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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Seattle State Sen.-Elect Scott White to Take Over as Majority Whip

Politics, This Washington   December 6, 2010 at 11:38 am Josh Feit

State Rep. Scott White (D-46, N. Seattle), who is moving to the state senate this year to take  retiring state Sen. Ken Jacobsen’s seat, has been appointed to the majority whip position, fourth in the hierarchy. He will replace ousted state Sen. Chris Marr (D-6, Spokane Suburbs)—who lost to Tea Party favorite Michael Baumgartner.

FWIW to those keeping score, White was one of the five Seattle-area reps (vs. the remaining six) who voted against the infamous cost overruns provision. White has been a behind-the-scenes worker bee, keeping a low-profile during his tenure in the house. (He is being replaced by liberal David Frockt.)

Other caucus appointments:

Sen. Karen Fraser (D-22, Thurston County) takes over the number two spot, majority caucus chair (the current caucus chair, Seattle-area Sen. Ed Murray is moving to ways and means chair); Sen. Tracy Eide (D-30, Federal Way), who won a squeaker re-election in November, will remain as floor leader; and Sen. Margarita Prentice (D-11, Renton) will take over as president pro tempore from retiring Sen. Rosa Franklin (D-29, Tacoma). (Prentice is giving up her longtime spot as ways and means chair to Murray.)

State Sen. Lisa Brown (D-3, Spokane) will remain senate majority leader.


  • DJ Wilson

    Smart move by Senate Dems in bringing Sen. White on board leadership so early in his tenure in the Senate. I like it.

  • Michaelp

    Didn’t they also create a Vice Chair position on Transpo committee, and give that to White, too? He’s going to be a busy guy, but I do like having a Seattle Senator there to keep tabs on Haugen.

  • Anonymous

    If that meant replacing Chris Marr on the Transpo committee, that would be great news.

  • YRBud

    Scotty, be sure you know how to run a fax machine this time. You need to be sure the date and time are correct!