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John Pestinger in a blue suit with a green tie and white shirt
John Pestinger

John Pestinger

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John Paul Pestinger (born March 26, 1974) is an American politician, insurance professional and veteran, running in the 2024 election for Washington State Insurance Commissioner.[1] He is a member of the Democratic Party.[2]

Early life and education

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Pestinger was born in Portland, Oregon but was a Vancouver, Washington resident for his early childhood.[3] He is the middle child of 3 boys. He attended Mill Plain Elementary Elementary.[4] His family moved to the Finn Hill area of Kirkland, Washington at 8 years old and he attended Juanita Elementary School. He then went to Finn Hill Junior High and Juanita High School.[5] He moved to Olympia, Washington at 16 years old and attended Olympia High School where he graduated in 1993.

Early career

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In Junior High School, Pestinger worked as bicycle newspaper delivery boy for The Seattle Times.[6] At age 14, Pestinger got a Union job as Courtesy Clerk (bagger) at Albertson's grocery store in Juanita, Washington. He won the bagging competition for the store and went on to compete in the regional bagging competition. He was promoted to stocker and worked unloading trucks. At age 15 he worked as a landscaper mowing lawns in the Eastside area. After moving to Olympia, Washington he worked on his own as a landscaper. Later he got a job at Ben Franklin Crafts store, unloading trucks, stocking shelves, cashiering, and framing art.

Church missionary service

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After High School, Pestinger served a 2 year mission from 1994 to 1996 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Philippines, Cebu Mission. He learn Cebuano or Visayan in the Missionary Training Center. He was assigned to Pinamungajan, Cebu. While there, he was bit by a mosquito and contracted Dengue Fever which caused him to lose 50 pounds in a week. He was reassigned to the California Los Angeles Mission and served in Lomita, Long Beach, Inglewood, Compton, Watts, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu.

Military service

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Pestinger enlisted in the US Air Force Reserves in 1997 as a member of the 419th Fighter Wing, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in the 419th Security Forces Squadron.[7] He attended Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas in 1998.[8] Pestinger then attended the USAF Security Forces Police Academy where he graduated top of his class. While assigned to the 419th Security Forces Squadron, Pestinger deployed to RAF Lakenheath, England for an annual tour in 1998. In the fall of 1998 he was activated for Operation Infinite Reach and placed on standby, while on standby he volunteered to backfill a 820th Security Forces deployment to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Southern Watch. He earned the 419th SFS Outstanding Airman of the Year for 1998.[9] In 1999, Pestinger deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan. In 2000, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He then moved back to Olympia, Washington and joined the 446th Airlift Wing, at McChord Air Force Base, Washington in the 446th Security Forces Squadron.

On 9/11, Pestinger was activated and put on orders for 2 years for Operation Infinite Justice/Noble Eagle/Enduring Freedom. During this activation he backfilled the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Washington and deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Having a Security Forces AFSC caused him to be stop lossed at the end of his initial enlistment. Pestinger reenlisted and cross trained to be a Paralegal in the 446th Airlift Wing Judge Advocate General's Office. In 2004, Pestinger again graduated top of his class from the USAF Paralegal School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He was promoted to Technical Sergeant and served as the Law Office Manager. Pestinger received an Honorable Discharge upon completion of his second enlistment.[10]

Insurance career

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In 2000, Pestinger started work in insurance as an Auto Claims Processor for State Farm in Dupont, Washington.[11] He handled auto claims from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii. In 2003, he was promoted to Claims Representative and handled claims that were more complex in nature. He was assigned to a specialty unit that he developed to handle partial theft claims involving in-car electronics. Utilizing lean principles he streamlined the process to reduce waste and increase customer satisfaction. His idea and work on in-car electronics claim saved the company over $100 million in excess claims payments to third party vendors while still restoring policy holders to pre-loss condition. Pestinger earned an Associate in Insurance (AINS designation) from The Institutes.[12] He also worked in Work Force Management, Total Loss and Total Fire, Complex Total Loss helping people recover from the unexpected.

