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Home / Presidents Perspective - 2002 / So Long Sid, and Thanks |
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So Long Sid, and Thanks |
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Written On: November 27, 2002 |
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People who work at the state capital in Olympia are fond of saying, “If only those marble walls could talk, we’d know everything there is to know about state politics.” But knowing that walls can’t talk, those of us who’ve been here awhile go to Sid Snyder.
Snyder’s half century of legislative experience has made him a walking history book. He came to Olympia in 1949 as an elevator operator and served as Secretary of the Senate for over 20 years before being elected to the Senate in 1990. He was immediately elevated to Democrat caucus chair, the highest ranking position of the minority party. When Democrats regained control in 1993, Sid became majority leader—a position he held from then on.
Then, on election night, Snyder surprised everyone by announcing his retirement. The 79-year old grocer from Long Beach wants to devote more time to his business and family.
To say our state will miss Sid Snyder is a major understatement. Always a gentleman, he maintained the civility and decorum of the Senate. Never one to abuse his power – and he had plenty of it – he was not afraid to apply it both in his caucus and on the floor of the Senate. When he did, he did so with the deft touch of a skilled surgeon.
His deep abiding love for our state, the legislature, and the legislative process permeated everything he did. While legislative battles were sometimes heated and passionate, Sid had a way of calming people down, restoring a sense of humor, and moving on to other important issues.
As a representative of the 19th District in the very southwest tip of our state, Snyder saw firsthand the devastation caused when the federal Endangered Species Act virtually gutted the logging and fishing industries—the mainstays of the economy. Snyder fought hard to get his constituents extended unemployment benefits and retraining. He often criticized federal policies, sometimes to the dismay of party members who supported controversial federal decisions that locked up lands for the spotted owl.
Snyder is what former Gov. Albert Rosellini would call a “progressive.” He believes government has a duty to provide education, a social safety net, police and fire protection, and prisons---and to pay for them.
Even though Snyder was from a rural area, he supported tax increases when he thought they were needed. For example, he has been a staunch advocate for better transportation and was a stalwart supporter of increasing the state’s gas tax.
In a final interview with TV Washington, Snyder had two observations: 1. Being an elected official is a thankless job, and 2. He would like to be remembered as someone who was always himself.
Sid Snyder is a gracious family-man who was a devoted public servant. Over time, people will come to realize what he has done for our state and our citizens. Regardless of your politics, every citizen of Washington should be grateful that he served our state for 53 years.
We should also thank his wife, Betty, and his family for the years they’ve spent alone while Sid was doing the business of the people. So long, Sid, you’ve done your job well, and your work will be appreciated more and more as time goes by.
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