Q&A With Washington State Representative Toby Nixon

by Russell Harrison

Washington State Representative Toby Nixon (R-45) is an IEEE Senior Member and a program manager at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. After a 26 October Town Hall meeting hosted by the Seattle Section’s Computer Society, Representative Nixon agreed to discuss his career and how politics and engineering intersect.

q   What is your background in engineering?
a   I have been involved with the computer industry for 30 years. I was the principal engineer for Hayes Microcomputer Products for nine years starting in 1984, and have been a Program Manager with Microsoft since 1993. My work has focused primarily on microprocessor devices, modems and telephony, and now voice over IP. I hold four patents in the field of computer communications.

q   How did you get started in politics?
a   I have always been interested in history and civics. I became involved in my first political campaign in seventh grade, and have been active ever since. I first ran for office in Georgia, when I ran for a state-wide party office. I lost. Actually, I lost my first four races. I wasn’t successful until 2001, when I was appointed to complete the term of another politician who had won election to a higher office. Since then, I have been re-elected twice.

q   What advantages have you enjoyed being an engineer in politics?
a   I have been involved in standards work, both within the United States and internationally, for 20 years. The skills you need to develop a successful standard are very similar to those needed to pass successful legislation. In both cases, it is essential that you receive input from as many affected parties as possible. These diverse viewpoints help ensure that the standard or bill works for as many people and interests as possible. They also help eliminate unintended consequences. Because you have to take so many interests into account, the end product is frequently not anyone’s first choice. Everyone’s second-best solution is often better than one person’s perfect solution that can't be passed. The communication and diplomacy skills that standards work develops have also proven to be invaluable.

I have also found that, because so few legislators have a technical background, that I am listened to when I comment on the technical implications of a bill. Because I have a background in something few other legislators do, my comments are given additional weight by my colleagues.

q   What advantages has being a legislator been to your professional work as an engineer?
a   My political experiences and relationships help me better understand how engineering projects fit into the broader community. Engineers need to understand that the work they do has political and societal implications, especially if they are, or want to be, managers. Ignoring these concerns limits your effectiveness as an engineer.

I have been fortunate that my employers understand that being a legislator makes me a better engineer. They have been very supportive of my political career and my need to be in Olympia for several months each year.

q   What was the biggest surprise for you once you took office?
a   How much help is available to me. Crafting legislation and the political compromises they require to become law is difficult. Washington State’s professional legislative staff, and my own personal staff, are invaluable to me when it comes to researching and analyzing legislation. Outside groups and lobbyists are also extremely helpful in understanding the effects a given piece of legislation will have.

I have also learned that Ronald Reagan’s philosophy is true: you can get more done when you don’t care who gets credit. I am in the minority in Olympia, so it is very hard for me to pass my own legislation. This last session, seven of my bills were enacted into law — the most of any Republican (by two). The only way I can do that is by working with Democrats to help improve their legislation. We need to cooperate to get things done.

q   What is your relationship with professional lobbyists?
a   A good lobbyist provides me with honest, accurate information. They make sure I understand important points of view and ensure that I have seen all sides of important issues. I see lobbyists as a conduit through which I can communicate with groups of my voters.

q   What advice would you give to engineers about interacting with politicians?
a   Engineers need to be aware of how public policy affects them and their profession. Too many engineers don’t understand how much of an impact government has on their day-to-day life, or how they can influence government decisions.

The best way for engineers to communicate with legislators is to explain how laws (existing or proposed) impact their lives. Anecdotes help legislators understand how their decisions affect real people. Hypothetical examples are not helpful and my staff can provide me with big-picture data and analysis. I need my voters to help me identify problems that legislation could solve. Personal experiences cannot be provided to me by staff or lobbyists, but without these stories, I cannot really understand the needs of my voters.

Russell T. Harrison is IEEE-USA's Legislative Representative for Grassroots Activities. Comments may be submitted to todaysengineer@ieee.org.