November 20, 2008

OLYMPIA…The Senate Republican Caucus today re-elected Senator Mike Hewitt as Senate Republican leader, a position he has held since late 2005.  

As leader, Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, serves as caucus spokesperson on legislative policy matters, represents the caucus in working with other elected officials and the governor, and implements general legislative policies and priorities that reflect the views of the caucus. He also serves as ranking Republican on the Senate Rules Committee, chairs the committee that assigns Senate Republicans to their various committees and is a member of the Senate’s Facilities and Operations Committee. 

“It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to serve our caucus as leader over the past few years, and I am honored that my colleagues have elected me to continue in that role,” Hewitt said. “The people of our state, and by extension the Legislature, are facing some very big challenges, from rising unemployment to the largest budget deficit in state history. I look forward to working with my colleagues to help the people of Washington through this time and on to an even more prosperous and bright future.”

Hewitt was elected to the Senate in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. In addition to serving as leader, he has also served as Republican whip (2004); majority whip (2003-04); assistant whip (2001-02); and ranking majority member on the Capital Budget Committee (2003-04). Hewitt is the former executive director of the Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce and former chairman of the Walla Walla Planning Commission. He owned and operated a small business for 23 years. 

Senate Republicans also elected other members of their leadership team during their customary biennial reorganization meeting. Those elected to leadership are:

·         Caucus Chair – Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, Wenatchee. Parlette has served in this role since 2006. As caucus chair, she calls the caucus into session, sets the agenda for and presides over caucus meetings, serves on the Facilities and Operations Committee and represents the caucus on operational matters.

·         Floor Leader – Sen. Mark Schoesler, Ritzville. Schoesler has been the Senate Republican Floor Leader since 2006. In this role Schoesler coordinates the caucus’s floor action, sits on the Senate Rules Committee and represents the caucus on procedural matters.

·         Whip – Sen. Dale Brandland, Whatcom County. Brandland is continuing in this position that he has held since 2006. Among other duties, Brandland acts as a point of contact for the location of members during floor sessions and counts votes on key legislation.

·         Deputy Leader – Sen. Mike Carrell, Lakewood. Carrell will assist the leader in communicating the SRC’s legislative goals, policies, issues and priorities.

·         Caucus Vice Chair – Sen. Cheryl Pflug, Maple Valley. Pflug will assist the caucus chair and preside over caucus meetings in her absence, and act as a liaison between ranking members on the various Senate committees and caucus leadership.

·         Deputy Floor Leader – Sen. Jim Honeyford, Sunnyside. In this role, Honeyford will assist the floor leader in his duties, as well as assist the floor leader and whip in coordinating procedural votes with members.

·         Deputy Whip – Sen. Jerome Delvin, Richland. Delvin will act as backup to the whip and monitor attendance during floor sessions and caucus meetings. 

- 30 –