Seats vacated as legislators accept appointments elsewhere

There has been some movement in Olympia the last few days as several legislators have resigned positions to accept other offers. Sen. Brian Hatfield (D-Raymond) resigned Sept. 1 to accept a position working for Gov. Inslee as sector lead for rural economic development.

On Aug. 31, Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Bellevue) resigned to head the State Department of Early Learning. Hunter chaired the Appropriations Committee.

And earlier this year. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle) resigned to run for a seat vacated by retiring councilmember Larry Phillips on the King County Council. Kohl-Welles was a member of the Senate Higher Education, Ways and Means Committee and the Law and Justice Committee.

All three of these vacancies will be filled through an appointment by the Democratic Party.