Orrico: Out.

Editor's note: This post and its title have been changed to reflect the fact that seven candidates were previously seeking to replace Fred Jarrett in the state senate, not six.

Vicki Orrico, a two-time Bellevue city council candidate and community activist who was among seven candidates seeking appointment to the 41st District state senate seat being vacated by Fred Jarrett, has withdrawn her candidacy.

In an email, Orrico wrote:

I am just coming off of a full year of hard campaigning, and, after spending the last 2 weeks with my family, I have decided I do not want to be away from them for another intense year.  I am also concerned about contributing to the divisiveness the 41^st LD has already been experiencing.  I have spoken with many of you who are feeling very pressured about their choice between the candidates who have stepped forward.  I value my integrity and the district's integrity.  As [D]emocrats, we should be building coalitions rather than tearing at each other—leave that to the [R]epublicans.

King county executive Dow Constantine appointed Jarrett deputy King County Exec last month. Precinct committee officers of the 41st District will choose three candidates to replace him on January 5; those names will go to the King County Council, which historically has appointed the candidate who received the most votes.

The remaining candidates are Randy Gordon, a Bellevue attorney who ran in the 2006 District 8 congressional primary against Darcy Burner ; George Pieper, vice-president of the Greater Seattle Business Association; Maureen Judge, executive director of the Washington Toxics Coalition and a onetime candidate for Mercer Island City Council; Democratic Party activist Aaron Belenky of Renton; Mike Rosen, a new precinct committee officer in the 41st District; and James Morrison, another 41st District member who just announced his interest in the position.