OLYMPIA, Wash (AP) - Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed a retired Navy captain to temporarily fill a vacant House seat.
Inslee announced Friday that Republican Doug Roulstone would fill the 44th District seat left vacant after Republican Rep. Mike Hope resigned.
Under the state constitution, the district’s county council has authority to fill the vacancy. Roulstone was one of three nominees forwarded to the council by the 44th District Republican Committee, but the Snohomish County Council, which has a Democratic majority, failed to act, so Inslee was forced to act. He selected Roulstone over another name that was forwarded to the council. Mill Creek City Councilman Mark Harmsworth, who was Republicans’ top choice for the appointment, is running against Democrat Mike Wilson for the seat.
Roulstone will serve until the results of November’s general election are certified.
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