Some folks, primarily Democrats it seems, are floating a rumor that state Sen. Bob McCaslin, the Spokane Valley Republican, plans to hang it up at the end of this year and name a successor.

Old rumor, says McCaslin of any mid-term retirement. "I've heard that for the last five or six years."

McCaslin is recovering from heart surgery, which required him to miss much of the last regular and special sessions, but says he is getting a bit better every day and has been able to attend recent meetings of the Spokane Valley City Council, on which he also serves.

McCaslin said he'll make a decision on next year's session closer to its January start date.

As for the second part of the rumor -- that he'd name Rep. Matt Shea as his replacement -- McCaslin was more emphatic: "I would never do that."

He points out that the officeholder has no real say in his replacement. The 4th Legislative District's precinct committee officers would select up to three nominees, and the Spokane County commissioners have the final say by picking among that list. As several interim appointments have shown, commissioners don't feel bound by the wishes of the PCOs.

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