Summary

King County Council Chair Rod Dembowski and Snohomish County Council Chair Terry Ryan are releasing the following statements concerning the appointment process to fill the newly-vacant State Senate seat following the resignation of Sen. Guy Palumbo (D-Maltby) earlier today.

Story

King County Council Chair Rod Dembowski and Snohomish County Council Chair Terry Ryan are releasing the following statements concerning the appointment process to fill the newly-vacant State Senate seat following the resignation of Sen. Guy Palumbo (D-Maltby) earlier today.

The state constitution provides that a vacancy occurring in a multi-county legislative district, such as the 1^st  Legislative District, shall be filled by joint action of the legislative authorities of the respective counties, here, the King and Snohomish County Councils. 

Dembowski statement:

“Snohomish County Council Chair Terry Ryan and I have spoken to start coordinating a joint meeting of our councils. I have also spoken with the Chair of the First Legislative District Democrats, Monica Chilton, and been in touch with Democratic State Party Chair Tina Podlodowski, to coordinate with the party on its process for sending three names to the councils. 

“In the event that Representative Stanford or Representative Kloba were to seek the Senate seat and be appointed, we would expect to appoint a new state representative to the House at the same time, consistent with past appointment processes.” 

Ryan statement: 

"The Snohomish County Council looks forward to working with Council Chair Rod Dembowski and the King County Council to complete the appointment process as required by state law.”

Timing for action by the county councils is dependent upon receiving nominations from the precinct committee officer process. State law gives the joint councils 60 days from the date of the vacancy to appoint a replacement.

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