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Brad Shannon maintains this blog. He is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.

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UPDATED: State Rep. Bill Grant dies; 2nd lawmaker killed by cancer in recent days

• Published January 05, 2009

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State Rep. Bill Grant of Walla Walla has died after his recovery from lung cancer "abruptly turned to the worse," House Speaker Frank Chopp told colleagues today by e-mail.

Grant, a 22-year veteran lawmaker and fourth-generation wheat farmer. He was 71 and served as the House Democrats’ caucus chairman, presiding over House Democratic Caucus meetings. He died at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla and is the second Eastern Washington legislator to die in the past week.

Republican Rep. Steve Hailey of Mesa, north of the Tri-Cities, died Dec. 28 of colon cancer.

Grant, a conservative, represented the 16th district, which included Walla Walla and Columbia counties. Chopp issued a statement this morning, saying:

I am very saddened by the loss of Bill Grant, and my thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Nancy, and his children and grandchildren. Bill was one-of-a-kind. He was a man of the land, and he brought his farmer’s values of community, hard work and perseverance to the House of Representatives where he served for 22 years. Throughout his career, everyone who met him appreciated his honesty, generosity, and wonderful sense of humor. I was proud to call Bill my colleague and grateful to call him my friend. He will be deeply missed.

Last week Grant and colleagues were optimistic his treatment would be effective and he would rejoin his caucus next Monday on the first day of the 105-day legislative session. But he came down with pneumonia, which led to a quick downward spiral, and he died Sunday morning.

Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, is caucus vice chair and likely will serve as acting chair until after the members return and discuss Grant's permanent replacement.

UPDATE at 1 p.m.: Sen. Mike Hewitt, the Senate Republican leader who served with Grant in the 16th district, put out this statement:

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bill Grant. As my House seatmate, Bill was someone I could work closely with on issues that helped the people of the 16th District. As my friend, Bill was someone I could count on personally. Bill was a true statesman and represented our district very well, especially in the area of agriculture. My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the members of my caucus, are with Bill’s family today. He will be sorely missed.