Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and Senate Republican leader, today offered this remembrance of former state Rep. Kip Tokuda, who passed away Saturday at age 66 after suffering a heart attack while fishing. Tokuda, a Seattle Democrat, served in the House of Representatives from the 37th Legislative District; his four terms (1995-2003) overlapped with Schoesler’s six terms as a state representative from the 9th District (1993-2005).

“Kip was a genuine, really good and kind person. On the personal side, he reached out and made friends with rural legislators such as me, Jim Buck (former state representative from the Olympic Peninsula) and Mark Doumit (former representative and senator from Washington’s south coast). On the policy side, Kip served with me on the House Corrections Committee when we put together and passed the comprehensive legislation that made a major overhaul of our correctional system; I also remember how he found common ground with Representative Buck on ways to serve people with developmental disabilities.

“Kip was a compassionate, high-quality guy. I remember being disappointed when he announced he wouldn’t seek another term – but he had other things he wanted to pursue. I’m glad we became friends and sorry that he has passed.”