OLYMPIA -- Laurie Dolan, a former teacher and school official who ran twice for a Spokane Senate seat, will run for an Olympia House seat that will be open next year.

Dolan, who started some 30 years in the Spokane School District as a first grade teacher and ended it as the district's executive director for special services, ran for the 6th District Senate seat twice in two years as a Democrat.

In 2002, she ran against longtime incumbent Jim West, and in 2004 against Brad Benson in the race to fill West's open seat after he became Spokane's mayor. She was defeated in close races both times. 

She later was hired as policy director by then-Gov. Chris Gregoire, which prompted her move to Olympia. She served in the Gregoire administration for four years.

Dolan announced today she'll be running for an Olympia House seat currently occupied by Democrat Chris Reykdahl, who announced recently he will run for superintendent of public instruction, a move which will require him to give up his legislative seat.

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