SEQUIM — A vacancy created by state Sen. Jim Hargrove’s decision to step down at the end of his current term has led to speculation of possible political musical chairs, with state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege calling the tune.
“I’m considering it,” Van De Wege, a Sequim Democrat who serves as minority whip in the state House, said of running for the open seat.
“The decision will be either to stay in the House in a leadership position or moving to the Senate, which is in a way starting over.”
Van De Wege’s decision would affect others interested in holding state office, they said.
Hargrove, 62, announced last Thursday on the Senate floor in Olympia that he will not seek re-election.
The Hoquiam Democrat has been a member of the state Senate since 1993. He had previously served in the state House of Representatives from 1985 to 1992.
Van De Wege, 41, is serving his fifth two-year term in the House.
He represents the 24th Legislative District along with Hargrove and Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim. The district covers Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
Van De Wege said two major factors will contribute to his decision: input from his family and an examination of his own goals.
He most likely will decide within the next week, he said.
“The big decision for me is whether I want to step into a heavy campaign,” Van De Wege said.
“I personally enjoy campaigning, but my family doesn’t always share that,” he added.
Said Tharinger: “I don’t know what Kevin’s going to do, but he’s the first choice.
“I don’t plan to run for the Senate, but you should never say ‘never,’ ” he added.
Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman, who is not running for a fifth term, said he is interested in running for the state Legislature but will postpone his decision until Van De Wege announces his plans.
Chapman said he would not run in opposition to Van De Wege for either the Senate or House. He would possibly run for the uncontested position.
“I will watch what Steve and Kevin are going to do and run for whatever seat is open,” Chapman said.
The former Republican, who later became an independent, joined the Clallam County Democrats in November.
He said he has a committee of advisers helping him decide which office to pursue or whether to run at all.
Also interested is Patrick Wadsworth, assistant secretary of the Grays County Democratic Party, who is considering a run for the open seat.
“As soon as the merry-go-round stops, I’m going to jump right on,” he said.
Republican Party officials in Jefferson, Clallam and Grays Harbor counties also are taking special notice of the upcoming Senate vacancy.
The party has scheduled a conference call today that will include the three county party chairmen and potential candidates, according to Jim Walsh, the Grays County GOP chairman and vice president of the state party.
Steve Crosby, Jefferson County Republican party chairman, said his party is currently vetting candidates.
“We don’t have anyone who’s jumped forward,” said Dick Pilling, Clallam County Republican Party chairman, of the open seats.
“We are assessing what we can do and who we can encourage to run.”
Teresa Verraes, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce executive director, had considered running but took herself out of consideration Wednesday.
Verraes had met with Democratic Party officials in Olympia to discuss the possibility and seriously considered the opportunity, she said.
“It’s an extreme honor to be asked to do this,” she said.
“There have been several things that have led up to this, several successes, but I’m really committed to what I’m doing right now.”
Verraes said she is committed to a better Jefferson County and a better Washington state “but it just isn’t my time yet.”
“I will position myself for the future, whenever that comes.”
Van De Wege said he encouraged Verraes to seek a place in the Legislature. She sent him an email Wednesday with her decision to not run.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a legislator from that part of the district,” Van De Wege said of Port Townsend.
“I would be very excited to see something like that happen.”
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
