Draft:Brian Heywood

• Comment: I am not persuaded that Heywood passes WP:GNG. He appears to be somewhat notorious, but that does not equate to a WP:BIO pass in my view 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 15:01, 15 September 2024 (UTC)

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Brian Heywood
Heywood in 2023
Born	Brian Heywood January, 1967 (age 57) Arizona, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard University (SS)
Years active	2019-present
Known for	Conservative activism
Website	letsgowashington.com

Brian Heywood is an American investor, farmer and conservative activist from Redmond, Washington. He was named "the most consequential figure in Washington politics" by the Seattle Times.

In 2022, Heywood founded Let's Go Washington, a political action committee formed to sponsor six initiatives in Washington filed by state representative Jim Walsh targeting the November 5, 2024, ballot. Four of six initiatives have been approved by the state legislature as of 2024.

Heywood's most prominent ballot measures include Initiative 2111, which prohibited "state and local governments from imposing taxes on income," Initiative 2081, which "let parents of public-school children review student records, including disciplinary and health information, and curricula, and to allow parents to opt children out of sex education," and Initiative 2113, which "loosened some restrictions on when law enforcement officers can engage in vehicle pursuits.

Early life and education

Heywood was born and raised in Arizona and grew up attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had an impoverished upbringing and has consistently cited this as his reason for his conservative beliefs. He served as a missionary in Japan before graduating from Harvard University in 1991 with a social sciences degree in East Asian Studies.

Career

After graduating from Harvard, Heywood joined J.D. Power, promoting western investment in Japan. He served on the Board of Directors of JD Power Asia and JD Power Korea.

In 1997, Heywood joined British firm Belron International as Director of Business Development and Operations for nine countries, including Japan and India. After two years, he would join investment banking company Citibank as Vice President and Head of Sales for its 22 retail branches.

In 2001, Heywood founded Taiyo Pacific Partners, a firm designed to promote investment in Japanese companies. He currently serves at Co-Chief Executive Officer. The firm oversees over $2.4 billion in assets.

Entrance into politics

After living in Asia for over a decade, Heywood briefly moved to California before ultimately settling in Washington. He cited his move to Washington partially due to the fact that Washington did not possess an income tax for state residents.

After the 2018 elections in Washington delivered the Democratic Party a near supermajority in the State Legislature and began passing progressive, increasingly tax-heavy legislation by the next session,, including floating the idea of implementing an income tax Heywood pursued the reservation of local conservative efforts in the state, specifically in fiscal matters, by donating nearly $500,000 to the Washington State Republican Party and sponsoring key initiative efforts. He sought to prevent business from leaving Washington for other states due to tax increases, which he argued would lead to a decrease in jobs.

Personal life

Heywood is fluent in Japanese, which he learned during his mission and subsequent business ventures in Japan.