Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson (right) at the christening of the state ferry Tokitae in Seattle in 2014.

Washington Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson (right) at the christening of the state ferry Tokitae in Seattle in 2014.

GOP lawmakers fire state transportation secretary

OLYMPIA — Republican senators delivered a stunning political blow to Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday by voting to fire Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson.

In a rarely used maneuver, 24 Republicans and one Democrat voted to not confirm Peterson whose management they blamed for festering problems with several projects, including the I-405 express toll lanes and a new tunnel in Seattle.

Peterson, whom Inslee appointed to the job in February 2013, will lose her job immediately. She came to Washington after working as a transportation adviser to Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.

“The way you fix accountability… is to impose accountability on our own,” said Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. “I personally like Lynn Peterson. I think she is a good person. But I look at results. I have no confidence the agency is in position to fix the problems it has without a change.”

After the vote, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Transportation Committee blasted Republicans for flexing their muscle in this manner.

“This is like a political execution that’s made public here on the Senate floor, because, simply, it’s 2016 and it’s an election year,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.

In a statement, Inslee said Senate Republicans “engaged in a politically-motivated attack on an eminently qualified woman. We can only wonder what the Senate Republicans’ next politically motivated attack will be.”

Sen. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe said it was “not an easy vote. It was not a political vote. I did so because of the complaints I got from people in my district. Frankly she didn’t have the experience to do this in the first place.”

The last rejection of a gubernatorial appointee in this fashion was in 1998, when former U.S. Rep. Jolene Unsoeld was removed from the state Fish and Wildlife Commission by the Senate.

The power to confirm is provided solely to the Senate. But appointees can serve without ever getting confirmed, and that happens a lot.

Since Inslee took office, most of his executive appointees like Peterson have yet to be confirmed. Fewer than half of the 24 current cabinet members had been confirmed as of Friday. The list grew by one Friday, when Vikki Smith was confirmed as the director of the Department of Revenue.

Some, like former corrections secretary Bernie Warner, have come and gone without getting confirmed. Bette Hyde, who retired in 2015 as the head of the Department of Early Learning, never received a confirmation vote even though the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee twice voted to recommend her selection.

And Kevin Quigley will soon leave the Department of Social Health Services without getting confirmed.

Although Friday’s decision shocked Inslee and Senate Democrats, it shouldn’t have been a complete surprise.

This session, Republicans have hammered on a theme that there is a lack of accountability in the management of state agencies.

They’ve criticized the Department of Corrections for failing to fix a software problem that allowed the early release of inmates after learning of the problem in 2012. They’ve questioned the Department of Social and Health Services response to troubles at Western State Hospital.

And they’ve been especially harsh toward the Department of Transportation amid growing outrage surrounding the operation of the express toll lanes on I-405 between Lynnwood and Bellevue.

On Tuesday, Sen. Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way, confirmed he and Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, were discussing whether to vote to not confirm one or more agency heads.

When asked Wednesday about such an action by Republicans, Inslee said he had chatted with GOP leaders about appointments but it was “nothing intense” and the possibility of anyone losing their job did not come up.

At that time he offered a robust defense of Peterson, praising her role in negotiating last year’s $16 billion transportation package and her use of practical design technique to trim millions of dollars from projects around the state.

“I’m shocked that politics would rear its head in this consideration,” he said. “I would be much more interested in celebrating that bipartisan success than pointing out that folks who are now apparently raising this issue stood in the way of progress for two years on transportation and said ‘No’.”

There was no such celebrating on the Senate floor Friday.

Republicans made the motion to confirm Peterson, then set about to conduct their very public performance review.

They vented frustration with the I-405 express lanes, the stalled tunneling operation in Seattle and the priority of projects to be built with the money from the transportation package. Many talked about the need to change the culture of the agency.

“It’s about the general overall state of the Department of Transportation,” said Sen. Brian Dansel, R-Republic. “We are doing less with more.”

Democrats, who attempted unsuccessfully to delay the vote, praised Peterson’s performance and called her a competent leader and transportation expert.

“I hope she leaves with her head held high. She’s done an amazing job,” said Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, who serves on the transportation committee.

Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, cited Peterson’s quick response following both the Oso mudslide and the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge.

“She made sure that that bridge was rebuilt under budget and faster than any of us ever could have predicted,” he said.

Several times Democrats said election year politics was behind the move. Republicans repeatedly denied that.

“It’s not personal. It’s not about the next election,” said Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, who voted against the appointment. “It’s about business. It’s about the people’s business.”

Tensions were high during the two-hour debate and continued beyond the vote.

Schoesler, the Senate Majority Leader, came to the press table after the vote to show reporters a letter that was sent by the state Civil Rights Coalition to the speaker of the House expressing concern that Department of Transportation policies as they relate to contracting with minority-owned small businesses were unfair.

Jaime Smith, the governor’s spokeswoman, was standing at the press table and challenged Schoesler on why no one had any indication of the Senate’s plans until moments before it started.

Schoesler ignored her and continued talking about the letter from the coalition that criticized Peterson, and he ended the conversation by saying “she’s racist,” as he walked away. That caused vocal outrage among Democratic senators and governor’s staff who had gathered nearby.

“I think that right there says everything you need to know,” Smith said.

Inslee, in his statement, said he “deeply and personally offended by Senator Schoesler’s unfounded, scurrilous and outrageous outburst that Secretary Peterson is a racist. This personal insult, uttered in the Senate chambers, is simply inexcusable and not worthy of his position as a leader in the Senate.”

Department of Transportation spokesman Lars Erickson wrote in an email that the agency has long been working with the coalition about their concerns.

“Any suggestion that Secretary Peterson is ‘racist’ is absurd,” Erickson wrote.

Afterward, Schoesler said by phone that he “spoke things that I probably didn’t want to say.”

“I regret what I said in the heat of the scrum,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

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.