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Council approves appointments for vacancies in state Legislature
Summary
Pedersen and Walkinshaw appointed to vacancies in 43rd District, Gregerson approved for House seat in 33rd District
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The Metropolitan King County Council today gave its unanimous support to the appointment of three people to fill vacancies in the Washington state Legislature from districts in King County.Former State Rep. Jamie Pedersen is the new state Senator for the 43rd Legislative District, filling the vacancy created with the election of Ed Murray as Mayor of Seattle. Brady Walkinshaw was selected to fill Pedersen’s seat in the Washington State House of Representatives.
“This district was fortunate to have strong candidates for both the state House and Senate,” said Council Chair Larry Gossett, whose district includes the 43rd Legislative District. “The appointments of Senator Pedersen and Representative Walkinshaw, continues the 43rd’s history of strong activists representing one of the most diverse districts in the state.”
“Representative Pedersen—now Senator Pedersen—has impressed me immensely with how quickly he has become an effective leader in serving his constituents and moving important issues forward,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, who represents part of the 43rd District. “Newly sworn-in Representative Walkinshaw brings impressive credentials and community involvement. I have confidence that the people of the 43rd District will be well-represented by Senator Pedersen and Representative Walkinshaw.”
“I am confident that after today’s vote, the 43rd Legislative District will continue to have excellent representation in Olympia,” said Councilmember Rod Dembowski, whose district includes part of the 43rd District. “Jamie Pedersen has been a tremendous leader in his time as a State Representative, and I know he will continue to be a champion for his constituents as a State Senator. Brady Walkinshaw has stood up for social justice his entire career. He is a rising young leader in our state, and I am excited to see him head to Olympia.”
Pedersen is a graduate of Puyallup High School and Yale Law School, and is Vice President and General Counsel for McKinstry, a Seattle-based construction and engineering firm with substantial expertise in green building. Pedersen has been a member of the state House since 2006, where he has served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and on the Appropriation and Higher Education Committees.
“I am honored to be appointed by the King County Council to serve in the state Senate representing the 43rd District,” said Pedersen. “I look forward to working with members of the Council on the many issues of common concern to the County and State.”
Brady Walkinshaw, most recently, a program officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was appointed to the House seat, vacated by Pedersen. Walkinshaw, a graduate of Princeton University, has worked on issues of food and nutritional security abroad, and has been active locally on a number of civic issues.
“I am honored by the appointment of the King County Council,” said Walkinshaw. “I look forward to building on the strong legacy of representation for the 43rd District in Olympia.”
Per the State Constitution, Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) nominate and submit three names to the Council in the event of a vacancy. The Democratic PCOs of the 43rd submitted Pedersen as their preferred candidate for the Senate, along with the names of Linda Clifton and Ron Aley. Walkinshaw was the top choice of the PCOs for the House seat, followed by Michael Scott Forbes and Ana Cristina Gonzalez.
Walkinshaw will be joined in the state House by SeaTac Deputy Mayor Mia Gregerson, who was appointed by the Council to the vacancy in the 33rd Legislative District created by the election of Rep. Dave Upthegrove to the King County Council.
“After consulting with Speaker Chopp, Executive Constantine, and Councilmember Julia Patterson, and listening carefully to the answers to questions posed to Councilmembers Albertson and Gregerson, I was pleased to vote with the majority of my fellow Democrats on the Council to appoint Deputy Mayor Gregerson to the State House,” said Councilmember Rod Dembowski. “I am confident Mia will be an excellent representative for the diverse residents of the 33rd Legislative District, pending a vote of the people in 2014.”
Gregerson, a graduate of the University of Washington, has served on the Executive Board for the Puget Sound Regional Council and the Board of Directors of the Sound Cities Association.
“It is my pleasure to serve the people of the 33rd District,” said Gregerson after her swearing in by Council Clerk Anne Noris.
Gregerson, along with Elizabeth Albertson, and Debra Omaha Sternberg were interviewed by the Democratic PCOs in the 33rd Legislative District.
The candidates for the vacancies in the 43rd and 33rd Districts were interviewed by the County Council before the final vote was taken to appoint Pedersen, Walkinshaw and Gregerson to the Legislature.
Pedersen, Walkinshaw and Gregerson will all serve one year and will have to stand for election to full terms in 2014.