Rolfes picked by Democrats to go to state Senate

Published 1:37 pm Thursday, July 14, 2011

State Rep. Christine Rolfes was picked first by Kitsap County Democratic Party precinct committee officers for appointment to replace former state Sen. Phil Rockefeller, who was appointed to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Both are Democrats from Bainbridge Island, and represent the legislative district that includes Silverdale and much of East Bremerton.

The party members met Tuesday night at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

The nomination  will be forwarded to the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, which will interview the candidates and make an appointment. Rolfes said it was her understanding the appointment could be made next week.

Other candidates for the appointment were county Planning Commissioner Jim Sommerhauser and Poulsbo City Councilman Ed Stern.

Local Democratic Party Chairman Michael Arnold said the selection of Rolfes, in her third House term, was “weighted more toward what she had to say” than on name recognition.