Amit Ranade

Amit Ranade (born c. 1976) is an American attorney who has held a variety of public appointments to governmental boards and commissions in the United States state of Washington, and currently serves as chairman of the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission.

Early life and education

Ranade attended the University of Washington (UW) where he was initiated into the Delta Upsilon fraternity and served as a lobbyist for the Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW). As a student, Ranade was charged with vandalizing a JC Penney store in Chelan, Washington during a drunken frenzy at the Apple Blossom Festival. Ranade was convicted of a gross misdemeanor and sentenced to 90 days jail, with all but two days suspended. The incident led to a call from the Daily of the University of Washington for Ranade's termination as ASUW legislative liaison. Following subsequent revelations that Ranade had been drinking during a meeting of the Washington Student Lobby - an association of student lobbyists from the state of Washington's public universities - he was rebuked by the delegation from Washington State University. In a response to the censure, Ranade apologized to the WSU representatives saying "I realize that most of your delegation was attending their first State Board meeting, and you are therefore unfamiliar with the way I conduct meetings."

The following year, Ranade ran for election as president of the ASUW. During the election, questions emerged as to whether Ranade had been secretly consuming alcohol during an endorsement interview with the editorial board of the Daily at the Husky Union Building. Ranade denied he had been drinking during the interview, though admitted to having drank immediately afterwards in another room at the building, in apparent violation of state law regarding alcohol consumption on public property. Ranade lost the election.

Ranade graduated from the UW with a B.A. degree and went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. While a law student, he was appointed to the University's Board of Regents by Governor Gary Locke to fill a student position on the board.

Career

Legal work

From 2003 to 2007 Ranade was an associate at K&L Gates. In 2007 Ranade joined the law firm Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson. His practice focuses on commercial, banking, and real estate disputes as well as bankruptcy. He is currently an adjunct faculty member of the University of Washington School of Law, serves on the legislative committee of the Washington State Bar Association and sits in the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association.

Public appointments

In 2005 Ranade was appointed chairman of the Seattle Parks Commission by mayor Greg Nickels, a position he held until 2009.

Ranade was appointed to a four-year term as chairman of the Public Disclosure Commission by governor Christine Gregoire in 2011, and was confirmed by the Washington State Senate in early 2012.

Ranade has also served on the City of Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission.

Personal life

Ranade is married and lives in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood. Ranade's wife, Jenny Faubian, is a Seattle, Washington-area attorney who also previously served on the UW's board of regents, having been appointed by Gov. Locke to succeed Ranade after his term expired.