After Republican Sen. Shelly Short, Addy, was sworn in to replace Brian Dansel, who left his seat to work with the Trump administration, her vacant House seat was filled by her long-time legislative assistant, according to a press release from Short’s former House office.
County commissioners from the five counties in the 7th District voted in Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, R-Republic, to replace Short. Maycumber was sworn in Thursday.
“I’m excited to join Representative Joel Kretz and Senator Shelly Short as part of the 7th District team,” she stated in the press release. ” Their mentorship and counsel to me over the years will help make this a smooth transition so the values and priorities of our district continue to have strong support in Olympia.”
Republicans in the House are in the minority, but Maycumber’s appointment brings the official vote tally back to the slim margin it started out on this session: 50 Democrats and 48 Republicans.
Maycumber noted some of the issues she was particularly concerned with.
“There are attacks against our Second Amendment rights, uncertainty about our water availability brought on by the state Supreme Court, and frustration and anger with how the state manages wildfires and wolves,” she stated in the press release. “I’m excited to get to work on these issues and represent the hard-working citizens of the Seventh District.”
Erin Fenner: erinfenner@washingtonstatewire.com, @erinfenner
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