[1] A member of the Democratic Party, she served as the House Majority Leader from 1999 to 2010.
She is a former small-business owner and executive director of the United Way of Grays Harbor.
In early 2010, Kessler announced her retirement, telling House members that she would not run for re-election in the fall.
As a majority leader, Kessler was the second-ranking Democrat in the state House.
She and her husband Keith are the parents of four and the grandparents of Kyle, Ryan and Arita.