“Having 100 ideas and things to do was a slow work day for Vito … even in later years,’’ recalled Allen Hayward, House Republican attorney who first worked with Chiechi in 1979. Chiechi was co-chief clerk of the House that year during a historic 49-49 split between Democrats and Republicans and in 1978 had a role engineering the GOP’s rise from minority status.
Hayward’s wife, Sharon, also worked with Chiechi in the House, and he described Chiechi as fun, unpredictable and capable.
Chiechi had been in and out of the hospital in recent months, and members of his large family gathered on Sunday to be with him at home, Dolores Chiechi, one of his nine adult children, said.
“We’ve been taking care of him at home, keeping him comfortable,’’ Dolores Chiechi said. “He fought it as best he could to the end. Now he’s with our mom, Dolores Audrey.”
Details were being organized for a mid-August celebration of his life, his daughter said. “We’re purposefully calling it his retirement party, because we knew it was going to take his passing for him to retire,’’ she said.
Chiechi, a longtime political figure who was born in Seattle, served in the Navy during World War II, worked for Boeing for 20 years and started the Chiechi & Associates government affairs firm in 1976, according to his website. He established other firms, including Data Resources Inc., which developed computer programs for political mailings to voters, and Strategic Citizen Involvement, which provided government-affairs seminars to corporate leaders and managers. He also served President Ronald Reagan as regional administrator for the federal General Services Administration from 1982-86 and as state House Republican chief of staff from 1986-90.
Despite a stroke in September 1997, Chiechi was a frequent visitor to the Capitol – typically riding in his wheelchair with help from a personal aide.
Chiechi also was leader of the Recreational Gaming Association, a role his daughter Dolores later took over. She credited him with creating the state’s house-banked card room industry, which has fought unsuccessfully for the right to use tribal-style electronic slot machines.
In 2005, Chiechi chaired the No on I-901 campaign that was unable to defeat the measure that banned indoor smoking in bars, taverns, bowling alleys and skating rinks.
“Anyone who has been around Olympia for any length of time has come to know Vito Chiechi, who was a commanding influence over our state’s political landscape for the past 40 years,” Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a Democrat, said in a prepared statement. “Even those who were on the opposite side of any cause Vito represented admired him for his strong work ethic, his character and tenacity. Vito served our state capably and well to the end, and I will miss him greatly.”
Hayward said one of his favorite Vito Chiechi stories dealt with 10 percent cuts to the House budget during the 1981-82 cycle when Hayward was attorney for Speaker Bill Polk and Chiechi was chief clerk.
“(A) s bills would come in he would send (vendors) a note that said ‘thank you for participating in the House budget reduction (program) … He would just deduct 10 percent of the bill and pay them 90 percent,” Hayward said. “I am sure there were people who weren’t happy. But nobody ever sued us. … It was typical Vito. He was very, very fun to work with.”
State budget director Marty Brown, also a longtime presence at the Capitol, wrote that “Vito was a pro. His respect for the legislative process and all those who participate in it is something we all should follow. He was a good friend.’’
Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688 bshannon@theolympian.com ww.theolympian.com/politicsblog
