Lilian Hale of Cathlamet became Washington state’s youngest legislator last week when she was sworn in as a proxy for her stepfather, Republican state Rep. Joel McEntire.
Driving the news:Â McEntire, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist, was called away on military duty and Hale will serve until his return.
- Washington state allows a temporary successor to be appointed for legislators on leave for military service or training.
- While Hale was sworn in on the last day of the regular session, which was also her 18th birthday, she will head back to Olympia if a special session is called, she told Axios.
The latest: Hale voted on final amendments to several measures, as well as the deals lawmakers reached on the state transportation budget and operating budget.
- Her own personal politics lean a little more left than her stepfather’s, she said, and she considers herself a moderate who sees things that “make sense” in proposals from both Democrats and Republicans.
The intrigue:Â While Hale found the experience exciting, she said she has no plans to pursue a political career.
- A nursing student at Lower Columbia College, Hale plans to go into either labor and delivery or hospice nursing before becoming a school nurse.
What they’re saying:Â “I always thought of politics as legalized adult bullying,” she said. “Online and in debates, so many politicians bash each other and say the meanest things.”
Fun facts:Â Instagram is her most-used social media platform and Pike Place Market her favorite place to visit in Seattle.
- While some spouses have stepped in for legislators in the past, Hale’s mother just had a baby, which is among the reasons she stepped up to serve in her stepfather’s stead.
