A certain and very recent turn of events in the Washington State House Democratic Caucus — a happening not at all unexpected — promises to make the 2013 legislative session even more demanding for state Rep. Jim Moeller. Well, as a matter of fact, the upcoming session for the veteran Clark County lawmaker wasn’t going to be anybody’s idea of a walk in the park, anyway.
Moeller was elected House Speaker Pro Tempore-designate Thursday, Nov. 29, by his fellow Democratic Caucus members. He is set to be officially confirmed as Speaker Pro Tempore by the full House of Representatives shortly after the session gets rolling late Monday morning, Jan. 14, 2013.
“I look forward to helping keep the legislative wheels turning smoothly in our 105-day session,” said Moeller, who for several years has served as Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore and most recently Speaker Pro Tempore.
The Vancouver Democrat was re-elected to the Legislature in November. Moeller leads the 49th Legislative District delegation; standing out, in fact, as one of the most senior members of the bipartisan, nine-member contingent serving Southwest Washington’s three legislative districts.
“As much as we can and whenever possible,” he said, “our House Democratic leadership team works with our Republican colleagues to keep the process moving forward. We don’t always agree on the issues, certainly, but we do our best to keep the state-governing process civil and productive here in this Washington.”
The Speaker Pro Tempore presides over most every session of the House of Representatives, seeing to it that the process stays untangled when lawmakers are debating proposals on the floor.
Moeller has a long history of public service. He was a member of the Vancouver City Council, he has chaired the Southwest Washington Health District Board, and he has served as a board member of the Association of Washington Cities.
The 49th Legislative District includes western Vancouver, Hazel Dell and the surrounding neighborhoods of southwestern Clark County.