‘It’s Time To Move On,’ Lt. Gov. Pritchard Says

A wrinkle in Washington’s term limits law would have allowed Lt. Gov. Joel Pritchard to seek a third term, but the Republican announced Monday he’ll abide by the spirit of term limits and retire.

“It’s time to move on,” the moderate-to-liberal Republican told reporters just before he presided over the opening session of the state Senate.

At least four present or former state legislators already are lining up to run for Pritchard’s office.

Pritchard, 70, said neither his age nor his health was a factor in his “fairly close” decision.

Rather, he said term limits and the idea that he’d been in office long enough were top considerations.

He’ll stay until a new lieutenant governor is inaugurated next January.

He has endorsed King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, a fellow pro-choice moderate, for governor, but said he isn’t ready to anoint a successor for his office. Republican state Sen. Ann Anderson of Acme in Whatcom County has said she’s running, and Senate colleague Jim West of Spokane has expressed interest.

Democratic state Sen. Brad Owen of Shelton and former state Rep. Greg Fisher of Normandy Park have declared their candidacies.