Comments on Another Gay State Senator?

OMG! I live in the 34th. Damn, that's a shame about Poulsen leaving; he's been awesome. Great opportunity for Joe McDermott. He's very popular and well liked in West Seattle. I think he got re-elected last time with like 90% of the vote.

Who replaces McDermott though?

Where's Ivan when you need him?!?

Oh Willis, I'm sure he'll be along any time now. When did Ivan ever not offer his thoughts? Perhaps he can edify us about Original Andrew's last point ... if McD moves up to Poulson's slot, how does McD's slot get filled?

In any case, we'll eventually get to see a nice free-for-all in the 34th like we had last year in the 43rd. What fun!!

I'm pretty sure that the reason Poulsen must be replaced by a Democrat is that he is a Democrat. See Section 15: http://www.leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/constitution.htm.

McDermott is a shoo-in to be the new senator. Who is lining up for his house seat?

And, if Postman is right, another Democratic primary free-for-all next year in the 46th LD.

Jim McIntire for State Treasurer?!? What say you, Willis?

WTF? Cody does not want it? Why?

She is the next in line. And isn't she a lesbian? Joe has not been there long enough.

Come on Eileen! The fighting 34th needs you.

Chances are, Cody doesn't want it because she's on the committees she wants to be on in the House, and she's fairly senior there. It'd be something of a step down to become a junior member of the Senate, and not be on the committees that she wants to be on (she's a physician, so I'm sure she wants to stay on the various healthcare committees she's on).

The process to replace is fairly simple. The Democratic organization in the 34th LD will hold a meeting and nominate three possible successors for McD's seat. Generally, it'll either be a former state legislator, or someone who holds some minor elective office currently. Then the county council determines which of the three should become the interim Representative. Only elected PCOs in the 34th can nominate or vote for one of the three names.

Does Dow Constantine want to move up from his County seat?

No, Geni, Eileen Cody is a nurse, not a physician. Otherwise, your points are spot on.

Mickymse, Dow was the state senator from the 34th and resigned to be on the County Council. Most people go from the Legislature to the County Council, not the other way around.

Cody is the chair of the health care committee. She's well liked and was instrumental in getting Children's HC and the Family & Med Leave bills passed. She would definitely take a cut in power. I would also guess that things might not work as well on the Health Care Committee in her absence--sort of like when Ed Murray stepped down as House Transpo Chair to pick up the open Senate seat. By staying there, she helps us all out. Go Eileen!

And, they go from the legislature to the county council because councilmember is a full-time job, with full-time pay and more full-time staff.

Poulsen's departure is a huge loss re: environmental issues. He was fearless in pushing uncompromising bills through his Water, Environment & Tech committee. It will be interesting to see how he performs in his new role at the state Public Utility District Assn. We enviros have butted heads a lot with the public utilities over the last few years, especially on the effort to pass a renewable energy standard. We could never pass that bill in the legislature because of PUD (and big business) opposition, so we had to take it to the voters in 2006 (I-937). Poulsen was an early supporter of the initiative. The association ended up supporting the initiative, but most of its member utilities opposed.

It's a bit of a consolation that McDermott will likely replace Poulsen. McDermott is someone else who's always looking to do the right thing. But, his principal area of interest is education rather than environment. So, Poulsen's retirement is still a big loss in terms of leadership on the environment.

A few points of clarification:

Eileen Cody is not a lesbian

Joe McDermott cares deeply about environmental issues and works much harder than Eric Poulsen on a number of issues -- not just enviro stuff.

Joe has been in the House for a few terms now -- he's certainly senior enough to move into Poulsen's seat and will bring more new energy to the Senate, where Lisa Brown needs it.

I thought she was a lesbian....I stand corrected.

damn...

The process is here, and here.

In other words, the state Constitution determines how vacancies in Legislative seats are filled, by party elections.

The State Party bylaws determine the structure of the actual election.

Roughly, it goes like this. Elected and appointed PCOs (not acting PCOs) from the District vote on a first, second, and third choice in three separate votes (NOT ranked-choice voting), and submit those names to the (in King County) County Council. The County Council affirms the choice of the District.

Dates and sites should be determined in the next few days. We're working on it. I would have posted sooner but I have been on the phone all day. This is better than meth.

Truthteller @ 13:

I certainly did not mean to diminish McDermott's enviro credibility. I agree, he is very committed to enviro issues and has a perfect or near perfect enviro voting record. I just meant that he puts more of his leadership energy into education - nothing wrong with that. McDermott's a great legislator and a damn good human being.

BTW, anyone remember when, just a few years ago, the Sen. from the 34th was Mike Heavey, probably the most regressive Democratic legislator from an urban area?

all these males are so , well, strange how the hell do they know any woman's sexuality for a fact?

two four six eight, how do you know your legislator is straight?

love eileen and hope she REALLY is VERY Lesbos

Mc Dermott, joe boy, is sure a pretty fact, but seems passive to me, possilbly good insider. Sure takes a backseat to Ed Murray

two four six eight Joe is totally not straight

Damn. I wish I lived in the 34th District! I love Joe! He'll do a fantastic job in the state senate.

Explanatory political process note:

FYI the "PCO's" who meet to appoint Joe's successor if he moves up to the State Senator position are "precinct committee officers" of the Democratic Party.

All readers of this slog can try to become a PCO if they declare they are a Democrat and file for this eensy weensy elected position in election years (you get elected by about 200 of your neighbors in the blocks surrounding your house -- precincts are very tiny min-districts).

And between elections, in other words, NOW, you can usually get appointed by getting some neighbors in the precint to sign a petition, bringing it to the local Democratic party legislative organization, and getting their approval. Usually they welcome anyone who says they are a Democrat. You can't do this if there is already an elected PCO in your precinct.

Then, when there are legislator vacancies, such as what happens when one resigns, as you meet with maybe 100 or 150 other PCO's from the legislative district and essentially pick the replacement. (There are some time restrictions and limits on this so you may or may not be able to get appointed now and then vote on the replacements discussed on Slog recently.)

Anyway, you also get more a voice when the Democratic Party groups make endorsements.

Being a PCO is a huge magnifier of your voice and influence, compared to the level of activity most citizens engage in, such as just voting at the polls.