YAKIMA – State Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, one of the most senior members of the Legislature, is leaving office Jan. 1 because of age and health problems.
Deccio, a moderate Republican who focused mainly on health care issues and has been popular on both sides of the aisle in Olympia, gave notice Tuesday to Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, presiding officer of the Senate, and to Republican party leaders.
Back problems and prostate cancer have caused him to miss more days of work in Olympia over the past two years than he would have liked, Deccio told the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper for an article published Thursday.
“I’ve done everything I wanted to do,” he added, “and I’m 85 years old.”
A replacement to serve the remaining two years on his term must be chosen by Yakima County commissioners from a list of three candidates to be chosen by GOP precinct committee representatives.
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