Washington lawmakers remember Sen. Andy Hill

OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers remembered the late Republican Sen. Andy Hill at the Capitol, calling him a dedicated public servant who cared deeply about his family.

Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate gathered in the Senate chambers Monday for the memorial for Hill, the key Senate budget writer who died of lung cancer at the age of 54 on Oct. 31. Also in attendance were members of Hill’s family.

A former program manager at Microsoft, Hill was elected in 2010 to represent the 45th legislative district, which includes his hometown of Redmond. Hill, who became chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2013, was serving a second term following his re-election in 2014.

Hill, who never smoked, was first diagnosed in 2009, but after treatment had been cancer-free since early 2010. However, in June, he announced that he was battling a recurrence.