UPDATED May 17 to reflect Sen. Ken Jacobsen’s decision to retire — and Rep. Scott White’s decision to run for his seat. 

UPDATED May 3 to reflect Sen. Rosa Franklin’s decision to retire — and Rep. Steve Conway’s decision to run for her seat.

By Erik Smith

Staff writer/ Washington State Wire

OLYMPIA, April 29.—How come so many lawmakers think this is a good time to leave?

            The rush for the exit – especially among Democrats – has become one of the most striking political trends of the year.

            So far 20 lawmakers have announced that they won’t be running for their seats again. That’s one out of every six seats on the ballot this year — 20 out of 122.

            Some turnover is to be expected. Every election, some members retire and others move up the political food chain.

But it’s interesting to note that 11 of the quitters come from a single caucus – the House Democrats – and eight of them aren’t quitting to run for something else. They’re just going home.

            Retirement? Dissatisfaction?

            Everyone has a reason.

            Life’s Too Short

            The most dramatic exit in recent weeks came from Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, a 16-year veteran of the Legislature, who fired off an email to her colleagues in the state Senate last Thursday. Here’s what it said:

            “Around Christmastime last year I was griping and groaning about having to go back to Olympia soon. My husband (who has just about had it with my complaints) said I should wait until the end of this session to see if I felt the same.

            “If anything, my feelings are more negative than before.

            “I’ve always believed that if you hate what you’re doing, and you can’t give it your best, stop doing it. Life is too short to waste on things you don’t enjoy doing.

            “We never know what’s going to happen next, but I do know that I’m not running again.”

            Fairley didn’t return a call asking for elaboration.

But lawmakers have been saying the last couple of years have been about as miserable as they come.

            A Troubled Time

            Last year the Legislature faced the biggest shortfall in the history of the state. There was a $9 billion difference between the amount of money the state expected to spend and the amount of tax revenue it expected to take in. Part of that was due to the crash on Wall Street, but even before that happened, state spending was $3 billion out of whack with revenues.

            It happened again this year – lawmakers had another $2.8 billion shortfall.

            And they’re looking at another one next year – somewhere between $2 and $3 billion.

            Could it be that cutting state spending year after year is harder than spending in the first place – and it’s made the job a nightmare?

            No, it’s not that, said state Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell, one of those who will be stepping down this year. Everyone has a good personal reason. In his case, he’s seeking a position as U.S. Marshal, and said he wouldn’t feel right asking for voters’ support if he might be resigning shortly thereafter.

            “In every session, there are enough things to hate to make you wonder if you want to come back here again,” he said. “But I don’t think anyone would say they’re quitting because it was a nasty budget year.”

            Making tough decisions is part of the job, he said.

            The Sayonara List

            Here’s who’s kissing their seats goodbye:

            House Democrats 

n       State Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace – leaving for good.

n       State Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma – leaving to run for state Senate.

n        State Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell – leaving for good.

n        State Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma – leaving for good.

n        House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam – leaving for good.

n       State Rep. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island – leaving to run for state Senate.

n       State Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mt. Vernon — leaving for good.

n       State Rep. Dee Wallace, D-Vancouver – leaving for good.

n       State Rep. Scott White, D-Seattle — leaving to run for state Senate.

n        State Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia – leaving for good.

n        State Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane – leaving for good.   
              

House Republicans

n      State Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale – leaving to run for state Senate.

n      State Rep. Jaimie Herrera, R-Vancouver – leaving to run for U.S. Congress.

n      State Rep. Skip Priest, R-Federal Way – leaving to run for Federal Way mayor.

n      State Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake – leaving to run for Pierce County council.

Senate Democrats

n        State Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle – leaving for good.

n        State Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park – leaving for good.

n      State Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma – leaving for good.

n      State Sen. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle – leaving to run for King County council.
 

Senate Republicans

n      State Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham – leaving for good.

Big Turnover in Legislature

“It strikes me to be a heavy turnover year,” said David Ammons, spokesman for the secretary of state’s office and a former Olympia reporter for the Associated Press. “Typically you have some turnover, but you have some mainstays like Lynn Kessler and Skip Priest and some of the others we’ve been reading about.”

It may well be that some of the members are feeling pressure from the economic decisions they had to make. But Ammons said many of the retirements seem natural.

And if it seems as though a large number of House Democrats have chosen this particular moment to take their leave – well, that might be because there are so many House Democrats in the first place, said Melinda McCrady, spokeswoman for the Senate Democratic caucus. Democrats hold 62 of the 98 seats in the House.

At the very least, she said, it makes an argument against term limits.

A Really Long Commute

            The lone Senate Republican departure, Dale Brandland of Bellingham, said he missed home. “I think I just got tired of living in Olympia 105 days of the year, every other year. It’s a big commute. I love the job, but I think my heart’s in Bellingham. I wanted to be with my family.”

            The frustrations of being in the minority party had nothing to do with it, he said. In fact, there hasn’t been a better time to be a Republican. After Democrats raised taxes this year, Brandland said there is a very good chance his party will pick up seats. “Republicans will finally become relevant, and Democrats are going to have to talk to them.”

            It’s just that he won’t be in on the conversation.

            Ericks said he was reminded of a comment made by state Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mt. Vernon, on the final night of the session, as Kessler announced her retirement. The Legislature is like a bucket of water, he said. You take your hand out and it’s like your hand was never there. Ericks said he hopes his three terms left a few ripples.

           “I wish this last one had been more like the two terms before this,” he said. “But I’ll have no trouble telling my descendants I did the best job I can do.”