Shin retires from Senate
OLYMPIA -- Paull Shin, an Edmonds Democrat who served in the Senate since 1999, said today he will retire his seat immediately because of health problems.
In a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee and his Senate colleagues, Shin said he was resigning "with the deepest regret" from a job he loves.
"Unfortunately, I have determined with the assistance of my family that recent health problems and a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease make it impossible for me to represent my constituents in the manner they deserve," he said.
Shin was an orphan in South Korea who was adopted by an American soldier during the Korean War and brought to the United States. In speeches on the Senate floor, he often explains how his background colors his stance on key social and economic issues.