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There’s no evidence of foul play, but authorities are investigating, Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said in a news release. An autopsy is planned.
White, who played quarterback for Timberline High School in the late 1980s, represented the 46th district, which includes Northgate, Lake City and Greenwood neighborhoods. The Democrat worked as a project manager for the University of Washington, where he also had taught public-policy courses, according to his Senate biography. Lawmakers issued statements Saturday describing White as a bright, young leader.
"The nobility and honor with which he approached his role as an elected official was rare, and his commitment was unprecedented," Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said.
State Democratic Party chairman Dwight Pelz described White as one of his closest friends, saying they traveled to Cuba in 2010 to establish a sister city there.
“Democrats in Washington have lost a true friend and a great leader,” he said.
White served as the Senate’s majority whip and vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He once worked for The Olympian’s ad-services department. His sister, Kathleen, is the public-information officer for the Port of Olympia.
Housekeepers found White’s body after he had failed to check out of his room at the Suncadia Resort, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. He was participating in a leadership conference organized by the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, speaking about ways the east and west sides of the state can work better 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 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 about 10:30 p.m., and Hodgins said White was upbeat.
“He was in a great mood, like he always is,” Hodgins said. “We had a great, wonderful night.”
Hodgins noticed that White wasn’t around for events Friday morning and assumed he had left for home early.
White is survived by his wife, Alison, and two young children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Brad Shannon: 360-753-1688
bshannon@theolympian.com
www.theolympian.com/politicsblog
