Cox expects to step down

OLYMPIA – After four terms in the statehouse, Rep. Don Cox said Tuesday that it’s “very likely” he’ll step down at the end of the year.

“The issues of life make other things kind of a priority now,” said the 66-year-old Colfax Republican. He said he wants to help his son on the family farm and see more of his grandchildren.

A former teacher, principal and school superintendent, Cox’s legislative specialty has been education, from kindergarten to graduate school.

“Nobody can match him,” said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. “And his knowledge is real-world.”

At least two candidates plan to run for the seat. Republican Stephen Hailey, 61, a third-generation cattleman and farmer in the Franklin County town of Mesa, has filed campaign papers with the state Public Disclosure Commission.

“I think I can explain agricultural issues to our friends from the West Side and get them to understand that it’s not to their benefit to put us out of business,” said Hailey. He ran for a vacant legislative seat two years ago and came in third in a field of five Republicans.

Also planning to run is Tedd Nealey, 59, another third-generation Palouse farmer and a substitute high school teacher.

“I know a lotta people across the Palouse and I understand their needs,” said Nealey, who lives in Cheney. “I think I’ve got agriculture and education fairly well covered.”

Cox was appointed to the Legislature in 1999. Mild-mannered and soft-spoken, he’s widely respected by both Republicans and Democrats.

“He sticks to what he knows and does his homework,” said Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane. “He’s a calming influence here.”

With Democrats holding a 55 to 43 majority in the House, Cox said it’s unlikely that he’ll see Republican control there in the next election cycle or two.

“There’s things I’d like to do if I had my hands on the levers,” said Cox. “But there’s only so much influence you can have in the minority.”

Cox has long called for a better long-range plan to integrate the public schools and higher education, instead of managing and budgeting one crisis at a time.

“These are things that don’t play well in the press, but they’re important policy issues,” he said.

He also fought hard this session to win a legislative OK for Washington State University to start construction on a new $63 million bioscience lab in Pullman.