By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch For the second time in two years, south Pierce County has a state legislator by appointment instead of a vote of the people. Andrew Barkis, a Republican and businessman from Olympia, was appointed Feb. 16 as state representative for the Second Legislative District by the Pierce County Council and the Thurston County Commission. They made the choice from three candidates recommended by the Republican Party to replace former representative Graham Hunt, who resigned earlier this month. Because he's a Republican, the nominees were up to that party. Within minutes of his selection in a joint meeting in DuPont of the council and commission members, Barkis was given the oath of office by Thurston County Superior Court Judge Grant Blinn. He was working the next day at the state capitol, where the Legislature is in the midst of its 2016 session. Barkis, 47, said he is honored to represent the Second District, which covers parts of Pierce (including Graham, Eatonville and Roy) and Thurston counties. He joins Rep. J.T. Wilcox, who's from Yelm, in giving Thurston County two-thirds of the district's legislative delegation. Sen. Randi Becker is from the Eatonville area. Hunt, who is from Orting, was appointed in January 2014 to replace Gary Alexander, who kept a campaign promise to resign if he didn't win a race for Thurston County auditor. Hunt later won election to the seat, only to resign this year after he was criticized by colleagues and veterans over his claims about his military record. Barkis can run for election to the seat this year, and he has indicated that he will. He was a candidate for county commissioner in 2012. Barkis is the owner and a broker for Hometown Property Management in Olympia. In addition to Barkis, Republican Party leaders nominated two Pierce County women GÇô Amy Cruver of Eatonville and Kerry Hooks-French of Frederickson -- for the legislative appointment. Cruver was elected last year to the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, which is working on possible recommendations for changes in county government. She's an administrative aide to County Councilman Jim McCune. Hooks-French is a member of the Frederickson-Clover Creek Community Council, which is an unelected body, and she was a leader of a citizens' campaign that led to voters last year rejecting Pierce County's proposal to build a government office building.
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