Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

AGLO 1973 NO. 101 >

(1) A board of county commissioners may not appoint one of its members to fill a vacancy in the state House of Representatives.
 
(2) If a county commissioner were to resign for the sole purpose of accepting an appointment to the House of Representatives under a prior agreement to that effect with the board of which he was a member, the member would still be ineligible for the appointment notwithstanding his resignation.

AGO 1962 NO. 146 >

(1) A member of the 37th legislature may accept an office or employment covered by the state civil service law provided the position is not a public office created by the 37th legislature or a public office the emoluments of which were increased by the 37th legislature provided the office is not incompatible with the office of a legislator or creates a conflict of interest. (2) A state employee or officer covered by the state civil service law may not engage in the management of partisan political campaigns, including his own, unless the campaign be one for a part-time public office in a political subdivision of the state.  Resignation or termination must precede engagement in the management of a campaign for legislative office. (3) A state employee who resigns his civil service position would be eligible for reinstatement provided he meets the requirements set forth in the merit system rule.