OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee today appointed retired Navy Capt. Doug Roulstone to temporarily fill the vacant state House seat from Snohomish County’s 44th Legislative District.
Roulstone fills the seat left vacant in July when Republican state Rep. Mike Hope resigned. The state constitution gives the county council authority to fill the vacancy. But when the Snohomish County Council failed to act, the governor was required to make the appointment.
Roulstone will serve until the general election is certified Nov. 25, 2014.
Roulstone was one of three nominees forwarded to the council by the 44th District Republican Committee. State law requires vacancies to be filled by someone of the party that held the seat and the appointment must be made from the list of nominees forwarded by the party.
The governor called Roulstone Friday afternoon to ask him to serve. Roulstone accepted and Inslee said he would immediately forward an appointment letter to the House Chief Clerk.
Inslee was swayed in part by Roulstone’s interview with the Snohomish County Council. In that interview Sept. 15, Roulstone said that while another nominee was the best qualified and the party’s first choice, “If you should choose me I will work very hard for the people. I will be basically non-partisan in how I work and I’ll do the best I can.”