Former state House Speaker John Bagnariol dies

RENTON — Former Washington Speaker of the House John Bagnariol, 77, whose political career was cut short by the 1980s Gamscam scandal, has died of pneumonia.

Gina Bagnariol-Benevides said her father died about 6 p.m. Sunday at Valley Medical Center in Renton.

She said the longtime Washington state Democratic politician had been ill in recent years after suffering a series of strokes. He was hospitalized Thursday after developing pneumonia and his condition continued to deteriorate.

He was first elected to the state’s House of Representatives in 1966 for Renton and eventually rose to serve as its Speaker in 1977.

Bagnariol was sentenced to five years in prison in 1980 when he and two others were convicted of racketeering in the Gamscam case. The three were charged with conspiring to allow gambling in Washington in return for a share of the profits. He was paroled in 1984.

Bagnariol is survived by his wife Barbara, and 11 children.

Funeral services are pending.

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