Senate Bill 5288 would repeal current statutory procedures for filling vacancies on boards of county commissioners so that appointment practice follows Article II, Section 15 of the Washington State Constitution. Supporters told the Local Government Committee the statutory provisions in the RCWs conflict with the constitution and create impractical timing requirements.

Committee staff summarized the constitutional and statutory frameworks: the state constitution requires that vacancies in partisan county elective offices be filled from a list of three nominees provided by the county central committee of the incumbent’s political party, and allows 60 days for the process; if the county legislative authority cannot agree within 60 days, the governor appoints from the same list. By contrast, the current statutes include separate vacancy rules that can require faster timelines and do not address the partisan-nomination process in the same terms. SB 5288 would repeal the statutory provisions so the constitutional process governs.

Whitman County Commissioner Art Swanick said counties are currently struggling with a conflict between the RCW timeline (which can call for filling vacancies in five days) and the constitutionally prescribed process that relies on party central-committee nominations and public meeting procedures. Paul Jewell, representing the Washington State Association of Counties, told the committee that counties routinely default to the constitution because it provides the clearer, more practicable process and that the statutory provisions have been a longstanding source of confusion. Supporters said the bill is intended to resolve that legal conflict and simplify county practice.

No opposition testimony was recorded at the hearing. The committee concluded testimony on SB 5288 without taking a recorded vote that day.