The Snohomish County Council today voted unanimously to appoint John Lovick to the open Senate seat in the 44th Legislative District.

Lovick, who has served in the House for nearly 15 years, is filling the vacancy left following Steve Hobbs’ appointment as Secretary of State.

“I’m excited to get to work,” Lovick said. “We’ve overcome so much as a state, but hard work remains. There’s no problem we can’t solve if we do it together, and I’m excited to get started in this new role.”

Lovick’s first foray into elected service was in 1993 when he won election to the Mill Creek City Council and served as Mayor Pro Tempore. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1998 and served in that chamber for nine years, five as Speaker Pro Tempore. In 2007 he was elected sheriff of Snohomish County and then served as Snohomish County Executive for three years, from 2013 to 2015.

The following year he returned to the House as an appointee and was re-elected in November 2016.

Prior to his elected service, Lovick was a state trooper for 31 years and in 1992 he was named Washington’s Trooper of the Year. Lovick also served 13 years in the U.S. Coast Guard.

“John Lovick has spent his life in service to our state and country,” said Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig. “He brings a wealth of knowledge from almost every level of government imaginable, and also invaluable experience as a veteran and first responder. There will be no learning curve for Sen. Lovick. I am excited to work more closely with Sen. Lovick and excited to welcome him to our caucus and the Senate.”

Lovick, 70, has lived in Mill Creek in Snohomish County for nearly 40 years. He is married to a retired teacher and regularly volunteers at Woodside Elementary in Bothell where his children used to attend school.