OLYMPIA – Brian Hatfield’s hiatus from elective politics didn’t last long.
The former Democratic House majority floor leader resigned from the Legislature two years ago to become a top adviser to Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, but on Friday was appointed to the state Senate and was quickly sworn in at a special ceremony in Longview.
He succeeds Mark Doumit in the sprawling 19th District in southwest Washington, stretching from Kelso and Longview westward to the Pacific coast. Doumit, a rising power in the Senate who served as operating budget chairman, has resigned to take the top post at the Washington Forest Protection Association.
Hatfield, 40, was chosen by the county commissioners from Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties from a list compiled by Democratic precinct officers from the district.
The district’s two House members deferred to him and he was endorsed by Doumit and former Sen. Sid Snyder, D-Long Beach.
“Sid Snyder and Mark Doumit – those guys are two legends in Olympia,” Hatfield said. “They worked across party lines and across geographical divides. They were real uniters. And they did so much to boost the economy of southwest Washington, helping local businesses and getting people working.
“Those are some big footsteps, some big shoes, but that’s the model I’m looking to follow.”
He lined up votes ahead of time to defeat George Raiter, a former legislator, Cowlitz County commissioner and Longview city councilmember. He was sworn in by Cowlitz County Auditor Kristina Swanson.
Hatfield and his wife, Freddie, and their children live in Raymond.
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