Padden Praised, Teased During Capitol Farewell

State lawmakers Monday bid farewell to a longserving conservative fixture, Rep. Mike Padden, R-Spokane.

Padden was appointed as a judge on the Spokane County District Court. He succeeds his former law partner and mentor Raymond Tanksley Jr., who died of cancer.

“I didn’t feel that the passing of a dinosaur should go unnoticed,” said Rep. Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island, who sponsored a resolution honoring Padden’s 14 years as a state representative.

If only dinosaurs could have matched Padden’s staying power.

The conservative has stuck around long enough to see the resurrection of a GOP majority in the state House for the first time in more than a decade.

Colleagues on both sides of the aisle took the opportunity Monday to both praise and get in a few goodnatured digs at Padden, who has been a role model to some and a thorn in the side of others.

Rep. Dennis Dellwo, D-Spokane, who has served 12 years, said he was glad his longtime rival “finally got a job.”

Rep. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, who

has vehemently opposed Padden in debates on welfare and abortion, called him a “worthy adversary.”

GOP conservatives spoke of Padden with admiration.

Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, recalled his first encounter with the veteran lawmaker: a 1992 preelection phone call in which Padden told him, “Son, you’re a little liberal, but you’ll do.”

Rep. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, said she might never have run for office if Padden hadn’t encouraged her. “We all know that when he speaks, he speaks the truth,” she said.

Even those who disagree with his politics said they respected Padden’s integrity.

“In my mind, Mike is all a legislator should be,” said House Minority Leader Brian Ebersole, D-Olympia.

Some joked that they will watch their step if they visit Spokane, now that the notoriously tough-on-crime crusader is on the bench.

“I will never even jaywalk in your jurisdiction,” said Rep. Ruth Fisher, D-Tacoma.

As chairman of the House Law and Justice Committee, Padden has pushed for longer prison sentences for a variety of offenses, as well as more spartan conditions in prisons.

Padden, 48, said he was grateful to have worked with lawmakers of both parties throughout the years.

“It’s been an experience I shall always cherish and remember,” he said.