Bank recruiter Karl Mecklenburg running for Puyallup Senate seat

A recruiter for Bank of America is looking to claim an open seat in the Washington State Senate.

Democrat Karl Mecklenburg announced Monday he will seek the position being vacated by Sen. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup. Dammeier isn’t seeking re-election to the Senate because he is running for Pierce County executive.

Mecklenburg, a Democrat, will face state Rep. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup, who is also running for Dammeier’s seat.

Mecklenburg, 45, has worked as a recruiter at several companies, and currently recruits mortgage professionals for Bank of America.

The Midland resident said he is running for the Legislature because he doesn’t think sitting lawmakers have done enough to improve education funding. In the McCleary case, the state is in contempt of court due to the Legislature’s failure to deliver a plan to fully fund public schools by 2018.

“We are all frustrated at our Legislature’s inaction on fully funding education, and we need strong, new voices in office who can make progress on this issue,” Mecklenburg said in a news release.

Mecklenburg said he also wants to see the Legislature do more to help the homeless.

Zeiger, 31, was elected to the state House in 2010 and is in his third term representing the state’s 25th Legislative District.

The district includes Puyallup, South Hill, Midland, Fife and part of Parkland.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 7:35 PM with the headline "Bank recruiter Karl Mecklenburg running for Puyallup Senate seat."