In 2019, Pestinger started work at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner as a Project Manager/Management Analyst 5 in the Policy & Legislative Affairs division, pursuing legislation to help protect consumers and implementing regulations that apply to the insurance industry. Pestinger also provided the Insurance Commissioner and others with research and analysis, while monitoring and ensuring Legislative reports were sent in a timely fashion.[13] In 2023, Pestinger moved to the Consumer Protection division to help with cross divisional projects and interagency projects.

2024 Campaign

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On May 1, 2024, Pestinger registered with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission as a candidate for Insurance Commissioner.[14] On May 6, 2024 he filed with the Secretary of State as a candidate for Insurance Commissioner.[15] Pestinger was interviewed by The Seattle Times Editorial Board.[16] On July 8, 2024 The Seattle Times endorsed John Pestinger as the best and most qualified candidate for Insurance Commissioner.[17] John Pestinger is the only candidate with both insurance industry and insurance regulatory experience running for Insurance Commissioner for the state of Washington.[18] Washington is one of only 11 states that has an elected Insurance Commissioner.[19]

Veteran outreach

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In 2003, Pestinger founded an Employee Resource Group at State Farm Insurance in Dupont, Washington to help Veterans transition from military service to the private sector. Pestinger served as the chair of the Military Affinity Group for a decade. He also served as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council at State Farm in Dupont, Washington. When Pestinger started work at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, he joined the Washington Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG). The VERG is a Business Resource Group the exists to recruit, retain, and recognize Veterans, their spouses and families in state service. In 2022, Pestinger was elected to a 1 year term as Co-Chair of the VERG and in 2023, Pestinger was elected to a 1 year term as Chair of the VERG.[20] The VERG was created under Washington Executive Order 13-01, signed by Governor Jay Inslee on May 10, 2013 and reaffirmed by Executive Order 21-1.[21]

See also

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https://www.johnpforoic.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpestinger/

https://voter.votewa.gov/genericvoterguide.aspx?e=888&c=99#/candidates/149530/1569666

https://tvw.org/video/the-seattle-times-editorial-board-2024061238/

https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/the-seattle-times-editorial-board-recommends-john-pestinger-for-insurance-commissioner/

References

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  1. ^ "Candidate Finance Report | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  2. ^ "John P for OIC | John Pestinger (D) Insurance Commissioner candidate for Washington 2024". Pestinger for OIC. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  3. ^ johnpforoic (2024-07-20). "Vancouver native, and former Mill Plain Missile, John Pestinger is running for Insurance Commissioner and I want to know what you want changed about insurance?". r/vancouverwa. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  4. ^ johnpforoic (2024-07-20). "Vancouver native, and former Mill Plain Missile, John Pestinger is running for Insurance Commissioner and I want to know what you want changed about insurance?". r/vancouverwa. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  5. ^ "John Pestinger". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  6. ^ "The Seattle Times Editorial Board - TVW". tvw.org. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  7. ^ "John Pestinger". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  8. ^ "John Pestinger basic training graduation mention". The Daily Herald. 1998-04-05. p. 49. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  9. ^ "John Pestinger on LinkedIn: #airforce #securityforces #veteran #defender #veteranshelpingveterans | 26 comments". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  10. ^ "John Pestinger". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  11. ^ "WashingtonVIP". voter.votewa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  12. ^ "Insurance", The Industrial System (Routledge Revivals), Routledge, pp. 310–315, 2013-11-05, doi:10.4324/9780203383780-28, ISBN 978-0-203-38378-0, retrieved 2024-07-22
  13. ^ "Legislative and commissioner reports | Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner". www.insurance.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  14. ^ "Candidates | Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC)". www.pdc.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  15. ^ "PRIMARY 2024 Candidate List". voter.votewa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  16. ^ "The Seattle Times Editorial Board - TVW". tvw.org. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  17. ^ "Here's who The Seattle Times editorial board recommends for WA insurance commissioner | Editorial". The Seattle Times. 2024-07-08. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  18. ^ "John P for OIC | John Pestinger (D) Insurance Commissioner candidate for Washington 2024". Pestinger for OIC. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  19. ^ "Insurance Commissioner (state executive office)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  20. ^ "Washington Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) | WDVA". www.dva.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  21. ^ "Executive Orders | Governor Jay Inslee". governor.wa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-22.


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