Puyallup Sen. Zeiger Looks To Replace Pam Roach

PUYALLUP, WA — State Sen. Hans Zeiger said Monday that he will run for the Pierce County Council seat being vacated by Pam Roach, who announced her retirement last week.

Zeiger, 34, has represented the 25th Legislative District since 2010, but was first elected to his Senate seat in 2016, beating Democrat Karl Mecklenburg with about 59 percent of the vote. Roach served as a state senator in the adjacent 31st Legislative District between 1990 and 2014. She stepped down in 2017 to serve on the Pierce County Council.

Zeiger's announcement comes after another major Pierce County Republican, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, announced last week that he would run for governor in 2020. Fortunato holds the Senate seat Roach retired from in 2017.

"Pam Roach's career in Washington politics goes back nearly three decades. She's been part of very significant events and issues in Washington state. I wish her all the best in her retirement," Zeiger said in a statement.

Roach has also been one of the most controversial lawmakers in the state. She has earned a reputation for abusive behavior, including against her son, Dan, a former Pierce County Council member. Roach appeared on Q13 Tuesday morning to talk about her retirement, but got up and left the studio when asked about the various controversies, Q13 reporter Brandi Kruse wrote on Twitter.

Roach represents District 2 on the County Council, which includes Puyallup, Sumner, Edgewood, and parts of Tacoma.