Washington senator accepts federal appointment

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Sen. Kirk Pearson has been appointed to a position in the Trump administration.

The Monroe Republican has been appointed director of rural development for Washington state, The Seattle Times reported Monday.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture news release announcing the appointment says that the role involves working “to help improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.”

Pearson could not immediately be reached for comment, but Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler confirmed that Pearson would be stepping down to take the federal post.

Pearson will be the second state senator to step down this year to work for the federal agency. Brian Dansel resigned from his seat earlier this year to become a special assistant to the U.S. secretary of agriculture in Washington, D.C. This week’s news release by the agency also announced Dansel’s appointment as state director for the Farm Service Agency.