Posted on 10/23/2011 6:59:26 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Washington state Sen. Scott White, a transit advocate who rose to majority whip, was found dead Friday at a resort hotel. He was 41.
Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said there was no sign of foul play in the death. Authorities are investigating because it remains unexplained. Housekeeping staff at the Suncadia Resort found White after he failed to check out of his room. An autopsy is planned.
The Democrat represented the state's 46th District, covering northern Seattle. White joined the Senate last year and rose to serve as the Senate's majority whip, advocating for transit issues as a caucus transportation leader.
White is survived by his wife and two children.
In the Legislature, White sought to advance transportation issues for the Seattle metro area. This year, he successfully pushed a bill to fund King County Metro by allowing local officials to implement a charge of $20 per vehicle. He said transit was critical to help people — commuters, seniors and students in particular — get to work and school in a difficult economy.
White was participating in a leadership conference organized by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce at Cle Elum at the Suncadia Resort. He was on a panel Thursday speaking about ways that the west side of the state and the east side of the state can better work together.
Randy Hodgins, vice president of external affairs for the University of Washington, said he and others went out for drinks with White after dinner on Thursday night. He recalled that White talked about how content he was with the work he was doing in Olympia. The group returned to the hotel around 10:30 p.m., and Hodgins said White was upbeat.
"He was in a great mood like he always is," Hodgins said. "We had great, wonderful night."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Very sad. Prayers for wife and family.
Sad. 41 is way too young.
RIP.
Any chance of getting a Republican to replace him?
Prayers to wife, children, parents, siblings and all families. (not sure if parents are still living or if he had siblings but just in case....prayers).
Any chance of getting a Republican to replace him?
Can we wait until after the funeral?
We could, if the Dems do.
anyway ....41 is way too young...sorry to the family.....
however, I live out there and I think they are already soft pedaling this odd death...in a tiny town that I never even knew had a hotel....
I know situations can be embarrassing but the public should be privy to what he died from...
I understand what you are saying but we are better than them. It would be no big deal if this wasn’t the very first thread. I guess no big deal anyway but just thought we could wait a day or two.
I agree, and I do.
Out of respect for his family, we should respect the man and what he’s done.
From the article, at any rate, he comes across as a moderate Democrat, so it was a loss for everybody in that respect.
Well, he did check out, just left everything behind. RIP regardless of his politics.
He was a Democrat; no loss.
He was a human being and not a convicted murderer.
Thus sympathy is in order.
That said, this was almost certainly a hookers and blow kind of deal.
In the Legislature, White sought to advance transportation issues for the Seattle metro area. This year, he successfully pushed a bill to fund King County Metro by allowing local officials to implement a charge of $20 per vehicle. He said transit was critical to help people -- commuters, seniors and students in particular -- get to work and school in a difficult economy.Willie Green ping.
Prayers for the family left behind including the wife and two kids.
Must have been a heart attack or stroke. Unfortunate, but it can happen to anyone from their mid-30s on up.
Atherosclerosis in fact can start forming right after puberty, and maybe some of you have heard of that famous study done of autopsies on WWII and Korea vets. Quite a few had developing atherosclerosis despite mostly being young guys in their 20s (possibly because of everyone smoking back then?)
Like that famous old song goes...
“You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.”
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (AP) — State Sen. Scott White died over the weekend of a cardiac problem linked to an undiagnosed enlarged heart, a coroner said Sunday.
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