Olympia State Rep. Laurie Dolan to retire from the Legislature. Doglio will seek her seat
State Rep. Laurie Dolan announced Wednesday that she will not seek re-election, and will retire from the Washington State Legislature at the end of 2022.
But her former seatmate, Beth Doglio, announced Thursday she will run for Dolan’s position.
Dolan, an Olympia Democrat, has been in office since 2016. In a statement released late Wednesday, Dolan said her time serving as a representative has been an “honor and privilege.”
“I am grateful to the people of the 22nd District who gave me the opportunity to work on priorities for our communities, as well as the future of our state,” Dolan said. “I’ll deeply miss working with my colleagues and constituents on issues ranging from education improvements to helping our hard-working state employees, but this is a good time for me to step aside and spend more time with family.”
In a Facebook post, Dolan said that her decision to leave the legislature was based on “several exciting life changes,” including spending time with her grandson, supporting her daughter who will soon be relocating to Washington, D.C., and traveling with her husband as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
“In spite of my multiple myeloma (which I try not to think about often), I am healthy and well, happily married to my wonderful husband, and turning 70 in July,” Dolan’s Facebook post read.
Dolan, a two-time cancer survivor, worked as a policy director for former Gov. Chris Gregoire before being elected to represent Olympia in the statehouse.
In response to Dolan’s announcement, Beth Doglio, also an Olympia Democrat, announced her bid for the position. Doglio served with Dolan in the state legislature from 2017 to 2021. She gave up her seat to run for the 10th Congressional District seat now held by Marilyn Strickland, a Tacoma Democrat and former mayor.
Doglio released a statement reiterating her commitment to addressing environmental issues, homelessness, and economic issues affecting working families.
“I’m proud of the work I accomplished during my time in the legislature, but I’m not finished yet,” she said in the statement.
This story was originally published February 16, 2022 at 6:28 PM.
