Although the official news of Rep. Helen Sommers decision to not seek another term in the state House rightly dominated much of the end of session press coverage, a number of other legislators have decided to call it a day at the end of their current terms. Here’s the current list of those state elected officials who will not return in 2009 so far:
Statewide Elected Officials
Mike Murphy, State Treasurer who will retire.
Senate
- Harriet Spanel (D-Bellingham) who serves as the Majority Caucus Chair who will retire.
- Brian Weinstein (D-Mercer Island), chair of the Senate Consumer Protection and Housing committee (some press reports have indicated Weinstein is reconsidering his pre-session decision to not run for re-election).
House of Representatives
- Rep. Helen Sommers (D-Seattle), chair of the House Appropriations committee who will retire.
- Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) chair of the House Capital Budget committee who will work for the MAP program.
- Rep. Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor) chair of the House Judiciary committee who will retire.
- Rep. Shay Schual-Berke (D-Normandy Park), vice chair of the House Capital Budget committee who is moving to New Zealand with her husband.
- Rep. Joyce McDonald (R-Puyallup), ranking minority member on the House Capital Budget committee who will run for a seat on the Pierce County Council.
- Rep. Jim McIntire (D-Seattle) who is running for State Treasurer.
- Rep. Lynn Schindler (R-Spokane), House Republican Whip who will retire.
- Rep. Bill Eickmeyer (D-Belfair) who will retire.
- Rep. Bob Sump (R-Republic) ranking minority member on the House Ecology and Parks committee who will retire.