Sen. Mark Schoesler offered this statement about state Rep. Roger Freeman, who passed away late this morning. The Federal Way Democrat, serving his first term in the House of Representatives, was 48 and had been fighting cancer since just after the 2013 legislative session.

“Representative Freeman was the sort of person you liked from the moment you met him – a warm and decent man who held fast to his convictions in a positive way. It’s fitting that the piece of legislation he got through Olympia earlier this year was about services for people with developmental disabilities who have children; you could tell how deeply he cared about families, children and the more vulnerable residents of our state, and I was glad to help that bill become law.

“I knew he was in a tough fight, health-wise, but we all hoped – as he did – for the best. Our condolences go to his family at what is not only a loss for them but also for the people he served, for the Legislature and for our state.”

Schoesler, R-Ritzville, is Senate Republican leader.