Noting that he has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Washington State Senator Paull Shin of Edmonds on Tuesday announced he is retiring immediately.
The 78-year-old Shin, who served the 21st District for 17 years, announced his retirement in the attached letter sent to the Governor, his legislative colleagues and his constituents.
“It is with the deepest regret that I resign from the Senate,” said Shin, who had served honorably in the Senate since his election in 1999. “I have loved this place and the work we do here on behalf of the people of Washington. Unfortunately, I have determined with the assistance of my family that recent health problems and a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease make it impossible for me to represent my constituents in the manner they deserve.”
Shin grew up as an orphan in South Korea during the Korean War and was adopted by an American soldier and brought to America. Shin received a GED and eventually a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and taught for 31 years in Washington’s higher education system. Sen. Shin was elected to the Washington State Senate in 1999. Prior to that, he served in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 1994. He is the Senate’s Vice President Pro Tempore, which presides over floor action in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor and President Pro Tempore.
During Shin’s legislative career, he has championed higher education, support for the developmentally disabled and other vulnerable members of our communities, and expanding trade with foreign countries.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help and support over the years,” said Shin. “It has been a tremendous privilege to be a member of the State Senate and work with such wonderful colleagues. I am grateful for the camaraderie, the work we accomplished, and the valuable lessons learned. I would also like to thank my wife and children for their love, support, and shared belief in the importance of service. Most of all, I would like to express my thanks to the citizens of the 21st Legislative District, who placed their trust in my stewardship for all of these years; it has been my honor and privilege to serve them for the past 17 years. I look forward to assisting the Senate in making this transition as smooth as possible.”
Senator Shin, thank you for your honorable service to this district.
I must say that it did not take very long for my wife and me to discover the wonderful service of Sen. Shin. We moved to Edmonds in 2010 and have been his supporters and admirers since our coming. Thank you and we wish him well.
Mr. Shin, thank you for your years of representing the people who most needed to be heard. And for always doing so with a smile and a positive attitude. God bless.