Yeah, Yip-pee!! Lets hope we get a good replacement.



Veteran state Sen. Ken Jacobsen is hanging it up at the end of the year, citing blood pressure concerns today in announcing that he won't seek re-election to an eighth term this fall. That creates an opening in a reliably Democratic seat, Seattle's 46th district.

Jacobsen was a prolific writer of bills, including the failed but ever-amusing “dogs in bars” measure to let bar patrons take Fido in to sleep at their feet while swilling a beer. But I'll also remember his long-term views of history and natural-resources management challenges like Puget Sound and state parks financing. He also was willing (right or wrong) to publicly question the wisdom of governing via the citizen initiative, and the latter put him squarely and appropriately at odds with ballot-measure promoter Tim Eyman and a passel of voters.

Here's what Jacobsen himself pointed to as accomplishments:
The establishment of the Veteran’s Conservation Corps, which provides natural resources restoration training and volunteer for veterans to. The program not only helps to prepare veterans for future employment, but studies have shown working in outdoor settings aid veterans .......
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/05/17/1435440/sen-jacobsen-done-barking-in-the.html

Not sure how the Chair is selected, but Kevin Ranker is the Vice Chair. Seems logical that he'd be next in line.


Kevin Ranker, from the 40th District is the Vice Chair. His district covers the San Juan’s, Fidalgo (Anacortes) and sections of Whatcom and Skagit Counties. One could presume that he is next in line for the NRO committee chair.

Biography
Senator Kevin Ranker brings 15 years experience in community development and public policy to the Washington State Senate. Sen. Ranker has worked at the local, national and international level developing and advancing coastal and ocean policy, community development strategies and conservation initiatives.
Before his election to the Senate, he served as a member of the San Juan County Board of County Commissioners. Prior experience also includes serving as the Chair of the Washington Counties Transportation Committee; Chair of the Washington Coastal Counties Caucus, which represents the state’s 14 coastal counties; Chair of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council; a board member of the Puget Sound Partnership, the Washington Oil Spill Advisory Council and a member of the Washington State Shoreline Hearings Board - the judicial body responsible for hearing appeals under the State Shoreline Management Act. His efforts were focused on implementing successful economic development strategies, protecting agricultural lands and developing opportunities for the preservation of coastal and ocean environments and the goods and services they provide.
In the Washington State Senate, Ranker serves as Vice Chair of the Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee, Vice Chair of Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation Committee and a member of the Environment, Water & Energy and Transportation Committees.
In 2009, Sen. Ranker was elected by his fellow legislators from throughout the country as Chair of the National Coastal Caucus of State Legislators, a bi-partisan group representing legislators from 29 coastal and Great Lakes states. He is also a member of the National Caucus of State Legislators Environment Committee and the Agriculture and Energy Committee.
In the private sector, Ranker is a senior fellow with The Ocean Foundation, an international community foundation and think-tank based out of Washington, D.C. In this role, Ranker advises the foundation and others on national ocean policy.
He is an avid paddler, fisherman, swimmer and surfer and lives with his wife and daughter on San Juan Island.

Thanks, Bushbear.

Good riddance.

What Irie said!

Fishy