George Sellar, GOP leader, dies at 71

OLYMPIA -- Veteran Senate Republican leader George Sellar, an East Wenatchee moderate who wielded his power lightly and forged a reputation for working across the political aisle, died yesterday after a battle with cancer. He was 71.

Sen. Sellar, diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma a year ago, died in a Wenatchee hospital where he had been undergoing treatment since Dec. 19. Services were pending.

Sen. Sellar came to Olympia last winter for the legislative session but was visibly ailing. After he checked himself into the hospital in March, chaplains included him in the Senate prayers.

A state senator since 1971, Sen. Sellar was one of the senior members of the Legislature. He championed agriculture, transportation and economic development and was well-liked by both Republicans and Democrats. Democratic

Gov. Gary Locke yesterday ordered flags lowered on state buildings until after the funeral late next week. "He served in the Washington State Senate with honor and integrity," Locke said. "He was widely respected for his leadership skills and ability to work with others and will be sorely missed."

Sen. Sellar did not seek re-election last month to the seat he had held since winning appointment to succeed Bob McDougall in 1971. Republican Linda Evans Parlette won the 12th District election without opposition.

Sen. Sellar was an optician but later became marketing director for the Port of Chelan County. He entered politics in the 1960s by volunteering on campaigns, working alongside the man who later became speaker of the state House, Clyde Ballard. Sen. Sellar said he was inspired by the election of Dan Evans, a moderate Republican, as governor in 1964.

Sen. Sellar never lost an election, although he had a close call in 1992 when Democrat Beverly Jagla challenged him.

He was Republican caucus chairman in the 1980s, minority leader for two years and then caucus chairman again, from 1995 to 1999. He headed the Senate Ethics Committee and the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

He was known for his conciliatory manner and calls for lawmakers to rise above partisan bickering. When the new Democratic majority in the state Senate approved malicious-harassment legislation in 1994 stiffening criminal penalties for harassing or assaulting gays and women, Sen. Sellar and fellow Republicans stood by silently. For years they had defeated similar legislation.

"How's that Kenny Rogers song go? Sometimes you have to fold up your cards and walk away," Sellar said. "We knew they had the votes."

Material from Seattle Times political editor Barbara A. Serrano was used in this report.