Owen served “Our Washington” well

For the last 20 years, Lt. Gov. Brad Owen (D) has served Washington well. Now, he is retiring and leaving the state senate as he found it, a dignified place to debate and enact public policy.

Owen, a former convenience store owner in Shelton, will not seek re-election. It will be the first time in 40 years that his name will not be on the November ballot. He was elected to the state house in 1976 and then to the senate in 1983.

Owen is currently the longest serving lieutenant governor in the country; however, that is not the record in Washington. Former UW football coach, John Cherberg, served...