Rep. Cox won't run for re-election

OLYMPIA — After a second turn at representing southeast Washington in the Legislature, Rep. Don Cox has decided it's time to turn the job over to someone else.

Cox, R-Colfax, announced Tuesday he has no plans to run this fall for the 9th District legislative seat he took over from the late Rep. Steve Hailey.

"There are some well-qualified, respected people who are prepared to make that commitment, but have put their decisions on hold out of courtesy to me," Cox said. "Voters need as much time as possible to consider what each individual would bring to the job, and I step aside confident that whoever is elected, our district will be served capably and well."

The 9th District covers Adams, Asotin, Garfield, Whitman and parts of Franklin and Spokane counties.

Susan Fagan, formerly director of Government Relations for Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman; Pat Hailey, Steve Hailey's widow, of Mesa; Arthur Swannack, a Lamont sheep rancher; and Darin Watkins, of Pullman -- all Republicans -- have filed paperwork with the Public Disclosure Commission showing an interest in the legislative seat.

Fagan appears to be the fundraising front-runner, having reported $32,393 in campaign donations through April 30.

Hailey has raised less than half that, reporting $15,690. Swannack has raised $3,800. Watkins has not reported any campaign contributions since registering as a candidate on Jan. 20.

Candidates must file paperwork with elections officials between June 1 to 5 to be placed on the August primary ballot.

Cox, 69, was chosen in January to replace Hailey, R-Mesa, just as the Legislature began a session in which it had to balance a budget with a $9 billion deficit -- the largest in state history.

Hailey died Dec. 28 after a year-long struggle with cancer. He had announced his intention to resign from the Legislature just 17 days earlier.

Cox previously held the seat from 1997 until his retirement in 2007. Hailey was appointed to replace him and then won election to the seat in November 2008.

"It was an exhausting ordeal at times, but through it all, I saw our caucus fully emerge into one distinguished by strong leadership, purpose and unity," Cox said of the recent session. "I was glad to be a part of it, to have a role in the camaraderie, vision and focused determination that allowed us to score some important accomplishments for the people of Washington."

w Michelle Dupler: 582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com