable aspects of the academy was the opportunity to engage with legislators from other states and learn from their experiences. “Hearing directly from colleagues about what policies have worked — and just as importantly, what hasn’t — was incredibly useful,” he said. “Those honest conversations help cut through ideology and focus on practical outcomes.”
Engell emphasized that his participation reflects his commitment to serving all constituents in the 7th Legislative District and advancing sound public policy. “My goal is always to focus on solutions that improve people’s lives, not destructive politics that divide us,” he said. “I’m committed to bringing what I learned back home and using it to better serve the families, communities and employers of northeast Washington.”
Engell is serving his first term in the Washington State House of Representatives and represents the 7th Legislative District, which includes Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties, and parts of Chelan, Douglas and Spokane counties.
CSG West is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports state legislators in Western states and Pacific Island governments. It serves as the Western regional office of the national Council of State Governments, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, with regional offices in Sacramento, California; Chicago; Atlanta; and New York.
The Western Legislative Academy is funded by the El Pomar Foundation of Colorado Springs, along with contributions from Western state legislatures and corporate partners.
