YAKIMA -- State Rep. Mary Skinner stunned the local political establishment Wednesday, announcing her retirement one month after assuring supporters she would seek an eighth term.
Her sudden departure from the race less than a month before the June 6 filing deadline left leaders from both parties scrambling to find candidates.
Skinner, a Yakima Republican representing the 14th District since her 1995 election, made the announcement in a written statement. She did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.
Skinner, who in 2006 was diagnosed with colon cancer, last month told a Greater Yakima Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon crowd of about 130 that she felt well and planned to run for re-election. She said her cancer was in remission but she still has regular chemotherapy treatments.
According to the statement released Wednesday, health was not a factor in deciding to retire. But facing cancer did give her a "different perspective."
"I have appreciated this opportunity immensely," she wrote. "However, the season has come for me to spend more quality time with my husband, Hal, and my family here in Yakima."
Even those close to Skinner were surprised at the announcement.
"I thought (the speech she gave last month) was a pretty clear message that she was going to run," said Skinner's 14th District colleague, state Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches.
Former state Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, who served with Skinner for more than a decade before his own retirement at the end of 2006, said he would have supported Skinner's re-election campaign but understands why she's retiring. The stress of Olympia can wear on a person, he said.
"She looks good," he said. "But 14 years, that's a long time."
Skinner's health was an issue during this year's legislative session. Chemotherapy appointments, scheduled in advance of the session, ended up causing her to miss several votes important to the Yakima Valley, including those on an anti-gang bill and a bill that stiffened penalties for drivers who injure people while fleeing police. Both of those measures passed easily without Skinner's vote. In all, she missed 277 floor votes, according to Washington Votes, a nonpartisan legislative watchdog group. That accounts for about 41 percent of the votes taken by the House this year.
Despite that, the local Republican establishment remained publicly supportive of Skinner. Legislative colleagues and party officials Wednesday cited her work with the arts and health care as well as her sponsorship of groundbreaking legislation in 2000 mandating booster seats for children up to 6 years old. The first of its kind nationwide, "Anton's law," as it was called in honor of a 4-year-old who was killed in a 1996 crash, led to the adoption of a federal booster-seat law.
Skinner also was part of the effort to secure funding for things like improvements to Yakima's Capitol Theatre and its downtown streets. Deccio and former state lawmaker Jim Clements often are credited with getting such projects into the state's capital budget. But Skinner worked hard on those too, Deccio said.
"It took both of them, she and (Clements), to move those things through the House," he said. "She just was not one to tell everyone what she was doing. But she was there, and I think they worked well as a team."
Yakima Mayor Dave Edler, who has mentioned aspirations toward higher political office, was as surprised as anybody by Skinner's announcement. He said he would consider a run for the vacated seat.
"Now that this news is out, I will absolutely be thinking about it," Edler said, adding that he felt he was still serving the community well on the City Council.
Former Yakima Mayor Mary Place, a close friend of Skinner's, has been rumored to be a possible candidate for Skinner's soon-to-be-vacant seat, but she said Wednesday she has no interest in it this year. Also denying immediate interest Wednesday were Yakima County commissioners Mike Leita and Ron Gamache; county Republican Party Chairman Jim Keightley; Yakima Councilwoman Kathy Coffey; and Selah Councilman John Tierney, who is also state committeeman for the county Republican Party.
On the Democratic side, Yakima insurance agent Don Hinman, who twice lost elections to Skinner, declined interest in the job.
People expected Skinner to be up for re-election, so they haven't been raising money or otherwise preparing for a campaign, Tierney said.
From 1995 until the end of 2006, the 14th District delegation of Deccio, Clements and Skinner didn't change once. Then Deccio retired and was replaced in the Senate by Clements, who last year was ousted by political newcomer Curtis King of Yakima. That recent turnover notwithstanding, an open seat in the 14th District is a rarity likely to draw candidates from both parties, Keightley said.
Voters in the 13th, 14th and 15th districts -- most of Central Washington -- haven't elected a Democrat since 1992.
County Democratic Party Chairman Paul George said candidates for the 14th District seat have been hard to find.
"(Skinner) served long and well and she certainly was popular with the voters. I'm sure she would have been a formidable candidate if she decided to run again. I really am quite surprised," George said.
Besides the odds against overcoming more than 15 years of history, it remains to be seen whether the state party would drop cash locally or focus its political investment elsewhere in the state.
"We feel strongly that Yakima County is disconnected from the legislative mainstream, and we believe that Yakima County would benefit from electing one or two -- hopefully two -- (Democratic) legislators," George said.
Republicans, too, believe they'll be able to find candidates. They're just surprised they have to replace Skinner.
"She's had a lot of obstacles the last couple years, and I think she's to be admired for that," Deccio said. "If she was running again, I'd vote for her."
* Pat Muir can be reached at 577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.
* Mark Morey can be reached at 577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.
E-mail
Print
Weather/Forecast
