Rep. Shelly Short will resign from state House to fill Senate seat

Shelly Short will resign from her post in the Washington state House of Representatives to replace Brian Dansel in the Senate.

Dansel announced his resignation last week after he was tapped by Donald Trump’s administration to be a special assistant to the U.S. agriculture secretary.

Short, R-Addy, was appointed to the Senate seat Monday morning with unanimous approval from the boards of commissioners of Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry and Okanogan counties. She was first elected to House in 2008 to represent northeastern Washington’s 7th Legislative District.

Eager to tilt the Senate back in their favor following Dansel’s resignation, Republican officials said last week they hoped to swear in a new senator as early as Monday.

But Short must first submit a letter of resignation to House leaders and the governor’s office. Republican operative Kelly Lotze said Monday that the process likely will take several days.

Republican precinct officers on Sunday selected three favorites from a list of nine people who vied for the Senate seat. The three people now being considered for Short’s seat in the House are:

Jacquelin Maycumber, who is Short’s legislative assistant;

John Smith, who was appointed to the seat in 2013 and served for one session before losing an election to Dansel;

and Larry Stickney, a conservative activist who led a campaign to roll back domestic-partnership benefits for gay couples in 2009.