Tom Dent represents Washington's 13th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives, covering most of Grant County, all of Kittitas County, and parts of Yakima County. A lifelong Columbia Basin resident, he was born on January 11, 1950, moved to Othello at age five, and later settled in Moses Lake. He became a professional pilot in 1976, founded Tom Dent Aviation in 1984 for aerial application, pilot services, and flight instruction supporting local agriculture, and lives on the Flying T Ranch raising bison and producing hay. Dent served 28 years as a commissioner at Moses Lake Municipal Airport until 2022, chaired the Grant County Republican Party for over nine years, led the Department of Ecology TMDL committee on Moses Lake phosphates, and was a past president of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Elected in 2014 to replace retiring Rep. Judy Warnick, he was sworn in in 2015 and won re-election, including in 2024. His priorities include wildfire prevention, agriculture , aviation infrastructure, and youth issues like mental health and foster care; as a parent, former foster parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent, he advocates for equal opportunities for children.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Specific formal education details are not publicly detailed in available records.
• Political Experience: Former chairman of the Grant County Republican Party; Washington House of Representatives since 2015. Current roles include ranking member on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, plus membership on Human Services, Youth and Early Learning and Transportation committees; also serves on CSG West's Legislative Council on River Governance, Oversight Board for Children, Youth and Families, and Pesticide Application Safety groups, along with various caucuses.