Liias certain to succeed Shin; who will follow Liias?

There is no mystery which Democrat will succeed Sen. Paull Shin in the state Senate.

Rep. Marko Liias has been the only person seeking the vacancy created when Shin resigned Jan. 7 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Liias is expected to be formally nominated Saturday by Democratic precinct committee officers in the 21st Legislative District and officially appointed Tuesday by the Snohomish County Council.

Then the 32-year-old Liias will pack his bags in the House, where he’s prospered the past six years, and resettle in the Senate, where it won’t take long for his liberal beliefs and partisan inclinations to emerge.

Democrats voting Saturday already know where the aspiring and loquacious pol is coming from. Here’s what the soon-to-be-senator wrote to them:

“Over the last year, we have seen the Senate change hands from a Democratic majority to a Republican-led coalition. Too often, tea party extremism and gridlock have prevented important action on the issues that matter to middle class families across our state. I am asking for your nomination as our next senator to change that.”

While there’s an absence of intrigue for the Senate appointment, there is a bit of suspense surrounding the selection of a successor to Liias.

Three people are seeking the House appointment: Lillian Ortiz-Self, Susan Phillips and Darrell Chapman. Under state law, their names will be forwarded to the Snohomish County Council for consideration.

What Democrats must decide Saturday is who will be their first, second and third choices to represent the district, which includes Mukilteo, Edmonds, Lynnwood and south Everett.

Ortiz-Self, of Mukilteo, is the odds-on favorite to garner the most votes. She’s been campaigning for the seat since October. That’s when Shin first announced he intended to retire at the end of 2014 and Liias declared he’d run for the seat.

A middle-school counselor and member of the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs, Ortiz-Self has been endorsed by several state lawmakers inside and outside Snohomish County. She’s also reportedly made a strong impression on House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.

Chapman, of Edmonds, can boast a long record of serving the party and helping elect Democrats into city, county, state and federal offices, including many of those backing Ortiz-Self.

He’s president of the Snohomish County Labor Council and political director of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. But that solid foundation may not be solid enough come Saturday.

Phillips, of Edmonds, is the wild card. She entered late and has been the least involved in partisan activities of the three.

As the president of the Edmonds School Board, she’s the only one with experience winning an elected office. Appointed to the school board in 2007, she’s won twice — in 2009 and again in November.

It will be an interesting time Saturday, and the mystery will be solved next week.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

21st District Senate pick

County Democratic Party officials will meet at 10:30 a.m. Saturday to vote on nominees for appointment to the 21st District state Senate seat. The meeting will be in the Mukilteo City Council chamber, 11930 Cyrus Way.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic idles while waiting for the lights to change along 33rd Avenue West on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood seeks solutions to Costco traffic boondoggle

Let’s take a look at the troublesome intersection of 33rd Avenue W and 30th Place W, as Lynnwood weighs options for better traffic flow.

A memorial with small gifts surrounded a utility pole with a photograph of Ariel Garcia at the corner of Alpine Drive and Vesper Drive ion Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Death of Everett boy, 4, spurs questions over lack of Amber Alert

Local police and court authorities were reluctant to address some key questions, when asked by a Daily Herald reporter this week.

The new Amazon fulfillment center under construction along 172nd Street NE in Arlington, just south of Arlington Municipal Airport. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210708
Frito-Lay leases massive building at Marysville business park

The company will move next door to Tesla and occupy a 300,0000-square-foot building at the Marysville business park.

Edmonds City Council members answer questions during an Edmonds City Council Town Hall on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds fire service faces expiration date, quandary about what’s next

South County Fire will end a contract with the city in late 2025, citing insufficient funds. Edmonds sees four options for its next step.

House Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, on the status of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
How Snohomish County lawmakers voted on TikTok ban, aid to Israel, Ukraine

The package includes a bill to ban TikTok if it stays in the hands of a Chinese company, which made one Everett lawmaker object.

A grizzly bear is seen on July 6, 2011 while roaming near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The National Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife services have released a draft plan for reintroducing grizzlies into the North Cascades.
Grizzlies to return to North Cascades, feds confirm

Under the final plan announced Thursday, officials will release three to seven bears every year. They anticipate 200 in a century.

ZeroAvia founder and CEO Val Mifthakof, left, shows Gov. Jay Inslee a hydrogen-powered motor during an event at ZeroAvia’s new Everett facility on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, near Paine Field in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
ZeroAvia’s new Everett center ‘a huge step in decarbonizing’ aviation

The British-American company, which is developing hydrogen-electric powered aircraft, expects one day to employ hundreds at the site.

"Unsellable Houses" hosts Lyndsay Lamb (far right) and Leslie Davis (second from right) show homes in Snohomish County to Randy and Gina (at left) on an episode of "House Hunters: All Stars" that airs Thursday. (Photo provided by HGTV photo)
Snohomish twin stars of HGTV’s ‘Unsellable Houses’ are on ‘House Hunters’

Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis show homes in Mountlake Terrace, Everett and Lynnwood in Thursday’s episode.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Oso man gets 1 year of probation for killing abusive father

Prosecutors and defense agreed on zero days in jail, citing documented abuse Garner Melum suffered at his father’s hands.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin steps back and takes in a standing ovation after delivering the State of the City Address on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
In meeting, Everett mayor confirms Topgolf, Chicken N Pickle rumors

This month, the mayor confirmed she was hopeful Topgolf “would be a fantastic new entertainment partner located right next to the cinemas.”

Alan Edward Dean, convicted of the 1993 murder of Melissa Lee, professes his innocence in the courtroom during his sentencing Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bothell man gets 26 years in cold case murder of Melissa Lee, 15

“I’m innocent, not guilty. … They planted that DNA. I’ve been framed,” said Alan Edward Dean, as he was sentenced for the 1993 murder.

Gus Mansour works through timing with Jeff Olson and Steven Preszler, far right, during a rehearsal for the upcoming annual Elvis Challenge Wednesday afternoon in Everett, Washington on April 13, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Hunka hunka: Elvis Challenge returns to Historic Everett Theatre May 4

The “King of Rock and Roll” died in 1977, but his music and sideburns live on with Elvis tribute artists.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.