Hunter Goodman, deputy chief of staff for Attorney General Rob McKenna.
OLYMPIA, Jan. 9.—Hunter Goodman, deputy chief of staff for Attorney General Rob McKenna, will be hired as secretary of the Senate, leaders of the new majority coalition caucus announced Wednesday.
State Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, confirmed that Goodman has accepted the position. Rumors about the selection have circulated widely since the offer was made Tuesday morning.
Goodman will replace Tom Hoemann, who exits the position as a result of the shakeup in majority control of the Senate. The top Senate management position is typically named by members of the majority caucus. Democrats currently hold a narrow numerical majority in the 49-member chamber, but two Democrats, Rodney Tom of Bellevue and Tim Sheldon of Potlatch, are teaming with the 23 Senate Republicans to form a coalition majority. Control shifts on Monday, the first day of the 2013 session.
Goodman, well known around the hill for his work with McKenna’s office, was the attorney general’s legislative liaison before taking the deputy chief of staff position in May 2011. Prior to McKenna’s election as attorney general, he was director of legislative and legal affairs for McKenna at the King County Council. McKenna leaves office next week following his unsuccessful bid for governor.
From 1993 to 1999, Goodman was vice president and principal at Cascade Transportation, Inc. He is a graduate of the Seattle University School of Law.
“We are thrilled to death that he has accepted the offer,” Benton said. “Every member of the Senate knows him and has worked with him and knows his integrity and professionalism, so it will be a very smooth and comfortable transition I think for every member.”
Benton will take the reins as chairman of the Senate Facilities and Operations Committee on Monday, the panel that oversees Senate management functions. In the decision to name Goodman Benton was joined by Tom, Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Republican Caucus Chair Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee.
Benton said he has known Goodman since the year 2000, when he was state Republican Party chairman and Goodman was working with the gubernatorial campaign of John Carlson. Goodman has always been engaged and enthusiastic about his work, Benton said. “That is one of the reasons we are excited about him,” he said. “He is a very enthusiastic and motivated person, which is something we need.”
McKenna said, “Hunter Goodman is an outstanding choice for Secretary of the State Senate. As Deputy chief of staff in the Attorney General’s Office, he has proven his leadership and management skills. As an accomplished assistant attorney general he has represented our office very effectively in the state legislature, quarterbacking the passage of 45 bills that our office wrote. He has built strong relationships on both sides of the aisle.”
Goodman’s election by the new majority coalition will be one of the first orders of business after the Senate is gaveled to order on Monday.
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