Don't let the door hit you on the way out! For those of you who missed the blurb today in the Live Elections Digest, our most reviled state senator, Sen. Rodney Tom of Washington's 48th district, announced today that he is retiring at the end of this term instead of running for reelection.
Tom was a Republican state rep, switched to Democrat to get promoted to the state senate, and then switched again last year to (cough, cough) independent and sided with another blue dog D to hand control of the State Senate to.... himself as majority leader in a coalition with Republicans!!! The nerve!!!
Guess the stiff challenge from former Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride may have scared him off. He says it was for health reasons, and while we personally wish him no ill will, his power grab and subsequent blocking of numerous progressive initiatives in the last two sessions was responsible for a lot of suffering from those who could have been helped. So, sorry babycakes, no tears for you Rodney.
I'd like to say that the Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks are claiming their first scalp, but we barely got a chance to go after him and McBride deserves the all credit for getting out early to challenge him in the primary.