OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state’s elections director is retiring.
Secretary of State Sam Reed announced Monday that Nick Handy, 62, will step down at the end of the month. He served in the role seven years. Deputy directors Katie Blinn and Shane Hamlin will serve as acting co-directors of the Division of Elections, Reed says.
Handy says that his departure was timed in part to help the agency offset planned budget cuts that would have required layoffs at the elections division. His position will not be filled until “the economy recovers and budget restoration is possible,” Reed spokesman David Ammons wrote.
