Pierce County GOP Selects Dick Muri To Fill Mike Carrell's 28th District Senate Seat

A day after Sen. Mike Carrell's death, Pierce County GOP members selected another longtime local lawmaker to fill the vacant position.

Members selected former Pierce County Councilman, Congressional candidate Dick Muri of Steilacoom over University Place's Steve O'Ban on a 20-16 vote Thursday night, according to a report from the TheOlympiaReport.com.

The vote came despite a personal plea in the form of a letter from Carrell's widow, Charlotte, urging 28th District Republicans to choose O'Ban, whose intelligence and intelligence Carrell respected, according to website.

But Republicans also felt that Muri had more experience, according to the report. He served on the Pierce County Council from 2003 to this year.

"Some party leaders, however, felt O’Ban — serving his first term in the House — lacked experience in elected office," according to the story. "At the same time, he won his race in November fairly handily and others were reluctant to lose him to the Senate."

In any instance, local Republicans were scrambling to fill the vacant seat once occupied by Carrell, who died Wednesday after a long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS.

Republicans want to prevent the possibility of Democrats attempting to seize control of the Senate floor to force a vote on the House budget.

Carrell's death leaves the Senate tied 24-24. Democrat Lt. Governor Brad Owen planned to cast a tiebreaking vote in that situation.

“We need to do this as quickly as possible,” Washington State GOP Chair Kirby Wilbur told 28th District Republican precinct committee officers on Wednesday before they voted to nominate Muri. “Remember, these are Democrats we’re dealing with, and they can’t be trusted. Mike would want us to do this.”

Under Washington State law, mid-term replacements must be recommended by the former member’s district party organization. A slate of three candidates is then presented to the county commissioners, who make the final selection.

Because the party must nominate three candidates, a second ballot was held, in which University Place Councilman Javier Figueroa was selected as the remaining candidate. 

The slate of candidates will be hand-delivered to Pierce County Council Chair Joyce McDonald. The council is expected to vote on the nominees by Monday.

Republicans have a 5-2 majority on the Pierce County Council.