Gop Tries To Retain Balance In Filling Senate Seat

Tue., Jan. 12, 1999

By Andrea Vogt andreav@spokesman.com

As the legislative session began in Olympia on Monday, Eastern Washington Republicans finalized how they’ll fill a vacant Senate seat.

Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, announced last Monday he would resign to chair the state Liquor Control Board. The move triggered a political domino effect as party leaders - from top to bottom and East to West - hustle to replace him.

“This is pretty critical. … They want to make sure that everything is done correctly,” said Whitman County Republican Chairman John Brabb, who has spent the last week working with state party leaders to replace Prince quickly. “One thing they are worried about is the 49-49 tie in the House. They don’t want that balance upset.”

Two of the leading contenders for Prince’s position are Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Rep. Larry Sheahan, R-Spokane. Both have expressed interest to Republican Party leaders, who want an immediate replacement prepared if either is promoted to the Senate seat. Otherwise, Republicans could fall behind in the House.

On Saturday, precinct committee officers from Whitman, Spokane and Adams counties will nominate up to three people for the vacant Senate seat and three more for a potentially vacant House seat, should Schoesler or Sheahan be appointed. The district also contains a portion of Asotin County, but none of the officers are from there.

Of the 43 precinct officers eligible to vote, 22 are from Whitman County, 13 are from Spokane County and eight are from Adams County. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Whitman County Library in Colfax.

On Monday, Jan. 25, the 12 county commissioners from the four counties - five Democrats and seven Republicans - are scheduled to decide who fills Prince’s seat. Each commissioner will have one vote, to be made in open session, said Whitman County Commissioner Nora Mae Keifer, R-Pullman. If calls coming in to Whitman County are any gauge, commissioners may seriously consider political newcomers.

“We’re hearing from quite a few people that are wanting us to appoint a totally different person for the Senate and let the two House reps sit where they are at,” said Keifer. “They’ve done such a good job, worked so well together and gotten to positions of power, we just hate to see them give up their seats.”

Republicans who have equally supported Schoesler and Sheahan over the years are hesitant to choose between the two, Keifer added.

That may bode well for Jack Silzel, an Oakesdale wheat and hog farmer who has served as an agricultural aide for U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt since 1995.

According to Brabb, Silzel is under consideration for the nomination. The person chosen to fill Prince’s seat will be required to run in a special election this November and then again in the year 2000.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.