Politics & Government
He's Back: King County Council Appoints Dino Rossi to State Senate
Former senator will serve as caretaker until the November election. Swearing-in ceremony today in Olympia.
The Metropolitan King County Council on Monday unanimously appointed former state Sen. Dino Rossi to the vacant Washington State Senate seat in the 5th Legislative District today. The vacancy follows the resignation of Sen. Cheryl Pflug.
to take a state position earlier, leaving Democrat Mark Mullet and Republican Brad Toft in the field to vie for her seat and , many of whom saw it as a calculated move.
Rossi, 52, is a two-time Republican candidate for governor of Washington.
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Though Rossi's name has been floated for some time to fill the vacancy, he has said he has no interest in running, nor could he run for the seat, due to redistricting.
Earlier, Rossi told the News Tribune that he was willing to fill the vacancy, but did not seek it.
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“I told them, if you need me to do it, I’ll do it,” Rossi told the News Tribune. “It’s not something I’m seeking.”
He is not eligible to run for the seat this fall, as redistricting leaves him in the 45th District. Rossi is Washington state co-chair for Republican Mitt Romney's presidential bid.
Rossi will be sworn in today at 1 p.m. in Olympia.
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