Tom Ahearne, Governor At-Large
Tom Ahearne chose this photo of himself to illustrate why inclusion is important to him. An Air Force brat who grew up all across our country, he’s been a Seattle litigator since 1986. For most of his life, he never felt like the outsider in a group. Or discriminated against. Or excluded. But a 2014 snowboarding accident reversed that by imprisoning him in a wheelchair—where he now feels aloneness, inequity, and exclusion every day. He therefore ran for a seat on the Board of Governors to focus on the WSBA’s equity and justice for all efforts—“for all” because he believes our country is better off if every person has a realistic opportunity to become the best that they can be. Ahearne believes diversity does not replace merit—it releases it. His other activities have included serving on the boards of the NAACP Alaska/Oregon/Washington Conference, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, King County Bar’s Appellate Section, and Washington Council of School Attorneys. His nonwork activities include using an arm pedal tricycle in bicycle races like the Seattle To Portland (STP), Mount Rainier RAMROD, Mt. Baker Hillclimb, and Ride the Hurricane race. Ahearne’s ultimate goal is to be a sheep instead of a goat. (Matthew 25:31-46.)
Email: ahearne@foster.com
