Former Ore. representative picked to replace state lawmaker

Published 10:02 pm Wednesday, April 13, 2011

VANCOUVER — Clark County commissioners have unanimously picked a former lobbyist who also served two terms as an Oregon state representative to replace a Washington state lawmaker who resigned abruptly last month.

Democrat Sharon Wylie was selected Wednesday and immediately sworn in by Superior Court Judge Barbara Johnson. Wylie succeeds former Rep. Jim Jacks, who resigned March 25 in the middle of the legislative session. He cited “personal and family reasons.”

While noting the difficulty of balancing the state budget, Wylie said she would try to ease the impact of state budget cuts on local communities.

Other finalists for Jacks’ open seat were Temple Lentz, who ran Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt’s campaign in 2009, and Jeremy Zegas, an aide to state Sen. Craig Pridemore.