Rep. Jan Angel to seek state 26th District senate seat

State Rep. Jan Angel announced this week that she will seek the 26th District senate seat being vacated by Gig Harbor Democrat Derek Kilmer.

Kilmer defeated Republican Bill Driscoll to claim the Congressional District 6 seat.

The state’s Democratic Party first will select three candidates to replace Kilmer because he is leaving his position midterm. After that, the Kitsap County commissioners and the Pierce County Council within the 26th district jointly will make a selection. The successful candidate must be a Democrat, who will carryout senatorial duties for 2013-14, because law dictates that an outgoing politician must be replaced by someone within their own party. Kilmer’s term was set to run through December 2014.

He will replace Norm Dicks, who is retiring after 36 years in Congress.

Angel, R-Port Orchard, who recently won a third term as a state representative against Karin Ashabraner, said her constituents initially asked her about running for Dicks’ seat. Angel said her desire always has been to represent people locally, though. She said that is why her answer was different when people asked her about filling Kilmer’s seat.

“That is when I really started thinking about it,” Angel said. “I felt that was a natural progression for me.”

“A lot of people I have worked with have moved on from the House to the Senate. I know the floor plan and have developed a lot of relationships.”

Angel, who repeatedly has said she will continue to focus on improving the economy and fully funding education, believes her reelection results show that she can work across party lines. She had slightly more than 59 percent of the vote in Pierce and Kitsap counties to win reelection.

“I feel that is saying I’m holding both (the) Democrat and Republican vote,” Angel said. “When you’re elected, you represent all people.”

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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