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Dino Rossi appointed to succeed late Sen. Andy Hill

Dino Rossi participates in a debate for the U.S. Senate Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 at the studios of KSPS in Spokane. (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

OLYMPIA – A former GOP state senator has been chosen to fill a Senate vacancy left by Sen. Andy Hill, who died of lung cancer in October.

The King County Council on Monday appointed Dino Rossi to become the 45th Legislative District’s state senator. The 45th district includes parts or all of Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, Duvall and Woodinville.

The council selected Rossi from three candidates nominated by the King County Republican Central Committee to replace Hill. The others were Kirkland City Council member Toby Nixon and Redmond aerospace executive Joel Hussey.

Rossi will serve through the end of 2017.

Rossi, who was a senator from 1997 through 2003, was known for his work on the state budget. He says he’s willing to fill in for Hill, but won’t campaign for the seat.